religion 191
(Kai 225 and 226; pls. xVii and xix) close to the location of the original
find.319 these two stelae lay north and south of the sarcophagus, so that
a relationship with it can be assumed. inside the sarcophagus were the
remains of two burials, not of the two priests mentioned in the stelae’s
inscriptions but rather of one of the priests alongside a woman. the gen-
der of the second individual is inferred from the discovery of a necklace
and two gold pieces of jewelry.320
Because of their aramaic inscriptions, the two sepulchral stelae provide
an account of the town’s burial practices. the inscription321 on the first
stele (ao 3026) reads:
(1) sin-zera-ibni was priest (2) of Śahr at neirab. he died. (3) and this is his
image (4) and his sarcophagus.322 (5) Whoever you are, (6) who drags away
this image (7) and this sarcophagus (8) from its place, (9) may Śahr and
Šamaš and nikkal and nusku tear away (10) your name and your place from
the living, and with evil death (11) may they kill you, and may they cause
your offspring to perish. But if (12) you guard this image and this sarcopha-
gus (13) in the future may yours be guarded. (Kai 225)the inscription can essentially be reduced to an introduction of the
deceased and curses on potential grave robbers, coupled with blessings
upon the one who protects the stele and sarcophagus. thus, the inscrip-
tion is intended to protect the peace in death of the priest sin-zera-ibni.
the representation on the stele shows the priest sin-zera-ibni facing
right (pl. xix). his right hand is raised in blessing and a band in his left
hand signifies his rank. the priest addresses the reader in the last section
of the inscription, blessing the one who protects the grave.323 the peg on
the bottom of the stele is a provision for erecting it on something or at the
grave of the deceased.
the inscription324 on the second stele (ao 3027) reads:
(1) siʾgabbar was a priest of Śahr at neirab. (2) this is his image. Because
of my righteousness before him, (3) he established a good name for me and
prolonged my days. (4) on the day i died, my mouth was not closed to words,
(5) and with my eyes i was looking at children of the fourth (generation).
they wept for (6) me and were greatly disturbed. and they did not place
319 see above, section 3.1.
320 cf. clermont-ganneau 1897: 183–187 and Voos 1986: 93–98, 117–119.
321 cf. the editions in gibson 1975: 95–97; Yun 2006: 21–27; niehr 2010b: 43–47.
322 on the discussion of ʾrṣtʾ as sarcophagus, cf. niehr 2010b: 45.
323 cf. on this interpretation niehr 2010b: 51f.
324 cf. the editions in gibson 1975: 97f; Yun 2006: 21–27; niehr 2010b: 47–50.