ShZKN 114

Text Information

Siglum
ShZKN 114
Transliteration
b- yġṯ s²ʿ
wd -y
wtr
gww
ynṣ
Ahmad Al-Jallad
Translation
By Yġṯ, accompany my love, Wtr; Gww has written (this)
Ahmad Al-Jallad
Language and Script
Dhofari 1a

Interpretation

Commentary

This is a so-far unique prayer invoking the god Yaġūṯ, who was worshipped in East Arabia (Hasaitic) and is found in the Himaitic theophoric names. Its formulaic language finds a parallel in the Thamudic B and Dumaitic inscriptions.

b-The preposition b- is used to introduce prayers in Thamudic B and can precede divine names in Ancient South Arabian invocations. 

yġṯ: The divine name Yaġūṯ, attested in the Hasaitic inscription SHI 22. Although not invoked directly in Himaitic, the name appears in a number of theophoric anthroponyms. 

s²ʿ: An imperative verb from the root s²yʿ 'to join, accompany'. It is previously attested in Safaitic prayers. Note that it is split across two columns. 

wd: A substantive meaning 'love' or 'wish', attested in similar constructions in Safaitic. In Thamudic B and Dumaitic, it appears with two ds, wdd.

-yThe 1cs suffixed pronoun. This spelling is attested in Thamudic B and Dumaitic, implying a consonantal realization.

wtr: This could be interpreted as the name of the author's beloved or perhaps an adverb meaning 'always' or 'constantly', watar

gww: This is presumably a personal name. The name gw is attested once in Safaitic, perhaps etymologically related to the root for 'inner', cf. Aramaic gawwā

ynṣA short prefix conjugation verb from the root nṣṣ 'to set down, to write'. Context favors an aorist interpretation.

Ahmad Al-Jallad

Editio Princeps
OCIANA
Field Collector
A.A. Maḥāš al-Shaḥrī

Technique
Painted
Direction of Script
Vertical columns

Associated Signs
Dots and cartouche

  • [ShZKN] al-Shaḥrī, ʿAlī ʾAḥmad Maḥāš. 1994. Kayfa btidaynā wa kayfa rtriqaynā bi-l-ḥaḍārati l-insāniyati min šibhati ǧ-ǧazīrati l-ʿarabiyyah. Ẓufāru Kitābātuhā wa nuqūšuhā al-qadīmah. Dubai: Šarikatu Dari l-Ghurayr li-ṭ-ṭibāʿah wa-n-Našr, 1994.
Site
Unknown, Dhofar Governorate, Oman
Date Found
1991-1992
Current Location
In situ
Subjects
Deity, Prayer
Download Image
Updated 17 Feb, 2026 by Ahmad Al-Jallad

Cite this Site

Al-Jallad, Ahmad and Ahmad Al-Jallad. 'ShZKN 114.' OCIANA. 17 Feb, 2026. https://ociana.osu.edu/inscriptions/45994. Accessed: 01 Mar, 2026.