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This new study of two bilingual inscriptions from Tamassos (ICS 265; ICS 215) provides information on the political status of this Cypriot city-state in the fourth century BC. In these years, Tamassos had remained independent, before king Pasikypros sold it to Pummayaton king of Kition (Duris, FGrH (BNJ) 76 F 4). Language and content of the bilingual texts are analysed and a few changes are made as compared to the previous editions. The inscriptions' dating formulas with the name of king Milkyaton, king of Kition, provide evidence of the presence of Kitians in Tamassos already in the decades before the sale. Although Tamassos was landlocked and did not have a harbour, it may have entered into trade agreements with Kition in order to use its port to export copper productions. This may have laid the foundations for the future sale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present text is to re-examine the basic sources informing us about the miqim elim, a particular type of cult personnel mentioned in the Phoenician-Punic inscriptions. While there have been significant studies on the office or function, as it has been connected with some of the most appealing themes of the history of ancient Mediterranean religions, its nature is still a matter for discussion. The intention of this contribution, after briefly reviewing the internal and external available data, is to analyse in some depth the relevant epigraphic information coming from the culture under study, in an attempt to provide, confirm or refute any facts about its character and its possible position within Phoenician and Punic society in the period documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previously unpublished marble fragment from the Cesnola collection at the Turin University Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography bears an incomplete Phoenician inscription, a dedication to Eshmun-Melqart considered lost since 1869 (CIS I 26). The inscription allows to interpret the object bearing the dedication as a votive stone bowl from the late Classical Phoenician sanctuary of Kition-Batsalos in Cyprus, and it provides the opportunity to retrace the history of the Cesnola collection of Cypriote antiquities at the University Museum of Turin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines two types of foundation narrative prevalent in the biblical literature in light of as-yet-undiscussed parallels from ancient Greek and Mediterranean texts. The first type, embodied in the Genesis narratives and Greek genealogical traditions, portrays the founders as leaving a distant land to settle peacefully in a new land. The second is exemplified by the central hexateuchal theme of the Israelites' migration to Canaan by dispossessing the native population as well as the Dorian migration traditions. Several factors indicate that the foundation story genre also became central and foundational in other small kingdoms around the Mediterranean--as indicated, for example, by the Phoenician--Luwian inscriptions referring to bt Mpš/Mopsus and related classical sources. The popularity of the genre in the ancient Mediterranean is striking in light of the fact that, while experiencing tribal migrations and wanderings, the great Mesopotamian and Egyptian kingdoms never represented themselves as "immigrants." It is suggested that this genre may have emerged with the rise of the new, small-scale kingdoms in the Mediterranean basin toward the end of the second millennium b.c.e. The Phoenician and Greek colonization enterprises of the first third of the first millennium b.c.e. in particular increased awareness of the newly emerging states and focused attention on ethnic identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Hieroglyphic Luwian and Phoenician orthography and linguistics the first part of this paper demonstrates that, despite the communis opinio, Awa/ir(a/i)kus of the KARATEPE inscription and Wa/irikas of the ÇINEKÖY inscription cannot be identical. Accordingly, the second half of the paper discusses the chronology of these and other related inscriptions and proposes a new king list for Hiyawa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a new account of the funerary stele of the Phoenician Shem/ Antipatros (IGII 8388, CEG 596). Following early symbolic readings of the monument，it adopts a comparative approach in order to explain the difficult symbolism of the relief, as well as the obscure expressions of the Greek epigram, by considering their likely Semitic (and more widely Near Eastern) background. In particular, the article offers the first full commentary on the epigram, the two hapax legomena of which (ε{ί}χθρολέων and σποράσαι, line 3) maybe better understood by assuming that they represent Greek adaptations of Semitic expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new translation of the Nora Stone is proposed based on a division of the first extant line of text into two words... Thus reconstructed, I demonstrate that this line can be translated as "A house he beat down." It is subsequently proposed that the... or "house" noted at the start of the Nora Stone may constitute a reference to the destruction of a Sardinian Nuraghic village, specifically Nuraghe Antigori. The identification is based on the usage of... in contemporaneous Phoenician inscriptions to denote a royal house as well as its territories and people. An analogous, though less well developed, sociopolitical organization was present in Sardinian Nuraghic society in this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2006 and 2008, two small alphabetic inscriptions were discovered by local residents in the environs of Zincirli, Turkey. The texts are in the Phoenician-Aramaic script, but are too fragmentary to provide certain readings or language identification. However, these fragments, in addition to the intact KTMW inscription discovered in situ during the 2008 archaeological season, indicate the likely existence of more texts at this site and, the continued relevance of Zincirli and its environs for philological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procopius of Caesarea, a Byzantine writer, claimed to have seen two stelae inscribed with Phoenician letters at Tigisis, in Numidia. His translation of the Phoenician text links these documents with the biblical story of the expulsion of Canaanites by Joshua. Anthony J. Frendo has recently argued that Procopius' account is independently confirmed by the Armenian historian Moses Khorenats'i in a passage that, in Frendo's view, predates Procopius. Frendo concludes that Procopius may confirm the biblically attested tradition that military operations underlay the emergence of earliest Israel. However, current Armenian historiography places Moses Khorenats'i later than Procopius. What is more, Procopius' 'translation' of the Phoenician text appears to be dependent on a lost passage of Sextus Julius Africanus, itself reflecting the diction of the Septuagint (Josh 10.10 and 5.1). Procopius probably acquired the passage from Hippolytus of Rome, adding a tendentious interpolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the linguistic connection between the words Assyria and Syria. The debate on the connection between them is going on since years among several authors. John Selden in 1617 suggested that the name Syria is simply the corruption of Assyria. Konrad Nöldeke and Eduard Schwartz in 1881 reaffirmed the conclusion. But the discovery of a Hieroglyphic Luwian and Phoenician bilingual inscription in Turkey has thrown some light on the origin of the word Syria.

