CSAI

Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions


By kind permission of GOAM

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositṢanʿāʾ, Military Museum, B 7082

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Stela » Stela with framework
MaterialStone
Measuresh. 40, w. 33, th. 13
Decoration
TypeFramework » With geometric elements
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Horizontal grooves
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Dentils
Decoration
TypeFramework » With abstract-figurative elements
Figurative subjectAnimal » Ibex
      Animal gestureStanding
      ViewFrontal
Figurative subjectAnimal » Ibex
      Part of animal bodyHead
      ViewFrontal
Figurative subjectAnimal » Mythical animal
      Animal gestureStanding
      ViewIn profile
Notes on support and decorationsUpper left fragment of a stela with an elaborate framework in high relief. The decoration consists, from the top, in a row of ibex's heads (preserved six heads), a row of rounded rectangular dentils, a panel of horizontal grooves and another row of flat dentils. At the left the framework preserves a standing ibex on plinth and the beginning of a second one. On the upper left corner a squared small panel shows a winged animal in profile.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin
Modern siteMaʾrib
Ancient siteMryb / Mrb
Geographical areaMaʾrib
CountryYemen
NotesThe catalogue reports a provenance from Mārib. However, a doubt remains that the piece should rather come from a city of al-Jawf (cf. the cultural note).
Link to site record

CULTURAL NOTES

This stela shows some typical south Arabian decoration motifs, such as the horizontal grooves and dentils and the ibex. However, original elements are the particular type of oval elements in relief, and the insertion of the frontal ibex on plinth in high relief on the lateral framework. On the upper left corner, a winged animal, with a circular element incised above the paws. This is also found on another winged animal depicted on a fragmentary bronze relief from Shabwa (Lanfranchi 2004: 250, fig. 5).

EPIGRAPHS

TitleB 7082
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Sabaic » Early Sabaic
Link to epigraph record

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lanfranchi 2004Lanfranchi, Giovanni B. 2004. Mesopotamia e Arabia nelle iscrizioni reali assire. Pages 217-253 in Frederick M. Fales and Daniele Morandi Bonacossi (eds). Mesopotamia e Arabia. Scavi Archeologici e Studi Territoriali delle Università Trivenete (1994-1998). Venice: Istituto veneto di scienze, lettere ed arti.