WH 2035

Siglum: WH 2035
Transliteration: l dʾy bn s²wkt w ḫwy(t) (h-) s²ʿrt
OCIANA
Translation: By Dʾy son of S²wkt and Sirius set but had brought no rain.
OCIANA
Language and Script: Safaitic

Interpretation

Commentary: WH's interpretation seems unlikely. However NB in Arabic ḫawà and ḫawwà can mean (the stars) set aurorally and brought no rain (Lane 827/b) while al-©iʿrà is Sirius. There are 2 stars of this name called the sisters of Suhayl. However al-©iʿrà is said to rise around 27 June (EI sv a©-ṣiʿrà) or in the time of intense heat (Lane 1560 b-c) or rules for 40 nights in Jan/Feb in a©-©tāʾ (Musil Rwala p. 8). I cannot find whether the 2 stars with this name rise at opposite ends of the year. If so and Musil's statement is correct for one of them the statement in the inscription would be a complaint that winter had passed without bringing rain.

[WH] Winnett, F.V. & Harding, G.L. Inscriptions from Fifty Safaitic Cairns. (Near and Middle East Series, 9). Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1978.

Updated 16 Sep, 2024 by OCIANA