This paper offers new interpretations of passages in KAI 1: 2 and KM 121 on the basis of contextual and etymological considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous studies and treatments of Phoenician syntax, little has been done in relation to a text linguist approach. The present study analyses the Phoenician inscription of Azatiwada on a complete textual basis, and highlights syntactic constituents that help mark segmental beginnings and ends throughout the text. It will be shown that demonstrable patterns occur that signal demarcations in syntax. Literary devices relevant to this study are also examined, insomuch as they contribute in defining and confirming the syntactic analysis. These devices are viewed separately, yet cooperatively with the syntax, and afford a proper syntactic understanding from a different set of criteria. Two of these literary devices include anadiplosis and chiasmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hebrew Bible indicates that in the process of settling down in Canaan, the Israelites had engaged militarily with the local inhabitants. On the other hand, archaeological research is showing that the Israelites had settled there mainly in a peaceful manner, without disproving that some military activity had been undertaken at some point. It is useful to examine whether there is any explicit extra-biblical evidence in support of the tradition that what we commonly call Early Israel could indeed have emerged -- at least partially -- on the basis of military operations. Such evidence does exist, and it comes from an unexpected quarter, namely the History of the Wars of Justinian written by Procopius of Caesarea, a Greek historian (deemed by scholars to be reliable) of the sixth century A.D. He mentions two columns (possibly of the sixth century A.D. and which he saw at Tigisis in Numidia) which were inscribed in Phoenician and in which the Canannites who had erected them claim that they had fled from Joshua the son of Nun. These Canaanites were appealing to an age-old tradition that is already found in another extra-biblical source dating to 234 B.C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the discovery of a Hieroglyphic Luwian-Phoenician bilingual inscription. Where the inscriptions were discovered; Advantages and disadvantages of using hieroglyhic portion of the inscription in studies; Rhetorical structure of the Phoenician text; Details on the Phoenician text.

Describes and interprets the Phoenician inscriptions found in different places covering the span of entire Mediterranean basin. Range and distribution of the inscriptions; Seafaring culture of the Phoenicians; Study on the Phoenician culture and its influences.

Part I. Explores the Phoenician inscriptions in an area ranging from Mesopotamia to Spain. History of the language; Distinguishing elements from other Semitic languages; Role of the Phoenicians in the development of the alphabet. INSET: Untitled (profiles the author, Donald R. Vance)..

Analyses Giovanni Garbini's linguistic arguments in the dating of the Phoenician Ahiram inscription (KAI 1). Seven features of the inscription in Garbini's discussion; Martin Bernal's arguments; Failure of features to support redating.

The article focuses on the two line Phoenician inscription on an ivory box found at Ur in 1927. It is stated that based on paleographic grounds and by Neo-Babylonian provenance, the inscription is probably between 650 to 550 B.C. There is reportedly a case for identifying the box as owned by 'Amatba'al , as a harem lady of the Byblos king. A rendering of the text is also given.

The article comments on how the inscribed columns underscore the military exploits on the part of the Israelite tribes in their process of settling down in Canaan, Palestine. According to the historian Procopius of Caesarea, he had seen two Phoenician inscriptions in the sixth century. The author said that Moses could have postdate Procopius rather than predating him.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Philip C. Schmitz and Anthony J. Frendo on the historical significance of Phoenician inscriptions from Numidia and another by Gershon Galil on the accounts of David of Jerusalem and Hazael of Syria.

Focuses on the discovery of a royal dedicatory temple inscription in Phoenician script that provides conclusive evidence of the identity of Ekron, one of the five capital cities of the Philistines. Names cited in the five-line inscription on a large block of stone; Discovery made at the thirteenth and final season of the Tel Miqne-Ekron project in Israel.

Discusses epigraphic and paleographic studies of Aramaic, Phoenician and Hebrew inscriptions. Comparative study of inscriptions and scripts; Geopolitical backgrounds; Main lines of development in Aramaic script; Westward spread of the alphabet.