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The Decline of the Epigraphic Habit in Late Antique Arabia: Some Questions

Year 2020, Issue: 2, 131 - 143, 30.06.2020

Translator: Ömer Aras

Abstract

In the first millennium BC and the first three centuries AD vast numbers of monumental inscriptions and graffiti were carved in western Arabia. However, in late antiquity, what has been called the ‘epigraphic habit’ appears to have declined sharply in all parts of the Peninsula. This paper examines some of the possible implications of this decline. It also looks at what can be discovered about the levels of literacy in different parts of the Peninsula during this period, and the relationships between languages which appear to have remained purely spoken and those which were written.

Keywords

Sirah Ancient Arabia Inscriptions Arabic Script North Arabia

References

  • Beeston (A. F. L.). 1981 “Languages of Pre-Islamic Arabia”, in Arabica, 28/2-3, Leiden, 1981, pp. 178-186.
  • al-Dhīyīb(S. ‘A.). 2002 Nuqūš abal Umm Ğadayid al-nabatīya. Dirāsa tahliliya, Al-Riyā , 2002.
  • Galand-Pernet (P.). 1998 Littératures berbères. Des voix. Des lettres, Paris, 1998.
  • Grohmann (A.). 1966. Handbuch der Orientalistik. I. Abteilung. Der Nahe und der Mittlere Osten, Ergänzungsband II. 1. Halbband. I. Arabische Chronologie. II. Arabische Papyruskunde, Leiden, 1966.
  • Hoyland (R. G.). 2001 Arabia and the Arabs from the Bronze Age to the coming of Islam, London, 2001.
  • Kabāwī (‘A. B.), Khān (M. K. H.), al-Zahrānī (‘A. ‘A.) et alii 1996 “Comprehensive Rock Art and Epigraphic Survey (Southern Region, Wadi Dawyüzyıl-Najran). Sixth Season 1411 A.H./1990 A.D.”, in Atlal, 14, Riyadh, 1996, pp. 55-72 [English] / pp. 45-61 [Arabic], pl. 24-32.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 1998 “Some Reflections on Epigraphy and Ethnicity in the Roman Near East”, in G. Clarke, D. Harrison (eds), Identities in the Eastern Mediterranean in Antiquity. Proceedings of a Conference held at the Humanities Research Centre in Canberra 10-12 November, 1997 (Mediterranean Archaeology, 11), Sydney, 1998, pp. 177-190.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2000 “Reflections on the linguistic map of pre-Islamic Arabia”, in Arabian archaeology and epigraphy, 11, Munksgaard, 2000, pp. 28-79.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2003 “Languages, Scripts, and the Uses of Writing Among the Nabataeans”, in G. Markoe (ed.), Petra Rediscovered: Lost City of the Nabataeans, New York-Cincinnati, 2003, pp. 36-56, 264-266 (endnotes), 274-282 (references).
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2004 “Ancient North Arabian”, in R. D. Woodard (ed.), The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World’s Ancient Languages, Cambridge, 2004, pp. 488- 533.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2005 “Literacy in an Oral Environment”, in P. Bienkowski, C. B. Mee, E. A. Slater (eds), Writing and Ancient Near Eastern Society. Papers in Honour of Alan R. Millard (Library of Hebrew Bible-Old Testament Studies, 426), New York-London, 2005, pp. 49-118.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2008a “The Phoenix of Phoinikēia. Alphabetic reincarnation in Arabia”, in J. Baines, J. Bennet, S. Houston (eds), The Disappearance of Writing Systems: Perspectives on Literacy and Communication. 2008.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2008b “Old Arabic (epigraphic)”, in K. Versteeg (ed.), Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, Leiden, 2008.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). in press “Towards a re-assessment of the Ancient North Arabian alphabets used in the oasis of al-‘Ulā”, in Arabia Archaelogy and Epigraphy, in press.
  • Meyer (E. A.). 1990 “Explaining the Epigraphic Habit in the Roman Empire: The Evidence of Epitaphs”, in Journal of Roman Studies, 80, London, 1990, pp. 74-96.
  • Mrozek (S.). 1973 “À propos de la répartition chronologique des inscriptions latines dans le Haut-Empire”, Epigraphica, 35, Bologna, 1973, pp. 113-118.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1991a “Les langues de la péninsule Arabique”, in C. J. Robin (dir.), L’Arabie antique de Karib’îl à Mahomet. Nouvelles données sur l’histoire des Arabes grâce aux inscriptions (Revue du monde Musulman et de la Méditerranée, 61/3), Aix-en-Provence, 1991, pp. 89-111.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1991b “Les plus anciens monuments de la langue arabe”, ibidem, pp. 113-125.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1991c “Les écritures de l’Arabie avant l’Islam”, ibidem, pp. 127-137.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1996 “Sheba. 2. Dans les inscriptions d’Arabie du Sud”, in J. Briend, E. Cothenet, H. Cazelles, A. Feuillet (dir.), Supplément au Dictionnaire de la Bible. t. 12 (fasc. 70), Paris, 1996, col. 1043-1254.
  • Robin (C. J.). 2001 “Les inscriptions de l’Arabie antique et les études arabes”, in Arabica, 48, Leiden, 2001, pp. 509-577.
  • Robin (C. J.). 2007 “Himyaritic”, in K. Versteegh (ed.), Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics. II, Leiden, 2007, pp. 256-261.
  • Ryckmans (J.). 2001 “Origin and evolution of South Arabian minuscule writing on wood”, in Arabian archaeology and epigraphy, 12, Munksgaard, 2001, pp. 223-235.
  • Stein (P.). 2003 Untersuchungen zur Phonologie und Morphologie des Sabäischen (Epigraphische Forschungen auf der Arabischen Halbinsel, 3), Rahden/Westf., 2003.
  • Stein (P.). 2004 “Zur Dialecktgeographie des Sabäischen”, in Journal of Semitic Studies, 49, Oxford, 2004, pp. 225-245.
  • Stein (P.). 2005 “The Ancient South Arabian minuscule inscriptions on wood a new genre of pre-Islamic epigraphy”, in ‘Ex Oriente Lux’. Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap, 38, Leiden, 2005, pp. 181-199.
  • Stein (P.). in press “Zum Schreib- und Schulbetrieb im antiken Südarabien”, in S. Weninger (ed.), Epigraphik und Archäologie des antiken Südarabien. Internationale Tagung anläßlich des 70. Geburtstags von Prof. W. W. Müller vom 26. bis 27. September 2003 in Marburg, Wiesbaden, in press.
  • Forthcom. Die altsüdarabischen Minuskelinschriften auf Holzstäbchen aus der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek in München. Band 1. Die Inschriften der mittel- und spätsabäischen Periode. 1.Teil: Text.

