Publications
The Roman army in Provincia Arabia: Old and new documents from Umm al-Jimāl (Jordan)
Two newly discovered epigraphic documents from Umm al-Jimāl, Jordan, shed light on the Roman military presence in Provincia Arabia. The first, a Greek dedication to Zeus Keraunios under the Severi dynasty, and the second, a Latin inscription detailing the construction of a tower under Flavius Maximinus, provide critical insights into the region's military history from 106 CE to the reign of Justinian (527-565 CE). These findings contribute to understanding the dynamics between soldiers, villagers, and nomads in the limes Arabicus. The study combines epigraphic analysis with historical context to reconstruct the Roman army's role and interactions in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
An edition of new Nabataean inscriptions from Umm al-Jimāl
Recent discoveries at Umm Al-Jimāl, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Jordan's north-eastern Badia, have uncovered six new Nabataean inscriptions. These inscriptions, carved in the square or monumental script, represent a significant addition to the known corpus of Nabataean epigraphy. The findings provide valuable insights into the language and culture of the Nabataeans, a people renowned for their architectural and artistic achievements during the Roman period. The study, conducted by al-Zoubi, al-Manaser, and Hazza (2022), contributes to the broader understanding of Nabataean civilization through meticulous documentation and analysis of these newly discovered texts.
An Arab Chariot Monument at Umm al-Jimāl
Research at Umm al-Jimāl, Jordan, reveals previously unpublished basalt sculptures from a Nabataean-Roman to Byzantine settlement, offering new evidence of Hellenistic-Romanized embellishment in an Arab-Nabataean sanctuary. The fragments, dated to the first or second century AD, depict chariot groups driven by deities, paralleling similar statuary found in the nearby basalt desert of al-Ledjā (ancient Trachonitis). Analysis of these remnants suggests they were part of a larger sculptural complex likely destroyed during the Palmyrenean Campaign in the later third century AD. The study combines archaeological investigation with comparative analysis to reconstruct the sanctuary's significance and cultural context, bridging gaps in our understanding of this understudied region.
A Revised Reading of a Nabataean Inscription from Umm Al-Jimal
A revised interpretation of a Nabataean inscription from Umm Al-Jimāl challenges previous readings, offering new insights into the language and culture of the ancient Nabataeans. The study focuses on line two of an inscription analyzed by S. Said and M. al-Hamad (2003), proposing alternative translations that refine understanding of the text's historical context. By employing epigraphic analysis and comparative linguistic methods, the authors demonstrate how re-evaluating ambiguous or poorly preserved inscriptions can yield significant advancements in deciphering Nabataean script and semantics. This work contributes to ongoing efforts to reconstruct the epigraphic corpus of Umm Al-Jimāl, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Nabataean heritage.
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