Šipti Baʿal

Šipṭi-Baʿal was the head of a large commercial firm that operated business transaction between Ugarit and Emar. The main office was located in Ugarit, but some of the business agents were stationed in Emar, and their activities often took them to Carchemish as well.

Šipṭi-Baʿal is known from the documents of the Urtenu archive, and he appears as a very important personage in late-thirteenth century Ugarit, who was both the son-in-law and the main business manager of the Queen Šarelli. He led intensive correspondence with Egypt and with the Phoenician coast.

Šipti-Baʿal was the head of the firm, and the everyday management of the caravan procedures, including the prolific correspondence revolving around it, was carried out by his business associates Urtenu, Dagan-bēlu, and Tuna. The caravans themselves were accompanied by their sons and subordinates.