Phoenician Inscription of Azitawadda

Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint Lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

14 December 2010

I was taught Phoenician language by prof. H. Dreyer of the University of South Africa and prof. Walter Claassen of Stellenbosch University. Other than that I spent a lot of time with inscription by myself.

In this case, there was an attempt to invent structuralism to superimpose upon the inscription in order to understand better the totality of every phrase. It is the intention of the composer of this inscription to repeat at times. That is why we [added phrases] to bring to the fore those phrases that are just in his subconscience.

In the curse formula that follows in Column III lines 19-IV line 1, there is suddenly a strange demonstrative (h') popping up where we would expect a (z) as in Phoenician. Is this a literary device to identify the enemy by using the demonstrative of the language of the enemy? Why this shift in demonstrative pronouns?

Some have suggested that the inscription dates to the days of the Assyrian kingTiglath-Pilezer III (753-735 BCE)

KAI 26 (Pritchard, ANET 653)

Column I

S1. (1) 'nk 'ztwd hbrk b`l                  S1. (1) I am Azitawadda, the blessed one of Baal

S2. ('nk 'ztwd) `bd(2)b`l                   S2. (1) (I am Azitawadda), the slave(2) of Baal

S3. 'š 'dr 'w’rk                      S3. Whom Adar made mighty

S4. ('š 'dr) mlk dnnym           S4. (Whom Adar) made king (over) the Danunians

S5. (3) p`ln b`l ldnnym l'b       S5. (3) Baal made me father to the Danunians

S6. (p`ln b`l ldnnym) wl'm      S6. (Baal made me to the Danunians) as a mother.

S7. yhw 'nk 'yt(4) dnnym                  S7. I let the (4) Danunians be!

S8. yrḥb 'nk 'rz `mq `dn lmmz' š(s)mš w`d mb'y

S8. I made the land the equal of Adana, from the rising of the (5) sun unto the setting of it.

S9. wkn bymty kl n`m ldnny(6)m

S9. And in my days all that was good belonged to (6) Danunians

S10. (wkn bymty kl) wšb` (ldnnym)

S10. (And in my days all) also comfort (belonged to the Danunians)

S11. (wkn bymty kl) wmn`m (ldnnym)

S11. (And in my days all) also wellbeing (belonged to the Danunians)

S12. wml' 'nk `qrt p`rS12. And I filled the storehouse of Par.

S13. wp`(7)l 'nk 'ss `l ssS13. And I made (7) horse upon horse

S14. (wp`l 'nk) wmgn `l mgnS14. (And I made) also shield upon shield

S15. (wp`l 'nk) wmḥnt `l (8) mḥnt

S15. (and I made) also army-camp upon army-camp

S16. b`br b`lS16. through the grace of Baal

S17. (b`br) w'lmS17. through the grace also of the gods

S18. wšbrt mlzmS18. And I broke the rebellious

S19. (9) wtrq 'nk kl hr` 'š kn b'rz

S19. (9) And I removed all the wicked which is similarly in the land

S20. wyṭn' 'nk(10) bt 'dny n`mS20. And I erect the (10) house of my lord upon friendliness.

S21. wp`l 'nk lšrš 'dny n`mS21. And I made friendliness the root of my lord

S22. (11)wyšb 'nk `l ks' 'byS22. (11) And I placed myself upon the throne of my father

S23. wšt 'nk šlm 't(12) kl mlkS23. And I made peace with (12) each king

S24. w'p b'bt p`ln kl mlk bzdqy

S24. And also, in my paternalship every king were made in my righteousness/in my loyalty.

S25. (w'p b'bt p`ln kl mlk) w(13)bḥkmty

S25. (And also, in my Paternalship every king were made) also in (13) my wisdom

S26. (w'p b'bt p`ln kl mlk) wbn`m lby

S26. (And also, in my Paternalship every king were made) also in my friendliness of heart.

S27. wbn 'nk ḥmyt `(14)zt bkl qzyt

S27. And I built strong (14) fortifications in all ends.

S28. (wbn 'nk ḥmyt `zt) `l gblm.

S28. (And I built strong fortifications) upon the borders.

S29. (wbn 'nk ḥmyt `zt) bmgmm

S29. (And I built strong fortifications) in places.

S30. (wbn 'nk ḥmyt `zt) b'š kn(15) 'šm r`m

S30. (And I built strong fortifications) in who is similar (as) those who are evil ones.

S31. (wbn 'nk ḥmyt `zt) b`l 'gddm 'š bl `bd (16) kn lbt mpš

S31. (And I built strong fortifications) in all troops who is not slave similarly to the house of Mpš.

S32. w'nk 'ztwd štnm tḥt p`m(17)y

S32. And I Azitawadda placed them under my feet (17)

S33. wbn 'nk ḥmyt bmqmm ḥmt lšbtnm dnn(18)ym bnḥt lbnm

S33. And I built fortifications in places, strongholds unto the dwellings of the Danunians (18) in the tranquility of their hearts.

