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Title: | A farewell to Neo-Punic: Tac-Caghqi revisited |
Authors: | Zammit, Abigail R. Kerr, Robert M. |
Keywords: | Tac-Caghki Catacombs (Rabat, Malta) Inscriptions, Punic -- Malta -- Rabat Tombs -- Malta -- Rabat Catacombs -- Malta -- Rabat Rabat (Malta) -- Antiquities Mediterranean Region -- Civilization -- Phoenician influences Malta -- History -- Phoenician and Punic period, 8th century B.C.-218 B.C. |
Issue Date: | 2017 |
Publisher: | The Archaeological Society |
Citation: | Zammit, A. & Kerr, R.M. (2017). A farewell to Neo-Punic: Tac-Caghqi revisited. Malta Archaeological Review, 11, 25-33 |
Abstract: | The alleged inscriptions in the south-east hypogeum of Tac-Caghqi (within the premises of St Nicholas College in Rabat, Malta) were discussed in depth by Mons. Benedetto Rocco in 1972. Rocco interpreted the glyphs as Neo-Punic, with a long 'Inscription' supposedly consisting of a prayer to appease the deceased through the offering of a gift, and an alleged minor 'Inscription' addressing the dead to 'rise'. These readings were discussed against the notion of possible libation rites that may have been a custom within the hypogeum, as suggested by the tomb furniture in situ. Rocco based his readings of the script and types of letters on his previous study of further alleged Punic and Neo-Punic inscriptions within cave sites in Palermo and Favignana (Sicily), in combination with semantic analysis of Biblical Hebrew. Nevertheless, the supposed Tac-Caghqi inscriptions come across as ambiguous sets of glyphs that are illegible, and actually cannot be deemed Punic or Neo-Punic script. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50341 |
Appears in Collections: | MAR, Issue 11 (2012/2013) MAR, Issue 11 (2012/2013) |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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A farewell to Neo-Punic Tac-Cagliqi revisited.pdf | 1.82 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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