Geç Antik Dönemde Arap Yarımadası'nda Epigrafi (Yazıt Yazma) Alışkanlığının Kaybolması Üzerine Bazı Sorular

Year 2020, Issue: 2, 131 - 143, 30.06.2020

Translator: Ömer Aras

Abstract

MÖ birinci binyılda ve MS ilk üç yüzyılda Batı Arabistan’da çok fazla sayıda anıtsal yazıt ve grafiti kazınmıştır/yazılmıştır. Ancak geç antik dönemde epigrafi (yazıt yazma) alışkanlığı Arabistan’ın bütün bölgelerinde neredeyse unutulmaya yüz tutmuştur. Bu çalışma söz konusu durumun muhtemel anlamlarının neler olabileceğini irdelemektedir. Ayrıca yarımadanın çeşitli bölgelerinde okuryazarlık seviyeleri hakkında nelerin keşfedilebileceği ve tamamen konuşma dili ve yazı dili olarak devam ettiği görülen diller arasındaki ilişki konusuna eğilmektedir.

Keywords

Siyer Antik Arabistan Yazıtlar Arap Yazısı Kuzey Arabistan

References

  • Beeston (A. F. L.). 1981 “Languages of Pre-Islamic Arabia”, in Arabica, 28/2-3, Leiden, 1981, pp. 178-186.
  • al-Dhīyīb(S. ‘A.). 2002 Nuqūš abal Umm Ğadayid al-nabatīya. Dirāsa tahliliya, Al-Riyā , 2002.
  • Galand-Pernet (P.). 1998 Littératures berbères. Des voix. Des lettres, Paris, 1998.
  • Grohmann (A.). 1966. Handbuch der Orientalistik. I. Abteilung. Der Nahe und der Mittlere Osten, Ergänzungsband II. 1. Halbband. I. Arabische Chronologie. II. Arabische Papyruskunde, Leiden, 1966.
  • Hoyland (R. G.). 2001 Arabia and the Arabs from the Bronze Age to the coming of Islam, London, 2001.
  • Kabāwī (‘A. B.), Khān (M. K. H.), al-Zahrānī (‘A. ‘A.) et alii 1996 “Comprehensive Rock Art and Epigraphic Survey (Southern Region, Wadi Dawyüzyıl-Najran). Sixth Season 1411 A.H./1990 A.D.”, in Atlal, 14, Riyadh, 1996, pp. 55-72 [English] / pp. 45-61 [Arabic], pl. 24-32.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 1998 “Some Reflections on Epigraphy and Ethnicity in the Roman Near East”, in G. Clarke, D. Harrison (eds), Identities in the Eastern Mediterranean in Antiquity. Proceedings of a Conference held at the Humanities Research Centre in Canberra 10-12 November, 1997 (Mediterranean Archaeology, 11), Sydney, 1998, pp. 177-190.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2000 “Reflections on the linguistic map of pre-Islamic Arabia”, in Arabian archaeology and epigraphy, 11, Munksgaard, 2000, pp. 28-79.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2003 “Languages, Scripts, and the Uses of Writing Among the Nabataeans”, in G. Markoe (ed.), Petra Rediscovered: Lost City of the Nabataeans, New York-Cincinnati, 2003, pp. 36-56, 264-266 (endnotes), 274-282 (references).
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2004 “Ancient North Arabian”, in R. D. Woodard (ed.), The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World’s Ancient Languages, Cambridge, 2004, pp. 488- 533.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2005 “Literacy in an Oral Environment”, in P. Bienkowski, C. B. Mee, E. A. Slater (eds), Writing and Ancient Near Eastern Society. Papers in Honour of Alan R. Millard (Library of Hebrew Bible-Old Testament Studies, 426), New York-London, 2005, pp. 49-118.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2008a “The Phoenix of Phoinikēia. Alphabetic reincarnation in Arabia”, in J. Baines, J. Bennet, S. Houston (eds), The Disappearance of Writing Systems: Perspectives on Literacy and Communication. 2008.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). 2008b “Old Arabic (epigraphic)”, in K. Versteeg (ed.), Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, Leiden, 2008.