S34. w`n 'nk 'rzt `zt bmb`(19) šmš

S34. And I subdued strong countries in the setting of the (19) sun.

S35. 'š bl ('rzt) kl hmlkm

S35. Who not (subdued) all of the kings.

S36. 'š kn (hmlkm) lpny

S36. Who were similar (as the kings) before me.

S37. w'(20)nk 'ztwd `ntnm

S37. And I (20) Azitawadda subdued them.

S38. yrdm 'nk

S38. I let them rise.

S39. yšbm 'nk bqzt gbly

S39. I let them dwell in the end of my borders.

S40. (yšbm 'nk) bmz' šmš

S40. (I let them dwell) in the rising of the sun.

Column II

S1. wdnnm (II.1) yšbt šm

S1. And the Danunians (II.1) I let stay there.

S2. wkn bymty bkl (2) gbl `mq 'dn lmmz' šmš (3) w'd mb'y

S2. And they were in my days in all (2) borders of the plain of Adana.

S3. (wkn bymty bkl gbl) wbmqmm

S3. (And they were in my days in all borders) and in all places.

S4. 'š (kn) (41) lpnm nšt`m

S4. Who were (4) previously feared.

S5. 'š yšt` 'dm llkt (5) d가

S5. Who a man fears to (5) meet (on the) way.

S6. wbymty 'nk 'št tkl ḥd(6)y dl plkm

S6. And in my days I let a woman eat my sword (6) the poor the districts.

S7. b`br b`l

S7. through the grace of Baal.

S8. (b`br) w'lm

S8. (through the grace) also of the gods.

S9. (7) wkn bkl ymty šb`

S9. (7) And similarly in all my days comfort.

S10. (wkn bkl ymty) wmn`m

S10. (and similarly in all my days) also wellbeing.

S11. (wkn bkl ymty) wšbt n`mt

S11. (and similarly in all my days) also restful (Sabbath) dwellings.

S12. (wkn bkl ymty) (8) wnḥt lb ldnnym

S12. (and similarly in all my days) also rest for the heart of the Danunians.

S13. (wkn bkl ymty wnḥt) wlkl `m(9)q 'dn

S13. (and similarly in all my days also rest) and to all the plain (9) of Adana.

S14. wbn 'nk hqrt z

S14. And I built this city.

S15. wšt(10) 'nk šm 'ztwdy

S15. And I (10) gave it the name Azitawadda.

S16. k b`l wršp (11) șprm šlḥn lbnt

S16. Because Baal and Reshep (11) șprm sent me to build.

S17. wbn 'nk b(12)`br b`l wb`br ršp șprm b(13)šb`

S17. And I build through (12) the grace of Baal and through the grace of Reshep șprm (13) unto comfort

S18. (wbn 'nk b`br b`l wb`br ršp șprm) wbmn`m

S18. (And I built through the grace of Baal and through the grace of Reshep șprm) also wellbeing.

S19. (wbn 'nk b`br b`l wb`br ršp șprm) wbšbt n`mt

S19. (And I built through the grace of Baal and through the grace of Reshep șprm) also restful (Sabbath) dwellings.

S20. (wbn 'nk b`br b`l wb`br ršp șprm) wbnḥt (14) lb

S20. (And I built through the grace of Baal and through the grace of Reshep șprm) also rest of the heart.

S21. lkny mšmr l`mq 'dn

S21. Whereby a guard to the plain of Adana.

S22. (lkny mšmr) wlb(15)t mpš

S22. (Whereby a guard) also to the house of (15) Mpš

S23. k bymty kn l'rz `mq '(16)dn šb`

S23. Because in my days similarly to the land the plain of Adana was a comfort.

S24. (k bymty kn l'rz `mq 'dn) wmn`m

S24. (Because in my days similarly to the land and the plain of Adana was) also wellbeing.

S25. wbl kn mtm ldnny(17)m bymty

S25. And similarly not were it night unto the Danunians (17) in my days.

S26. wbn 'nk hqrt z

S26. And I built this city.

S27. št(18) 'nk šm 'ztwdy

S27. I gave (18) the name Azitawadda

S28. yšb 'nk bn(19) b`l krntryš

S28. I let stay in it (19) Baal KRNTRYŠ

S29. wyld zbḥ lkl (III.1) hmskt

S29. And brought offering to all idols (III.1)

Column III

S1. (wyld) zbḥ ymm 'lp

S1. (and brought) offering yearly, an ox.

S2. (wyld) wb(`t) (ḥ)rš š (2)

S2. (and brought) also the (time of plo)wing (2) a sheep.

S3. (wyld) wb`t qzr š

S3. (and brought) also in the time of harvest a sheep.

S4. wbrk b`l kr(n)(3)tryš 'yt 'ztwd hym

S4. and Baal KRNTRYŠ (3) blessed the day of Azitawadda.

