CSAI

Collection of the objects from The National Museum of Aden


By kind permission of GOAM

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositAden, The National Museum, NAM 1881=AM 60.824

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Stela » Stela with figure in relief
SubjectHuman face
MaterialStone
Measuresh. 42, w. 16.5, th. 4.7
Decoration
Figurative subjectHuman figure
      Part of human bodyFace
Notes on support and decorationsFlat, almost triangular face with almond-shaped eyes with black inlays as pupils (preserved only the left one); prominent straight nose, thin mouth and small rectangular beard on the chin. High relief.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin
Modern siteUnknown
Ancient siteUnknown
Geographical areaUnknown
CountryUnknown
Archaeological contextFunerary context
Link to site record

CULTURAL NOTES

This is a good example of stela with human face in relief, an artefact typology whose origin is still debated and unsure. Antonini 2005 considers them as coming from the area of Jawf, mainly for stylistic reasons. But there are also few examples ascribed by the literature to the area of Qataban, for which, however, the provenance is unknown: RES 4241 and 4243 (Pennsylvania University Museum), and RES 3902 n. 5, from Muncherjee's collection. However, the biggest collection of these artefacts is in the museum of Baynūn, where seven stelae are preserved. The museum catalogue affirms a provenance of these antiquities from the Jawf, which in fact would back up Antonini's theory.

EPIGRAPHS

TitleGhul-YU 4
ConcordanceAM 60.824
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Qatabanic » Central Qatabanic
Link to epigraph record

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hayajneh 2000: 243, fig. 4Hayajneh, Hani 2000. Altsüdarabisches aus dem Nachlass Mahmud al-Ghul. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 11/2: 237-251.