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| '''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 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}} | 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}} | ||
| 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 |
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 each of them in different times, all but the Nabataean tradition died out by the sixth century. Furthermore, it is now widely accepted that the Nabataean script is the precursor of the ] through a ] transitional phase.{{Sfn|Donner|2022|p=1–7}} The ] itself is first attested in inscriptions from the early first millennium BC (in ]). The pre-Islamic phase of the Arabic language is called ] and inscriptions in this Arabic were primarily written down in the following scripts: ], ], ], Nabataean Arabic, ]. In addition, a handful of Arabic inscriptions are known in the ], ], and Ancient South Arabian scripts.{{Sfn|Al-Jallad|2020|p=37–38}} | ||
| 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}} | 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}} | ||
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| === Sources === | === Sources === | ||
| * {{Cite book |last=Al-Jallad |first=Ahmad |title=Arabic and contact-induced change |date=2020 |publisher=Language Science Press |editor-last=Lucas |editor-first=Christopher |pages=37–55 |chapter=Pre-Islamic Arabic |editor-last2=Manfredi |editor-first2=Stefano |chapter-url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/43774/external_content.pdf?sequence=1#page=45}} | |||
| * {{Cite book |last=Al-Jallad |first=Ahmad |url=https://brill.com/display/title/61413 |title=The Religion and Rituals of the Nomads of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A Reconstruction Based on the Safaitic Inscriptions |date=2022 |publisher=Brill}} | * {{Cite book |last=Al-Jallad |first=Ahmad |url=https://brill.com/display/title/61413 |title=The Religion and Rituals of the Nomads of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A Reconstruction Based on the Safaitic Inscriptions |date=2022 |publisher=Brill}} | ||
| * {{Cite book |last=Donner |first=Fred |url=https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/lamine/lamine-3-scripts-and-scripture-writing-and-religion-arabia-circa-500 |title=Scripts and Scripture: Writing and Religion in Arabia circa 500–700 CE |date=2022 |publisher=Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures |editor-last=Donner |editor-first=Fred |pages=1–15 |chapter=Scripts and Scripture in Late Antique Arabia: An Overview |editor-last2=Hasselbach-Andee |editor-first2=Rebecca}} | * {{Cite book |last=Donner |first=Fred |url=https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/lamine/lamine-3-scripts-and-scripture-writing-and-religion-arabia-circa-500 |title=Scripts and Scripture: Writing and Religion in Arabia circa 500–700 CE |date=2022 |publisher=Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures |editor-last=Donner |editor-first=Fred |pages=1–15 |chapter=Scripts and Scripture in Late Antique Arabia: An Overview |editor-last2=Hasselbach-Andee |editor-first2=Rebecca}} | ||
Revision as of 02:24, 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 each of them in different times, all but the Nabataean tradition died out by the sixth century. Furthermore, it is now widely accepted that the Nabataean script is the precursor of the Arabic script through a Nabataean Arabic transitional phase. The Arabic language itself is first attested in inscriptions from the early first millennium BC (in cuneiform). The pre-Islamic phase of the Arabic language is called Old Arabic and inscriptions in this Arabic were primarily written down in the following scripts: Safaitic, Hismaic, Nabataean Aramaic, Nabataean Arabic, Paleo-Arabic. In addition, a handful of Arabic inscriptions are known in the Greek, Dadanitic, and Ancient South Arabian scripts.
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.
- Al-Jallad 2020, p. 37–38.
- Lindstedt 2023, p. 11–12.
Sources
- Al-Jallad, Ahmad (2020). "Pre-Islamic Arabic" (PDF). In Lucas, Christopher; Manfredi, Stefano (eds.). Arabic and contact-induced change. Language Science Press. pp. 37–55.
- 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)