WH 56

Siglum
WH 56
Transliteration
l wʿy bn bny bn ns²ʿʾl w hy lt nqʾt l- ḏ yʿwr h- s¹fr
OCIANA
Translation
By Wʿy son of Bny son of Ns²ʿʾl and O Lt [inflict] ejection from the grave on him who scratches out this inscription
OCIANA
Language and Script
Safaitic

Interpretation

Commentary
The meaning of nqʾt is uncertain. WH connect it with Classical Arabic najʾat "evil eye" but there are no other instances of Arabic /j/ corresponding to Safaitic /q/. Rodinson (Arabica 6, 1959, pp.217-218) connects it with Akkadian naqū/neqū 'to pour out libations to the dead', 'to scatter dust on the head as a sign of mourning', but this hardly seems to fit the present context. The final two letters are spaced about twice as far from each other than the others.

Editio Princeps
Ed. pr.

Technique
Incised
Direction of Script
Boustrophedon (starting downwards)

Associated Drawings
horse
Associated Remains
Cairn
Associated Inscriptions
WH 53-55, WH 57-60

  • [WH] Winnett, F.V. & Harding, G.L. Inscriptions from Fifty Safaitic Cairns. (Near and Middle East Series, 9). Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1978.
Site
WH Cairn 2, Al-Mafraq Governorate, Jordan
Date Found
1958–1959
Current Location
in situ
Subject
Genealogy
Old OCIANA ID
#0010801
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Updated 16 Sep, 2024 by OCIANA