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Maʿīn 108
Arbach 2011 b: 209-210, figs 11-12
INSCRIPTION INFORMATION
| Language | Ancient South Arabian » Minaic » Central Minaic | ||
| Script | Ancient South Arabian | ||
| Script typology | Monumental writing | ||
| Text direction | Right-to-left | ||
| Text appearance | Recessed | ||
| Execution technique | Incision | ||
| Chronology |
| ||
| Textual typology | Dedicatory text |
GENERAL NOTES
| Maʿīn 108 and 109 are the only Minaic inscriptions where the main verb of the text s³lʾ "to dedicate" is in coordination with the verb rṯd "to commit". |
TEXT
1 ʾbs¹mʿ bn ʿmkrb
2 ḏ-Mḫṣr ʾb ʿmydʿ
3 w-Ys²hdʾl s³lʾ
4 Nkrḥ w-rṯd Nkrḥ
5 ʿmndb ywm qdm
6 gnʾ Qhmt w-kbr
7 ġyln ṯny w-ḏbḥ
8 ḏ-Qbḍ /3/ w-ʿrb
9 mṯʿy Wd b-ʿṯtr
10 | ḏ-Qbḍ w-b Wd |
11 w-b Nkrḥ w-b |
12 Nbṭʾl b-ywm
13 | ʾbydʿ |
| 5 | we do not know whether the object of the dedication (ʿmndb) is the pillar or a person. |
| 6 | it is not sure whether Qhmt is a toponym or a name of building. |
| 7 | Arbach considers Ṯny the proper name of the canal. |
TRANSLATIONS
| English | |
1 ʾbs¹mʿ son of ʿmkrb 2 ḏ-Mḫṣr, father of ʿmydʿ 3 and Ys²hdʾl, dedicated to 4 Nkrḥ and committed to the protection of Nkrḥ 5 ʿmndb, when he was in charge 6 of the walling of Qhmt and he was kbr 7 of the canalization for the second time and he sacrificed 8 to ḏ-Qbḍ 3 (victims) and he made 9 an offering to Wd; by ʿṯtr 10 and ḏ-Qbḍ and Wd 11 and Nkrḥ and 12 Nbṭʾl; at the time of 13 ʾbydʿ. |
OBJECT INFORMATION
| Support type | Architectural structure » Pillar |
| Material | Stone |
| Link to object record |
ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE
| Modern site | Maʿīn |
| Ancient site | Qrnw |
| Geographical area | Jawf - Wādī Madhab |
| Country | Yemen |
| Found | In situ |
| Archaeological context | Religious context: Temple of Nkrḥ |
| Link to site record |
CULTURAL NOTES
The author of the text was an important man: this text records that he had been in charge of a construction work, consisting in the walling of Qhmt (probably a public building or a town); he had been also the responsible for the management of hydraulic structures.
It is interesting to note that Nbṭʾl, the father of the king ʾbydʿ, is mentioned at the end of the list of the evoked authorities.
This is probably the most ancient mention of the god ʿṯtr ḏ-Qbḍ.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
| Arbach 2011 b: 209-210, figs 11-12 | Arbach, Mounir 2011. La découverte du temple intra-muros de Nakrah à Maʿîn, l'antique Qarnâ. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy, 22: 201-214. |