CSAI

Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions


Catalogue 2000: 278, fig. 21

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositṢanʿāʾ, The National Museum, YM 386

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Stela » Stela with scene
MaterialAlabaster
Measuresh. 20.6, w. 10.5, th. 4
Decoration
TypeScene » Ritual
Figurative subjectFurniture » Seat
Figurative subjectFurniture » Incense burner
Figurative subjectAnimal » Ibex
Figurative subjectHuman figure
      GenderWoman
      Part of human bodyComplete figure
      Human gestureSitting
      Human clothes and attributesShort sleeved tunic
      ViewIn profile
Figurative subjectSymbol
      Symbol's shapeCrescent moon and disc
Figurative subjectHuman figure
      GenderMan
      Human gestureStanding
      Human clothes and attributesShort skirt
      Human weaponBow, Quiver, Dagger/knife, Spear
Figurative subjectVessel » Vase
Notes on support and decorationsThe figurate scene, realized in very low relief and incision, shows a female figure, seated on a stool, represented in profile facing right, in front of which is a smaller male figure, standing on a stool. The woman, with long curls falling on her shoulders, wears a long pleated dress and hold, in the left hand, an object in shape of recumbent ibex (probably a statuette?), and in the right hand a small vase. The man, probably a warrior, hold a spear on the right hand, has a dagger at the waist, while a bow and a quiver are leaning on his left shoulder. Between the two figures, beneath the inscription, is an altar or incense burner, while the motif of crescent moon and disc is placed within the inscription. Pirenne (CIAS: i, 454) interprets the representation as an offering scene, where the female figure represents a goddess (i.e. the sun goddess).

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Provenance
Modern siteTanʿim
Ancient siteTnʿmt
Geographical areaKhawlān al-Ṭiyāl
CountryYemen
Link to site record

EPIGRAPHS

TitleCIAS 35.91/o 6/P 53
ConcordanceYM 386
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Sabaic » Central Middle Sabaic
Link to epigraph record