Indian Antiquary Vol 04

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 50

40
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
in the word (pl. int. a), apparently representing the Arabic, res, nail,' in order to indicate the inch. The passage in which this
[Fm] (H. 188, 7).
47 inches.
Among the weights used by the Sabeans only one can be recognized with any probability; it is in po poun (Hal. 148, 7).. It is possible that some current coin was designated by int. pl. [o]n, thus N Do (Hal. 152, 8-9), five sela.' The word ' means 'rock, stone,' and designates in the Rabbinical writings the weight of half a drachm or Other names, apparently desiguating weights and measures, are of a still more questionable character. These are:
zuza, Nm.
.(5 .40) [ו] עבר נגות
CH[Fm] (ib. 152, 15).
,1991 .Hal) סבע וארבעה אלברט measure occurs is .(16 .ib) [ורח ]חלעת
.(14 ,149 .ib) המחטדם קדמתן
On the assumption that the names of the months actually corresponded with the seasons they etymologically designate, Halévy supposes that the month must, according to its name, have fallen in autumn, and that, designating greenness, began after the cessation of the rains, when everything becomes green. The expression onopi means, no doubt, 'harvest,' p being derived from T Araman, 'to harvest;' and the first harvest i: in the Wadi-Saba collected in March; from the form of this word the conclusion may be drawn that there was also another month bearing nearly the form Dan, month of the second harvest,' the latter taking place about three months afterwards. The name means probably 'raising of buildings.' The months and appear to be of mythological origin; Ni means 'of the fathers,' and suggests the month of
1st. The x, occurring in the phrase (Hal. 598, 2), 'for one azlm;'
2nd. The (o), which occurs in Hal. 148, 8-9, ib. 154, 18, and ib. 151, 10; and lastly,
3rd. The , mentioned twice in the same inscription: DON (Hal. 152, 6, 7), five haialaym,' and 'NT TO (ib. 152, 5), 'ten haialaym,'
7. rho (int. pl. 8. [D]. 9. [D]ion.
The words apparently indicating weights and the Hebrews; it was perhaps sacred to the measures are these:deceased. The other name seems to be 1. TON cubit. o.) composed of i, 'force,' and of Fr, the abbreviation of the divine name r, the Astarte of the northern Semites. This is not extraordinary among a people like the Sabeans, who named N (Hal. 50, Fr. 9)? certain days after celebrated personages, perhaps revered as demigods. For example:DADDY (Hal. 50, 1, 2), "The day of Ha' Harmatm ?"
2. [] finger. 3. [o] gab. 4. uro (int. pl. me) foot? 10. []. (int. pl. Duo) nail, 11. inch ?
5.
[FEBRUARY, 1875.
הצ
6. 27. 12. (08. 1.8). The Sabæan year began, it seems, towards the autumnal equinox, because the word, which designates the year, means strictly the autumn, i.e. the rainy season, in opposition to the other half of the year, called 7, from the root = No, to germinate, to produce plants,' during which the earth is covered with vegetation. The months are lunar, as may be concluded from the name Fr, month,' properly 'moon;' accordingly they must have been in the same position as the Muhammadans still are in our times, whose months rotate through every season, and do not serve to ascertain it. The names of the ten months discovered in the texts are as follows:[m] (Hal. 3, 4). [F] (H. G. end), Munzinger's copy pari. of Ydhme rmalik and by A'ṭtar.'
[Fm] (H. 51, 19, 20). [1m] (ib. 51, 10, 11). poo[m] (ib. 48, 11, 13).
(Ab. 1. 5), "On the day Naof."
,(5 ,485 .Hal) ביומה יתשאל רם ובנס תבערב מלכי מען
On the day Yta'el Riyam and his son Tobba'karib, kings of Ma'in.'
504.Hal) ביום מאסם וקהאל יתע ובנס אליפע ישר מלך מען
3, 4), 'On the day of their masters Waqhael the saviour, and his son Eliafa the just, kings of Ma'in.'
mom or (Hal. 145, 6, 7; 146, 6, 7; 148, 12, 23), On the day of Ydhmarmalik and of Watrael.'
Ho (Hal. 153, 8, 9), 'On the day of Ydhmarmalik and of Watrael.'
poon (Hal. 153, 8, 9), 'On the day
כיום
TON D (Hal. 209, 2), On the day of Abyada' and of Yta'el.'
,522 .Hal) ביומה הושאל צדק ובנס וקהאל יהע מלכי מענם