Paolo Matthiae

Dr. Paolo Matthiae stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Near Eastern archaeology, serving as Emeritus Professor at Sapienza University of Rome. His groundbreaking discovery and excavation of Ebla, Syria, which he directed for 47 seasons (1964-2010), revolutionized our understanding of third-millennium BCE Syria. His academic excellence is recognized through fellowships in prestigious institutions including the Accademia dei Lincei, Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and the Royal Swedish Academy. His leadership roles include serving as Dean of Humanities (2001-2004) and University Vice-President (2005-2008) at Sapienza, while also chairing the Scientific Committee of the International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East since 1998. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares insights from his extensive archaeological experience. His scholarly contributions include 18 books and over 230 articles, with seminal works like "Ebla: An Empire Rediscovered" (1978) and "Gli Archivi Reali di Ebla" (2010). His achievements earned him the Knight of Great Cross of Italian Republic and honorary doctorates from Madrid and Copenhagen Universities