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| '''Pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions''' refer to ]<nowiki/>s inscribed on stone |
'''Pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions''' refer to ] (]<nowiki/>s inscribed on stone) from ], or the ] prior to the origins of ] in the early seventh century. These inscriptions are a major source for learning about the history and culture of this region and period. | ||
| Pre-Islamic inscriptions can be categorized into one of two types of inscriptions: namely, ], which are "self-authored personal expressions written in a public space",{{Sfn|Al-Jallad|2022|p=7}} and monumental inscriptions, which are inscriptions whose creation would have been commissioned to serve an official role. Unlike modern graffiti, the graffiti described in the study of pre-Islamic inscriptions are usually signed (as opposed to being anonymous) and were not used for an illicit or subversive purpose. Graffiti are usually just scratchings on the surface of rock, but both graffiti and monumental inscriptions could be produced by painting, or the use of a chisel, charcoal, brush, or the use of other methods. Inscriptions are typically lapidary (as opposed to portable) and engraved (instead of painted).{{Sfn|Lindstedt|2023|p=12–14}} | |||
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| ⚫ | There are three scripts represented in pre-Islamic inscriptions: ] (ASA), ] (ANA), and ]. Overall, tens of thousands of these inscriptions have been discovered. Despite the prevalence of their use in various time periods, only the tradition of the Nabataean script survived into the sixth century. Based on recent discoveries of Nabataean inscriptions documenting the evolution of this script, it is now widely accepted that the ] ultimately descents from a Nabataean predecessor, through a ] transitional phase.{{Sfn|Donner|2022|p=1–7}} | ||
| Certain challenges exist when trying to study pre-Islamic Arabia using inscriptions. First, not all communities expressed themselves through a culture of inscribing their writings on rock. Second, the content of inscriptions is often formulaic. Nevertheless, many formula were used and the phrasings become formula (widely employed) because they help encode the beliefs and attitudes of the authors. Third, inscriptions can be destroyed by weather or human activity. Therefore, inscriptions known today may not be a full representation of those originally created.{{Sfn|Lindstedt|2023|p=11–12}} | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 02:00, 23 December 2024
Pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions refer to inscriptions (writings inscribed on stone) from pre-Islamic Arabia, or the Arabian Peninsula prior to the origins of Islam in the early seventh century. These inscriptions are a major source for learning about the history and culture of this region and period.
Pre-Islamic inscriptions can be categorized into one of two types of inscriptions: namely, graffiti, which are "self-authored personal expressions written in a public space", and monumental inscriptions, which are inscriptions whose creation would have been commissioned to serve an official role. Unlike modern graffiti, the graffiti described in the study of pre-Islamic inscriptions are usually signed (as opposed to being anonymous) and were not used for an illicit or subversive purpose. Graffiti are usually just scratchings on the surface of rock, but both graffiti and monumental inscriptions could be produced by painting, or the use of a chisel, charcoal, brush, or the use of other methods. Inscriptions are typically lapidary (as opposed to portable) and engraved (instead of painted).
There are three scripts represented in pre-Islamic inscriptions: Ancient South Arabian (ASA), Ancient North Arabian (ANA), and Nabataean. Overall, tens of thousands of these inscriptions have been discovered. Despite the prevalence of their use in various time periods, only the tradition of the Nabataean script survived into the sixth century. Based on recent discoveries of Nabataean inscriptions documenting the evolution of this script, it is now widely accepted that the Arabic script ultimately descents from a Nabataean predecessor, through a Nabataean Arabic transitional phase.
Certain challenges exist when trying to study pre-Islamic Arabia using inscriptions. First, not all communities expressed themselves through a culture of inscribing their writings on rock. Second, the content of inscriptions is often formulaic. Nevertheless, many formula were used and the phrasings become formula (widely employed) because they help encode the beliefs and attitudes of the authors. Third, inscriptions can be destroyed by weather or human activity. Therefore, inscriptions known today may not be a full representation of those originally created.
See also
References
Citations
- Al-Jallad 2022, p. 7.
- Lindstedt 2023, p. 12–14.
- Donner 2022, p. 1–7.
- Lindstedt 2023, p. 11–12.
Sources
- Al-Jallad, Ahmad (2022). The Religion and Rituals of the Nomads of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A Reconstruction Based on the Safaitic Inscriptions. Brill.
- Donner, Fred (2022). "Scripts and Scripture in Late Antique Arabia: An Overview". In Donner, Fred; Hasselbach-Andee, Rebecca (eds.). Scripts and Scripture: Writing and Religion in Arabia circa 500–700 CE. Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. pp. 1–15.
- Lindstedt, Ilkka (2023). Muhammad and His Followers in Context: The Religious Map of Late Antique Arabia. Brill.
- MacDonald, Michael C.A. (2015). "On the Uses of Writing in Ancient Arabia and the Role of Palaeography in Studying Them". Arabian Epigraphic Notes. 1: 1–50.
External links
- DASI (Digital Archive for the Study of pre-Islamic Arabian Inscriptions)
- DiCoNab (The Digital Corpus of the Nabataean and Developing Arabic Inscriptions)
- OCIANA (Online Corpus of the Inscriptions of Ancient North Arabia)