CIH 20
INSCRIPTION INFORMATION
| Language | Ancient South Arabian » Sabaic » Central Middle Sabaic | ||
| Alphabet | Ancient South Arabian | ||
| Script typology | Monumental writing | ||
| Writing technique | Incision | ||
| Measure of letters | 5.5 (on the basis of the "estampage"). | ||
| Chronology |
| ||
| Textual typology | Construction text - fragmentary |
GENERAL NOTES
| This inscription in all likelihood comes from Shibam al-Ġirās, where a temple of Tʾlb Rymm bʿl Kbdm is attested. The stone was seen reemployed in Ṣanʿāʾ. |
TEXT
1 [... ...ʿ]mkrb w-bny-hmw ʾbkrb w-ʾlkr(b)
2 [... ...] ʿs¹ʾw w-nqz mqbr-hm<w> Rbḫm b-mqm
3 [... ... Tʾlb Rymm bʿl] Kbdm w-b-mqm mrʾ-hmw ʾgrm (Yg)ʿr
4 [... ...] w-r(ṯ)dw mqbr-hmw ʿṯ(tr)( )S²rqn bn( m)hbʾs¹m
| 2 | Rbḫm as tomb name is also found in CIH 286. It is interesting to notice that etymologically the word rbḫ is interpreted as "comfort, revival, survival" (SD: 114). |
| 3 | ʾgrm Ygʿr is the reading of CIH also accepted by Mordtmann and Mittwoch; less likely, ʾlrm could also be possible (but see the comment below). |
| 4 | On the basis of MM 24, Mordtmann and Mittwoch (1931: 38-39) suggest to integrate [bny S¹ḫym]m at the beginning of the line. ʾgrm Ygʿr could be then the chief of this family, to which the qayls of S¹mʿy belong. |
TRANSLATIONS
| English | |
1 [... ...] ʿmkrb and their sons ʾbkrb and ʾlkrb 2 [... ...] made and excavated their tomb Rbḫm, by the power 3 [... ...] of Tʾlb Rymm, Master of Kbdm, and by the power of their lord ʾgrm Ygʿr 4 [... ...] and they committed their tomb to ʿṯtr S²rqn against anyone who may damage (it). |
OBJECT INFORMATION
| Support type | Stone inscription |
| Material | Stone |
| Measures | h. 27, w. 56 |
| Link to object record |
ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE
| Modern site | Shibām al-Ghirās / Shibām Sukhaym |
| Ancient site | S²bmm |
| Geographical area | Banī Ḥushaysh |
| Country | Yemen |
| Archaeological context | Funerary context: Tomb Rbḫm |
| Link to site record |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
| Beeston 1937 a: 6 | Beeston, Alfred F.L. 1937. Sabaean inscriptions. Oxford. |
| Mordtmann and Mittwoch 1931 | Mordtmann, Johannes H. and Mittwoch, Eugen 1931. Sabäische Inschriften. Rathjens-v. Wissmannsche Südarabischen-Reise. 1. Hamburg: Friederichsen, De Gruyter. |