S5. (wbrk b`l krntryš 'yt 'ztwd hym) wšlm

S5. (and Baal KRNTRYŠ blessed the day of Azitawadda) also the peace.

S6. (4)(wbrk b`l krntryš 'yt 'ztwd hym) w`z 'dr `l kl mlk ltty

S6. (4)(and Baal KRNTRYŠ blessed the day of Azitawadda) also stronger strength than all the kings beyond.

S7. (wbrk) b`l krntryš ('yt) (5) wkl 'ln qrt l'ztwd 'rk ymm

S7. (and blessed) Baal KRNTRYŠ (him) (5) and all the gods of the city unto Azitawadda length of days.

S8. (wbrk b`l krntryš wkl 'ln qrt l'ztwd) wrb(6) šnt

S8. (and blessed Baal KRNTRYŠ and all the gods of the city unto Azitawadda) also many(6) years.

S9. (wbrk b`l krntryš wkl 'ln qrt l'ztwd) wr'št n`mt

S9. (and blessed Baal KRNTRYŠ and all the gods of the city unto Azitawadda) also a good reign.

S10. (wbrk b`l krntryš wkl 'ln qrt l'ztwd) w`z 'dr `l kl ml(7)k

S10. (and blessed Baal KRNTRYŠ and all the gods of the city unto Azitawadda) also stronger strength than all the ki(7)ngs.

S11. wkn hqrt z b`lt šb`

S11. and this city that is an owner of comfort.

S12. (wkn hqrt z b`lt) wtrš

S12. (and this city that is an owner) also of wine.

S13. (wkn hqrt z b`lt) w`m(8) z

S13. (and this city that is an owner) also of these people.

S14. 'š yšb bn ykn b`l 'lpm

S14. Who dwells (these people) in it will establish owners of oxen.

S15. ('š yšb bn ykn) wb`(9)l z'n

S15. (Who dwells in it will establish) also owners of small cattle (9).

S16. ('š yšb bn ykn) wb`l šb`

S16. (Who dwells in it will establish) also owners of comfort.

S17. ('š yšb bn ykn b`l) wtrš

S17. (Who dwells in it will establish owners) also of wine.

S18. wbrbm yl`

S18. And amongst many of them he will enslave.

S19. (10) wbrbm y'dr

S19. (10) And amongst many of them he will be mighty.

S20. wbrbm y`bd l'z(11)twd

S20. And amongst many of them will be enslaved to Azitawadda.

S21. (wbrbm y`bd) wlbt mpš

S21. (and amongst many of them will be enslaved) also to the house of Mpš

S22. b`br b`l

S22. through the grace of Baal.

S23. (b`br) w'lm

S23. (through the grace) also of the gods.

S24. (12) w'm mlk bmlkm

S24. And if be a king among kings.

S25. (w'm) wrzn brznm

S25. (and if be) also a dignitary among dignitaries.

S26. 'm '(13)dm 'š 'dm šm

S26. if be a man who is an honored man.

S27. 'š ymḥ šm 'ztw(14)d bš`r z

S27. Who left out the name of (14)Azitawadda in these portals.

S28. ('š) wšt šm

S28. (Who) also gave a name.

S29. 'm 'p yḥmd 'y(15)t hqrt z

S29. If also he desires(15) this city.

S30. ('m 'p) wys` hš`r z

S30. (If also) travel in this portal.

S31. 'š p`l '(16)ztwd

S31. Which is (the portal) Azitawadda (6) made.

S32. ('š) wyp`l lš`r zr

S32. (Which) also will be made into the portal of a foreigner.

S33. ('š) wšt šm `ly

S33. (Who) also gave a name upon it.

S34. (17) 'm bḥmdt ys`

S34. (17) If through desire will travel in (these portals)

S35. 'm bšn't (ys`)

S35. If through hatred (he will travel in these portals)

S36. ('m) wbr` ys`(18) hš`r z

S36. (If) also through evil he travel in (18) these portals.

S37. wmh b`l smm w'l qn 'rz (19) wšmš `lm wkl dr bn 'lm 'yt hmmlkt h' [very unusual demonstrative pronoun for Phoenician]

S37. And may Baal of Heavens and El of the earth (19) and Sun of Eternity and all the offshoot of the sons of the gods extinguish this kingdom.

S38. w'yt hmlk h'

S38. And extinguish (literally come = Ugaritic 'tw) this king.

S39. w'yt (IV.1) 'dm h'

S39. And extinguish (IV.1) this man.

S40. 'š 'dm šm

S40. Who is a honored man.

S41. 'ps (2) šm 'ztwd ykn l'lm

S41. May (2) the name of Azitawadda be established unto eternity!

S42. ('ps) šm 'ztwd ykn l'lm) km šm (3) šmš wyrḥ

S42. (May the name of Azitawadda be established unto eternity) according to the name of (3) Sun and of the moon.