CSAI

Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions


Arbach and Audouin 2007: 83, cat. 52

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositṢanʿāʾ, The National Museum, YM 18351

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Stela » Stela with framework
TopConcave
MaterialAlabaster
Measuresh. 96, w. 54.5, th. 15
Decoration
TypeFramework » With geometric elements
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Horizontal grooves
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Dentils
Decoration
TypeFramework » With abstract-figurative elements
Figurative subjectSymbol
      Symbol's shapeTotschläger
      Symbol's referenceGod: ʾlmqh
Figurative subjectSymbol
      Symbol's shapeBlitzbündel and Doppelgriffel
      Symbol's referenceKing
Decoration
Figurative subjectSymbol
      Symbol's shapeCrescent moon and disc
Notes on support and decorationsStela with concave top. The structure of the stela recalls a false window.The ʾlmqh's symbol is engraved at both sides of the upper strip of horizonal grooves, while the mukarribs' symbols at both sides of l.1, on the external frame. Note the small U-shaped sign above the blitzbündel. A crescent moon with disc in low relief is represented between l.1 and l.2, inside the internal recessed panel.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin. Conjectural
Modern siteKharibat Saʿūd
Ancient siteKtlm
Geographical areawādī Raghwān
CountryYemen
Archaeological contextReligious context: Temple of ʾlmqh
NotesThe editors maintains Jidfir ibn Munayḫir as the site of provenance, because the stela is part of a group of pieces acquired by the GOAM as coming from illegal excavation in the site. However, we accept Schiettecatte's suggestion that some of these stelae most probably come from the nearby sites of Kharibat Saʿūd and al-Asāḥil (see Schiettecatte 2011: 49, n.25 for the argumentation). In this case, the author is kabīr of Ktlm (Kharibat Saʿūd).
Link to site record

EPIGRAPHS

TitleYM 18351
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Sabaic » Early Sabaic
Link to epigraph record

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schiettecatte 2011: 49Schiettecatte, Jérémie 2011. D'Aden à Zafar. Villes d'Arabie du Sud préislamique. (Orient et Méditerranée, 6). Paris: de Boccard.