CSAI

Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions


Ahmed Fakhry

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Stela » Stela with niche
MaterialGranite; Marble
Measuresh. 70, w. 36; head: h. 25, w. 16
Decoration
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Horizontal grooves
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Chess-board
Decoration
Figurative subjectHuman figure
      GenderWoman
      Part of human bodyHead
Notes on support and decorationsGranite, funerary stela with upper niche, housing a marble human head.
The stela, around the upper cavity, shows the remains of a grooved decoration, while the niche appears roughly carved. It is not to be excluded that it was a re-worked stela, originally without niche. The stela surface is decorated with chess-board motif.
According on the name incised on it, the head represents a woman. The long neck supports an almost squared face ending at the hair-line, with large incised eyes and drilled pupils, straight damaged nose. The hair was probably realized with plaster.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Provenance
Modern siteMaʾrib
Ancient siteMryb / Mrb
Geographical areaMaʾrib
CountryYemen
Archaeological contextFunerary context
Link to site record

EPIGRAPHS

TitleFa 50
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Sabaic » Early Sabaic
Link to epigraph record