BES20 1618

Siglum: BES20 1618
Transliteration: {l} mnʿ bn s¹ʿd{ʾ}{l} [----] bn s²b{l} {h-} f{r}{s¹}
Josef Bloomfield
Translation: By Mnʿ son of S¹ʿdʾl {By} Mnʿ son of {S¹ʿdʾl} ---- son of {S²bl} is {this} {horseman} [or horse]
Josef Bloomfield

Interpretation

Commentary: The inscription begins at the top left of the stone. The apparent lām auctoris has a horizontal line touching it and extending to the right. This seems to be an unrelated mark. There is a long straight line between the ʿ of mnʿ and bn. It is difficult to make sense of this line. It is possible that the line is a l, forming the name mnʿl (attested once previously in SIJ 919), or a y (a theoretical name mnʿy is previously unattested). The line extends across the neck of the horse drawing and seems to touch the rider. The reading here assumes the line is unrelated to the inscription, perhaps being connected to the drawing. It is clear, however, that the line cannot be the horseman's spear. Above the s¹ after bn, there is what seems to be a t. The reading here assumes it is the first letter of the author's name in BES20 1619. The ʿ of s¹ʿdʾl initially looks like a larger circle with a smaller inner circle, resembling a Hismaic ḍ. Nevertheless, upon close inspection, this is an illusion formed by the right side of the t, the lām auctoris of BES20 1619, and unrelated marks to the right of the ʿ. Following s¹ʿdʾl, the stone is broken. The reading here sees bn s²b (running vertically from the stone that has broken away, with the writing starting below the horse's stomach) as part of the same inscription. There is, however, no way to prove this, as the surface of the stone has broken away. Josef Bloomfield

Associated Drawings

Drawing of two mounted horsemen holding spears. A third animal (probably another horse) is carved on a part of the stone that has broken away.

Associated Inscriptions

[BES20] Inscriptions recorded during the Badia Epigraphic Survey 2020 and published here

Updated 02 Jul, 2025 by OCIANA

Bloomfield, Josef. 'BES20 1618.' OCIANA. 02 Jul, 2025. https://ociana.osu.edu/inscriptions/45550. Accessed: 25 Feb, 2026.