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Namara inscription | |
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Material | Basalt |
Writing | Nabataean script |
Created | 7 December 328 |
Discovered | 4 April 1901 Namara, Syria |
Discovered by | René Dussaud and Frédéric Macler |
Present location | Louvre Museum, Paris, France |
Language | Old Arabic (Nabataean dialect) |
The Namara inscription (Arabic: نقش النمارة naqš an-Namārah) is a 4th century inscription in the Arabic language, making it one of the earliest. It has also been interpreted as a late version of the Nabataean script in its transition to Arabic script. It has been described by Irfan Shahid as "the most important Arabic inscription of pre-Islamic times"[1] and by Kees Versteegh as "the most famous Arabic inscription".[2] It is also an important source for the relationships between the Romans and the Arabs in that period. It is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in France, with identification number AO 4083.[3]