RT Article
T1 An Arslan Tash Incantation: Interpretations and Implications
JF Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
VO 53
SP 1
OP 10
A1 Sperling, S. David 1941-
LA English
PB College
YR 1982
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1650059787
AB The Arslan Tash plaques first came to light in Syria in 1933. These two small limestone pieces date from the seventh century B.C.E. Both bear reliefs of demons and contain incantations written in an Aramaic script. The larger of the two plaques was originally published in 1939 while the second did not appear until 1971. The present paper attempts to resolve some of the scholarly controversies over the main inscription of the larger plaque. It is argued that Ginsberg correctly designated the language of composition as "a special variety of Standard Phoenician." Some new readings are suggested, a new translation of the inscription is offered and attention is drawn to parallels in related ancient Semitic literature. Finally, the paper discusses briefly some implications for biblical studies of the covenant terminology employed by the writer of the incantation.
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