A Second New Rabel II Nabataean Inscription from Umm-el-Jimāl.

This paper examines an unpublished Nabataean inscription from Umm-el-Jimāl, dated to the fifth year of the reign of King Rabel II (75 CE). The inscription mentions Rabel II, the last Nabataean king, and his title, "King of the Nabataeans" (mlk nbṭw), is historically significant. It reflects the poli...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Athirat: Journal of Ancient Arabia Vol. 1; no. 1/2; pp. 273 - 281
Autores principales: Al-Hamad, Muntasir F., Al-Salman, Salah Said
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Brill Academic Publishers 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:This paper examines an unpublished Nabataean inscription from Umm-el-Jimāl, dated to the fifth year of the reign of King Rabel II (75 CE). The inscription mentions Rabel II, the last Nabataean king, and his title, "King of the Nabataeans" (mlk nbṭw), is historically significant. It reflects the political status of the king during a period of transition within the kingdom, shortly after the death of his mother, Queen Shuqailat. The absence of additional royal epithets, later associated with Rabel II, provides insight into the early phase of his rule. The inscription provides substantial insights into linguistic history, showing craftsmanship in its carved letters and reflecting a rich and diverse vocabulary. The personal names: Mʿyrw, Tḥnʾ , and Mnwḥ , mentioned in the text, have not been found in Nabataean inscriptions before, adding to the known Nabataean vocabulary and showing the cultural and linguistic diversity of the time. The inscription also displays a well-preserved example of the Nabataean script, which tends to link letters, a feature observed in other regional inscriptions. This discovery enhances our understanding of Nabataean linguistic practices, especially regarding personal names and the structure of funerary texts. Historically, it offers a glimpse into the reign of Rabel II and the socio-political context of Nabataea in the first century AD. The inscription's rarity and preservation make it a key contribution to the study of Nabataean epigraphy and history, warranting further research and analysis.