CSAI
Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions

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al-Shihāb 2025


al-Shihāb 2025: 6, top-right figure
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al-Shihāb 2025: 6, top-right figure
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al-Shihāb 2025: 6, bottom-right figure
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al-Shihāb 2025: 6, bottom-left figure
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al-Shihāb 2025: 6, top-left figure

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Incense burner
ShapeWith truncated pyramidal base
MaterialStone
Decoration
Figurative subjectArchitectural element » Column
Decoration
TypeFramework » With abstract-figurative elements
Figurative subjectAnimal » Bull
      Part of animal bodyHead
      ViewFrontal
Decoration
Figurative subjectMonogram
      Resolved monogramʾlʾws¹
Decoration
Figurative subjectAnimal » Ibex
      Part of animal bodyComplete figure
      Animal gestureRecumbent
      ViewFrontal
Decoration
TypeFramework » With geometric elements
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Horizontal grooves
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Dentils
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » Chevron
Figurative subjectGeometric motif » False window
Decoration
TypeFramework » With abstract-figurative elements
Figurative subjectHuman figure
      GenderUndefined
      Part of human bodyHead
      ViewFrontal
Notes on support and decorationsLimestone incense burner with truncated pyramidal base and a frieze of three recumbent ibexes. The projecting podium below the frieze represents a miniaturized four-pillared entrance of a temple. The burner is decorated with false-windows, horizontal groves and dentils recalling Kamna's altar in the shape of a temple's maquette Ṣanʿāʾ MM 3630. The false windows seem to contain faces in bas-relief in their higher parts. A chevron-like decoration (ear of corn?) is engraved at each side of the frieze. The base of the object is decorated with bovine protomes in bas-relief with panache. The inscription is engraved just below the burner's edge, on the external walls except the frontal one occupied by the frieze. The four miniature pillars are likely engraved with the name of the author's family Mrym - a letter on each pillar: the R and the Y on the central pillars are clear, and traces of a M can be read on the right pillar. The two central pillars also carry two identical monograms made of a ʾalif with a W beween the its legs, and probably a L. As the ʾlif containing s¹, the monogram most probably refers to the name of the author: ʾlʾws¹. The monogram was probably engraved also on the two external pillars, whose surface is damaged.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin
Modern siteMaʿīn
Ancient siteQrnw
Geographical areaJawf - Wādī Madhab
CountryYemen
NotesWe infer a provenance from Maʿīn based on the deity mentioned, ʿṯtr Nkrḥ (cf. YM 30135).
Link to site record

EPIGRAPHS

Titleal-Shihāb 2025 A
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Minaic » Central Minaic
Link to epigraph record
Titleal-Shihāb 2025 B
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Minaic » Central Minaic
Link to epigraph record
Titleal-Shihāb 2025
LanguageAncient South Arabian » Minaic » Central Minaic
Link to epigraph record

BIBLIOGRAPHY

al-Shihāb 2025: 3-6, with figuresal-Shihāb, Sāmī Sharaf Muḥammad 2025. Taqrīr ʿan mabḫara min al-ḥaǧar al-ǧirī ʿalā hayʾat maʿbad. ʾAzal: Ḥawliyat al-Āthār al-Yamaniyya, 8: 3-6. 2026/01/08; https://goam.gov.ye/assets/magzd/Azal/8/8-2.pdf.