Mleiha Tomb F5 Has

Siglum
Mleiha Tomb F5 Has
Transliteration
nfs¹ / w qbr / ʿmd / bn /
gr / bn / ʿly / bqr / mlk /
ʿmn / ḏy / bny / {ʿ}{l-} [-h] / br
-h / ʿmd / bn / {ʿ}{m}{d}{ / }{b}{n}{ / }gr /
{b}{q}r / m----r /
M.C.A. Macdonald
Translation
The memorial and tomb of ʿmd son of
Gr son of ʿly, royal official [investigator, inspector?] of the king of ʿmn which his son ʿmd son of {ʿmd} {son of} Gr {Investigator of} [the king of ʿmn] ---- built for him
M.C.A. Macdonald
Language and Script
Hasaitic

Interpretation

Apparatus Criticus

Multhoff & Stein 2018: bqr, a functionary 'inspector,' similar to a governor but having a temporary status of carrying out inspections of the king's territories. 

Commentary

The inscription is carved on a large lime brick with a raised border on which is carved an Aramaic summary of the content of the inscription (see Mleiha Tomb F5 Aram) with a date of 90 or possibly 97, depending on whether the seven wavy lines following the four 20s and a 10 are units or simply decoration to fill the empty space. In Overlaet, Macdonald & Stein 2016 it is argued that the era is probably that of the Seleucids which would make the date 222/221 or 215/214 BC. For a full discussion of the inscription, including the meaning of the title bqr, see Overlaet, Macdonald & Stein 2016, and for further philological remarks, especially on the Aramaic, see Multhoff and Stein 2018.

M.C.A. Macdonald

Editio Princeps
Overlaet, Macdonald & Stein 2016

Technique
Incised
Direction of Script
Right to left

  • Overlaet, B., Macdonald, M.C.A. & Stein, P. An Aramaic–Hasaitic bilingual inscription from a monumental tomb at Mleiha, Sharjah, UAE. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 27, 2016: 127-142.
Site
Mleiha (Mulayḥah), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Date Found
2016
Current Location
Sharjah National Museum
Subjects
Funerary, Genealogy, Building, Historical
Old OCIANA ID
#0050945
Updated 27 Oct, 2026 by Ahmad Al-Jallad

Cite this Site

M.C.A. Macdonald, 'Mleiha Tomb F5 Has,' ed. A. Al-Jallad and M.C.A. Macdonald, OCIANA, 27 Oct, 2026. https://ociana.osu.edu/inscriptions/13366. Accessed: 06 Nov, 2026.