Page:Archaeologia volume 38 part 1.djvu/242

 212 Recent Excavations at Carthage. In a few of the inscriptions discovered by Mr. Davis the proper names are followed by a short formula which does not appear to have been hitherto noticed in inscriptions from Carthage, although it has been found in tablets from other places, such as the pedestals from Malta which will be more fully described hereafter, and on several of the inscriptions in the later form of Phoenician, which, from the localities where some of them have been found, Gesenius has termed Numidian. In its complete form this part of the inscription consists of the following letters : though occasionally the formula terminates at the seventh character; in the Maltese inscription, there being two votaries, we find D (mem) instead of K (aleph). This Ciesenius translates, " Ubi audiverit vocem eorum benedicat eis." Judas renders it, " Ex pnecepto maleclixerunt aut benedixerunt." De Saulcy, who has entered minutely into the consideration of the formula," translates it, " Des qu'il a entendu leur voix il les benit." We may therefore fairly conclude that the words have been added to some of the Carthaginian inscriptions, as an invo- cation of blessings on the person for whom the stones were erected. The above remarks will suHice to give some idea of the tenor of the inscrip- tions on these curious tablets. I have not attempted to go more fully into their details, partly because 1 do 7iot possess the necessary acquirements for the purpose, and partly because the Trustees of the British Museum have sanctioned the publication of fac-similes of all the Phoenician inscriptions in the National Collection. I trust ere long to see the first part of the work appear under the able editorship of my colleague Mr. Vaux, whose knowledge of oriental languages, and whose paleographic studies will enable him to do more com- plete justice to these interesting remains. There are some points however as to the tablets on which it may be desirable to make a few observations, viz. the purpose for which they were made; the divinities whose names they bear ; the devices engraved upon them ; and the age to which they probably belong. As to the purpose for which they were made ; I have stated that the general opinion of commentators is in favour of interpreting the words YIJ EK as in some way implying a vow. But M. Judas, in his interesting treatise on the Phoenician Rccherchea sur les Inscriptions Votives PLeniciennes et Puniquea, in Annali del Inst. di Corr. Archcol. xrii. (1845) p. 68.