stela
- Museum number
- 125344
- Description
-
Upper part of a limestone, funerary stela with 2 line South Arabian inscription in centre, stating invoking the protection of the god 'Athtar Sharik and possibly stating the name of the dead person (Mashnu'at of Agiash); row of dentils along the top; low relief decoration of vine scroll with heavy bunches of grapes, with a bird at each top corner (right corner broken), and in the centre an eagle with splayed wings facing left; incomplete.
- Production date
- 2ndC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 22.50 centimetres
-
Thickness: 11 centimetres
-
Width: 40 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Bowers catalogue entry
Inscribed funerary stela of Mashnuat
Limestone
Possibly 2nd century AD
Height 22.5 cm, width 40 cm, thickness 11 cm
ANE 1881-12-6,1 = 125344
Purchased from Madame Lea Arochats
This funerary stela has a two-line Sabaean inscription across the centre which can be translated as follows:
“Funeral stela of Mashnuat of Agiashum. And may Athtar Shariqan strike down him who destroys it”.
The inscription therefore invokes the protection of the god Athtar Shariqan and gives the name of the deceased as one Mashnuat of Agiashum. At the top is a row of dentils, and the inscription is bordered in low relief with a Classical vine-scroll laden with heavy bunches of grapes, symbolising fertility, a bird in each top corner and, in the centre, an eagle facing left with splayed wings. A copy of the inscription was published soon after its acquisition in the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology for June 1883.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2004-2005 17 Oct-13 Mar, California, Bowers Museum, 'Queen of Sheba: Legend and Reality'
Room 57: Ancient Syria [Syrian Room], Bay A, Easter 1982-.
- Condition
- Incomplete; missing top corners; old restoration to secure onto the wooden base
- Acquisition notes
- Reference to Egyptian register 2: 133 in acquisition details; Register 31 refers to letter from Moore, WAA Corres.1868-81.
- Department
- Middle East
- BM/Big number
- 125344
- Registration number
- 1881,1206,E.1
- Additional IDs
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Miscellaneous number: 50 (exhibition number)
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Miscellaneous number: 636 (exhibition number)
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Miscellaneous number: CIH 442 (siglum)
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Miscellaneous number: Prideaux 9 (old siglum)
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Miscellaneous number: RES 3136