A Pre-Islamic Nabateo-Arabic Inscription From South Ḥima (North Of Najrān) Dated 470 CE
Islamic Awareness
© Islamic Awareness, All Rights Reserved.
First Composed: 13th November 2017
Last Modified: 13th November 2017
| Tweet |
|
|
|
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:
- Thawbān (son of) Mālik.
- in the month of burak
- 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.
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.
The images above are reproduced from the stated sources under the provisions of the copyright law. This allows for the reproduction of portions of copyrighted material for non-commercial, educational purposes.
With the exception for those images which have passed into the public domain, the use of these images for commercial purposes is expressly prohibited without the consent of the copyright holder.