  • Macdonald (M. C. A.). in press “Towards a re-assessment of the Ancient North Arabian alphabets used in the oasis of al-‘Ulā”, in Arabia Archaelogy and Epigraphy, in press.
  • Meyer (E. A.). 1990 “Explaining the Epigraphic Habit in the Roman Empire: The Evidence of Epitaphs”, in Journal of Roman Studies, 80, London, 1990, pp. 74-96.
  • Mrozek (S.). 1973 “À propos de la répartition chronologique des inscriptions latines dans le Haut-Empire”, Epigraphica, 35, Bologna, 1973, pp. 113-118.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1991a “Les langues de la péninsule Arabique”, in C. J. Robin (dir.), L’Arabie antique de Karib’îl à Mahomet. Nouvelles données sur l’histoire des Arabes grâce aux inscriptions (Revue du monde Musulman et de la Méditerranée, 61/3), Aix-en-Provence, 1991, pp. 89-111.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1991b “Les plus anciens monuments de la langue arabe”, ibidem, pp. 113-125.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1991c “Les écritures de l’Arabie avant l’Islam”, ibidem, pp. 127-137.
  • Robin (C. J.). 1996 “Sheba. 2. Dans les inscriptions d’Arabie du Sud”, in J. Briend, E. Cothenet, H. Cazelles, A. Feuillet (dir.), Supplément au Dictionnaire de la Bible. t. 12 (fasc. 70), Paris, 1996, col. 1043-1254.
  • Robin (C. J.). 2001 “Les inscriptions de l’Arabie antique et les études arabes”, in Arabica, 48, Leiden, 2001, pp. 509-577.
  • Robin (C. J.). 2007 “Himyaritic”, in K. Versteegh (ed.), Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics. II, Leiden, 2007, pp. 256-261.
  • Ryckmans (J.). 2001 “Origin and evolution of South Arabian minuscule writing on wood”, in Arabian archaeology and epigraphy, 12, Munksgaard, 2001, pp. 223-235.
  • Stein (P.). 2003 Untersuchungen zur Phonologie und Morphologie des Sabäischen (Epigraphische Forschungen auf der Arabischen Halbinsel, 3), Rahden/Westf., 2003.
  • Stein (P.). 2004 “Zur Dialecktgeographie des Sabäischen”, in Journal of Semitic Studies, 49, Oxford, 2004, pp. 225-245.
  • Stein (P.). 2005 “The Ancient South Arabian minuscule inscriptions on wood a new genre of pre-Islamic epigraphy”, in ‘Ex Oriente Lux’. Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap, 38, Leiden, 2005, pp. 181-199.
  • Stein (P.). in press “Zum Schreib- und Schulbetrieb im antiken Südarabien”, in S. Weninger (ed.), Epigraphik und Archäologie des antiken Südarabien. Internationale Tagung anläßlich des 70. Geburtstags von Prof. W. W. Müller vom 26. bis 27. September 2003 in Marburg, Wiesbaden, in press.
  • Forthcom. Die altsüdarabischen Minuskelinschriften auf Holzstäbchen aus der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek in München. Band 1. Die Inschriften der mittel- und spätsabäischen Periode. 1.Teil: Text.
There are 28 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Çeviri
Translators

Ömer Aras

Publication Date June 30, 2020
Submission Date May 6, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Issue: 2

Cite

ISNAD , trans.Aras, Ömer. “Geç Antik Dönemde Arap Yarımadası’nda Epigrafi (Yazıt Yazma) Alışkanlığının Kaybolması Üzerine Bazı Sorular”. Akademik Siyer Dergisi 2 (June 2020), 131-143.
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