The New Northwest Semitic Inscription: Addenda et Corrigenda

Abstract

In the following note, the authors again refer to the squeeze of the NorthWest Semitic inscription from the collection of the Russian Archaeological Institute in Constantinople published in 2022. The reading of two problematic places in the inscription is specified, the corrected reading and drawing are published. First of all, a new understanding of the symbols no. 8–10 should be noted. Instead of three letters – ṣade, aleph, pe – we now see only two here – waw and ṣade. The closest and only analogy to the last sign is found in the Ammān citadel inscription dating back to the 9th century BC. It was discovered only in 1961. This circumstance once again testifies to the groundlessness of doubts about the authenticity of the studied inscription. The second correction concerns the missing letter in the previous drawing, following the bet (no. 19). The sign is very poorly distinguishable, due to its location on the crease of the estampage. Based on the combination of the preserved vertical and the straight horizontal crossing it at the level of the base of the bet’s head, there is nothing left to do but assume that this is a tav. Thus, the new reading of the inscription is as follows: z d t h š m y w ṣ k b h m l n ḥ z b t h w y d b r k ʕ l s k y r y n k y ? n