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February 25, 2007
The Kilamuwa Phoenician Inscription
Simon Holloway at דבר אחר has posted a transcription and translation of the Kilamuwa Phoenician Inscription (KAI 24) from tell Zinçirli in the Anti-Taurus Mountains of south-central Turkey. The inscription was likely written in the mid to late 9th century BCE. Interestingly, one sees both Aramean and Anatolian names in it. Go give it a look at Simon's place. Be not afraid. Simon's blog has a Hebrew name but he writes in English or at least Australian.
I hadn't thought much about this inscription or the other Kilamuwa Inscription (KAI 25) that is likely in Aramaic but Simon's post did stimulate some thought. The clearly Phoenician one (KAI 24), the subject of Simon's post, is interesting for several reasons in addition to the mixture of names, historic value and literary quality. Among these are what appear to be Aramaic intrusions in the language. The most obvious is the use of בר in the name כלמו בר חיא. And the matres lectionis at the end of certain names including the one just mentioned may also count as Aramaic intrusions. But names are always problematic. The scribe may well have understood the name Kilamuwa (or Kilamû) Bar Haya` rather than Kilamuwa (or Kilamû) son of Haya`. Notice that בן appears (line 13) where the word meaning "son" is clearly intended. Perhaps more telling is the use of נבש for נפש in line 13. On נבש in Aramaic see, for example, KAI 214:17. In any case, we see the language of this inscription arising from a multilingual culture that likely spoke neo-Hittite as well as Aramaic and Phoenician.
Posted by Duane Smith at February 25, 2007 9:57 AM | Read more on Archaeology |
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Comments
Thanks for the hat-tip, Duane! Always flattering to be mentioned on somebody's blog, particularly one so erudite as this one.
Posted by: Simon Holloway at February 26, 2007 3:51 PM
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