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.

-y: The 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. 

ynṣ: A 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
Updated 17 Feb, 2026 by Ahmad Al-Jallad

Cite this Site

Ahmad Al-Jallad, 'ShZKN 114,' ed. A. Al-Jallad and M.C.A. Macdonald, OCIANA, 17 Feb, 2026. https://ociana.osu.edu/inscriptions/45994. Accessed: 30 Oct, 2026.
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