How were deceased rulers honored at Ebla, Mari, and Ugarit?

At Ebla, Mari, and Ugarit, archaeological evidence and texts indicate that deceased rulers were honored through a significant royal cult, as they were believed to support the reigning monarch with divine blessings.1

• Ebla: During the second quarter of the 2nd millennium BCE, subterranean cave tombs located beneath the western palace contained skeletal remains and treasures, which suggest the practice of a cult dedicated to deceased monarchs.1
• Mari and Ugarit: Research at these sites has revealed a formal cult of former rulers. At Ugarit, these ancestors were referred to as "Healers" or "Shades." This cult encompassed a wide range of figures, from those considered mythical or putative to the most recently deceased.1

These practices reflect a broader cultural belief in the continued influence of the dead. For instance, later inscriptions from other regions, such as the 8th-century effigy of the god Hadad from Zincirli, show kings praying that their souls might "eat and drink with the god," while Phoenician kings of Sidon similarly referenced a final resting place among the "Healers/Shades".1