A Pre-Islamic Nabateo-Arabic Inscription From South Ḥima (North Of Najrān) Dated 470 CE

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First Composed: 13th November 2017

Last Modified: 13th November 2017

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Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:

(a)

(b)

Figure (a) photo of original inscription, and (b) its trace.

Date

364 / 470 CE.

Accession Number

Ḥimà-Sud PalAr 1.

Size

64 cm x 56 cm.

Script

Nabateo-Arabic script.

Contents

The translation of the inscription is given below:

  1. Thawbān (son of) Mālik.
  2. in the month of burak
  3. of the year 364.

Comments

Notice the presence of cross above the inscription. It confirms the presence of Christianity in this region during the pre-Islamic era.

The date is equivalent to 470 CE, i.e., 364 plus 105, the Bosra era (adjusted to the month).

Location

South Ḥima, north of Najrān, Saudi Arabia.

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References

[1] C. Robin, A. I. Al-Ghabban, S. F. Al-Saʿīd, "Inscriptions Antiques De La Région De Najrān (Arabie Séoudite Méridionale): Nouveaux Jalons Pour L’histoire De L’écriture, De La Langue Et Du Calendrier Arabes", Comptes Rendus Des Séances De l'Académie Des Inscriptions Et Belles-Lettres, 2014, Volume 3, pp. 1033‒1128, esp. pp. 1087-1092.

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