Ugarit — Where the Alphabet Was Born

Fifteen kilometres north of Latakia, at Ras Shamra, lies Ugarit — where the world's oldest known alphabet was found. Clay tablets in cuneiform from the second millennium BC carried a 30-letter alphabet: the very idea that each sound has a sign was born here.

What you see

The site is the ruins of a Bronze Age port city — a royal palace, temples, houses and paved streets. It takes an hour or two to walk.

An honest note

Ugarit is an archaeological site, not a restored monument. Anyone expecting standing buildings will be disappointed; anyone who grasps what happened here leaves amazed. Wear comfortable shoes — the ground is uneven stone with no shade.

Getting there

Ugarit pairs naturally with Latakia and the Syrian coast. It needs a car from the city. We arrange a private trip that combines Ugarit, the beaches and the coastal castles.

Wherever your road leads, we'll get you there.