Recherches sur la résurgence du vocabulaire sémitique dans le langage religieux des provinces romaines d'Afrique : le cas du terme moctor

A recent analysis of a Latin inscription from the Medina of Sousse, Tunisia, reveals the resurgence of Semitic religious vocabulary in Roman Africa. The term moctor, identified as an unprecedented clerical function, is traced to the Semitic root KTR/QTR, meaning 'offering incense.' This finding suggests a cultural continuity between Phoenicio-Punic traditions and Roman religious practices in North Africa, particularly in cities with deep Phoenician roots. The study supports broader evidence of Semitic linguistic influence persisting in Roman provincial contexts, underscoring the enduring impact of ancient Near Eastern cults on local religious language.

Naddari, L., & Hamrouni, M. R. (2018). Recherches sur la résurgence du vocabulaire sémitique dans le langage religieux des provinces romaines d’Afrique : le cas du terme moctor. Libyan Studies, 49, 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1017/lis.2018.9