A New Minaean Inscription from Munif mountain in alUlā Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Number: 79
Date: 2025-10-29
Solaiman al-Theeb

This inscription, discovered by Mr. Ahmed son of Mohammed al-Masuod during his visit to Abdulrahim al-Suqayr’s farm, is carved in relief on one of the rock faces of a mountain locally known as “Zib Munif,” located in the north of the Old Town of AlCulā which is about 4 kilometers. The writing technique reflects the skill and linguistic proficiency of the author in South Arabian script and language. If we consider the use of the letter “s” at the beginning of the verb (sqny) and at the end of names (Crrs) as a third-person singular pronoun, it shows a proof that indicates the Minaean dialect.

What stands out—and suggests that the Minaean community in Dadan was influenced by the local Dadanitic language—is the use of terms like Crr and urrs, which are common in Dadanitic. This implies that “ƆmtCstr” adopted some local Dadanitic vocabulary due to the later influence, as this verb appears multiple times in Dadanitic inscriptions (al-Qudrah, 2003, p. 141).

The inscription records that “ƆmtCstr’s” presented a building structure to the deity Qs on behalf of the goddess Cṯtr—the former diety known only in northern Arabia, and the latter known in both southern and northern Arabia. This suggests that “ƆmtCstr” was reaching out in friendship and respect to the openminded and welcoming Dadanite society, by dedicating a local deity, “Qs” who became somewhat more widely known during the later period among the tribes and peoples of northern Arabia. The content of the inscription on the present reflects the spirit of the cultural and religious openness between the people of Dadan, Lihyan, and the Minaean migrants, where religious practices, scripts, and languages were maintained without fear— such an act elevates and enhances the sincere social integration between the two communities.