KRS 209

Siglum: KRS 209
Transliteration: t l- wṣn {ṣ}r b- rʾy gm{l} s¹nt myt wgm m- hrbt
Translation: This [the writing] is for {Wṣn} who {returned to a place of permanent water} during the rising of Gemini the year Wgm died of extreme old age

Interpretation

Commentary: There do not appear to be any letters before the first t which is written below the horseʾs head. It is possible that the text is a continuation of KRS 210 but it would be unusual as the end of that text is at the bottom of the rock and these letters are at the top end. The second ṣ is doubtful as the prong seems more lightly scratched and might not belong. It is possible the letter should be read as a y. The second l is more lightly scratched than the other letters of the text. Interpretation AA. For the translation of b- rʾy gml as “during the heliacal rising of Gemini” see Al-Jallad forthcoming. A similar phrase is found in SIJ 827: w ṣyr m- mdbr b- rʾy gml. The interpretation of hrbt is based on Arabic hariba, a dialectal form of harima, “to become extremely aged” (Lane 2889 b–c), something unusual enough in the desert to be suitable for dating.

Associated Drawings

KRS 209 d/1

Associated Inscriptions

Inscriptions recorded by Geraldine King on the Basalt Desert Rescue Survey in north-eastern Jordan in 1989 and published here
Lane, E.W. An Arabic-English Lexicon, Derived from the Best and Most Copious Eastern Sources. (Volume 1 in 8 parts [all published]). London: Williams & Norgate, 1863-1893.