abdhamon + ahias

TWO ARCHAIC INSCRIPTIONS ON CLAY OBJECTS FROM BYBLUS

M.Maurice Dunand published two inscribed clay objects in 1954 (Fouilles de Byblos II, Paris) which have importance for the history of the Proto-Canaanite and early Phoenician scripts. Both exhibit letters in archaic stances as well as letter forms intermediate between Proto-Canaanite (to the early 11^th century BC) and the linear Phoenician alphabet (from the mid-11^th century BC).

Object 7765, a ceramic piece broken on both ends, bearing a clearly incised inscription, may be labelled Byblus A; object 11687 may be designated Byblus B.

Byblus A reads as follows: l ‘b d ḥ m n, “belonging to ‘Abd-ḥamon”. The proper name ‘Abd-ḥaman appears in at Ugarit and in Phoenician where the name of a Tyrian of the 10^th century BC is mentioned.

Byblus B reads  as follows: l ’ ḥ ’ š  b b d, “belonging to ’Aḥias bbd”.

See: excerpt from RSF I 1973, F.M.Cross – P.K.McCarther Jr, Cambridge, Mass.

The diagram shows the development of the signs between the 13^th and 10^th century, because the writers of the script also involve signs of Ahiram sarcophagus, Abba seal, ostracon Beth-Shemesh, divers darts, Lachish bowl, Megiddo ring, Byblos Spatula and others.

ncfps