WH 2488

Interpretation

Apparatus Criticus: WH: l {ġ?} mm{ṣ} kr m{ḥ}{k}
Commentary: As in WH 2487, all the letters have been carefully altered by a "vandal" to make them different from those of the original inscription. However, it is more difficult to work out the originals in this inscription than in WH 2487 and the reading here is purely a suggestion. The second letter seems to have been a simple straight line originally and since the lām auctoris has a hook, this letter is likely to be a n. In the third and fourth letters the outer lines appear to be original but the inner curves are slightly lighter and are perhaps additions, and since b in this text has a very square shape (compare the b of bn) the third letter could be a r. The fourth letter seems to have been a h originally and the loop added later. A side-stroke as been added to the b of bn to make it a k and a hook at either end of the n making it look like a r. The next letter looks as though every part of it is an addition but it is possible that we should take the line across the opening and joining the two arms on the left and on the right as the addition. In the next letter, a line has clearly been drawn across the opening but it is difficult to tell whether it was originally a ḥ or a b. In the final letter it looks as though the side stroke is part of the original and only the line across the opening has been added. There are some stray letters on the rock which do not seems to be inscriptions.

Provenance: WH Cairn 34 and this inscription were rediscovered and photographed by the Badia Epigraphic Survey in 2018 and the co-ordinates given are exact.
Original Reading Credit: OCIANA

Associated Signs

Cartouche

Associated Inscriptions

Winnett, F.V. & Harding, G.L. Inscriptions from Fifty Safaitic Cairns. (Near and Middle East Series, 9). Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1978.
Inscriptions recorded during the Badia Epigraphic Survey 2018 and published here