CSAI

Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions

DASI

HSM 1936.1.21a


By kind permission of Harvard Semitic Museum

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositCambridge MA, Harvard Semitic Museum, 1936.1.21a
NotesThe item is part of a collection of nearly two hundred South Arabian items acquired by Harvard's Peabody Museum in 1935 and 1936 from a certain Israel Subeiri of Ṣanʿāʾ, through the anthropologist Professor Carlton S. Coon, at that time on the Harvard faculty. In 1936 the Harvard Semitic Museum purchased from the Peabody Museum a number of items in this collection.

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeInscription on architectural structure » Pillar
MaterialStone
Measuresh. 17.7, w. 11, th. 5
Decoration
TypeFramework » With abstract-figurative elements
Figurative subjectAnimal » Antelope
      Part of animal bodyHead
Decoration
TypeFramework » With geometric elements
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Ovoli
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Zigzag lines
Decoration
Figurative subjectAnimal » Ibex
      Part of animal bodyComplete figure
      Animal gestureRecumbent
      ViewIn profile
Notes on support and decorationsFragment of architectural structure (likely a pillar) with decoration in low relief. From the top, sequence of geometric motifs: a kind of ovoli motif; zigzag lines; sequence of recumbent ibexes. On the left: pairs of antelope heads.
The fragment belongs to a unique decorative frieze with HSM 1936.1.21b; these fragments, together with HSM 1936.1.23 and HSM 1936.1.24 could belong to the same pillar.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin. Conjectural
Modern siteUnknown
Ancient siteUnknown
Geographical areawādī al-Jawf
CountryYemen
Archaeological contextReligious context: Temple
NotesThe fragment originates from one of the "Banāt ʿĀd" temples.
Link to site record