Complete
Linguistic features:
ܗܕ for ܥܗܕ remember! – an otherwise unattested dialectal imperative form (Pognon's interpretation)
Formulae:
Quotations from literary texts:
Dating:
AD 450
-
AD 700
Language:
Syriac
Monumental:
Medium:
stone
Visible:
Accessible:
Has figural depiction:
Has iconoclastic damage:
Activities commemorated:
Death; Votive offering; Remembrance
Funds:
Price:
Placement:
unknown
People mentioned:
Name:
ʾPTḤʾ/?Aptūḥa
Patronym:
Status:
unspecified
Ethnic allegance:
unspecified
Tribal allegane:
none
Family status:
unspecified
Role:
Name recorded
Occupation:
unspecified
Age:
Gender:
male
Religion:
Polytheistic
Religious denomination:
unspecified
Language:
Syriac
Description
date: fourth or fifth century. Dated by Pognon based on the shape of letters. description: When recorded, the inscription was reused in a modern house. Fine carving on an ancient stone. Completely preserved ed. Pognon 1907, no. 91 and Pl. XXXVII (drawing). ܗܕ ܐܦܬܚܐ ܐܦܬܚܐ read ܐܦܬܘܚܐ (personal name, Aptūha) Pognon, ܗܕ read ܥܗܕ (imperative) ‘Remember Aptūḥa!’ (tr. H. Pognon) commentary: Pognon’s interpretation supposes the existence of an otherwise unattested dialectal form ܗܕ of ܥܗܕ. It is, therefore, problematic and perhaps other interpretations should be sought. he identified the inscription as an epitaph, concluded that given the deceased was called Aptūḥa and the name was not attested among Christians as for 1907, he was probably a follower of the polytheistic cults. Nonetheless, he still termed the language ‘Syriac’ (probably without distinguishing between ‘Old Syriac’ or ‘Classical Syriac’). Perhaps, it would be worthy to consider another interpretation, that it was one of the so-called 'remembrance' inscriptions invoking the good memory of people or deities for individuals in their lifetime. Perhaps the person mentioned in our text simply sought to commemorate his existence through such a carving, and benefit from good fortune.
Author:
Paweł Nowakowski
Added by:
Martyna
Created:
2022-07-30 18:54:14
Last update:
2023-11-13 17:54:19
Dimensions: surface: cm
Condition: When recorded, the inscription was reused in a modern house. Fine carving on an ancient stone. Completely preserved.
Text:
Date: 450 CE - 700 CE
Fourth or fifth century. Dated by Pognon based on the shape of letters.
Findspot: Unknown
Original location: Euphratensis El-Hémer 36.708333, 37.716667 unknown unknown
Current repository: Unknown
Text type: votive inscription
Summary:
Votive offering from el-Hémer. 450 CE - 700 CE.
Changes history: 2022-07-30 Pawel Nowakowski Creation; 2023-08-25 Pawel Nowakowski Last modification; 2023-10-24 Martyna Swierk Preparation of EpiDoc file
Publication details: University of Warsaw; Warsaw;
Available under licence CC-BY 4.0
; @2021apparatus
1: ܐܦܬܚܐ read ܐܦܬܘܚܐ (personal name, Aptūha) Pognon, ܗܕ read ܥܗܕ (imperative)
Translation
‘Remember Aptūḥa!’
(tr. H. Pognon)
Commentary
Pognon’s interpretation supposes the existence of an otherwise unattested dialectal form ܗܕ of ܥܗܕ. It is, therefore, problematic and perhaps other interpretations should be sought.
He identified the inscription as an epitaph, concluded that given the deceased was called Aptūḥa and the name was not attested among Christians as for 1907, he was probably a follower of the polytheistic cults. Nonetheless, he still termed the language ‘Syriac’ (probably without distinguishing between ‘Old Syriac’ or ‘Classical Syriac’).
Perhaps, it would be worthy to consider another interpretation, that it was one of the so-called 'remembrance' inscriptions invoking the good memory of people or deities for individuals in their lifetime. Perhaps the person mentioned in our text simply sought to commemorate his existence through such a carving, and benefit from good fortune.
Bibliography (edition)
- H., Pogon,1907, Inscriptions sémitiques de la Syrie, de la Mésopotamie et de la région de Mossoul, Paris, 91 and Pl. XXXVII (drawing).