Inscriptions by Local Ḥimyarite Princes
August 433 CE
Marthad’īlān Yarim of the lineage of Hamdān, Sa’rān, Aśwaf, and Ajra‘ son of Mr[ . . . ] built and completed the Barīk synagogue/sanctuary for God (Īl<ān>), Lord of heaven and earth, for the welfare of their lords Abīkarib As‘ad, Ḥassān Yuha’min, Ma‘adīkarib Yuhan‘im, Marthad’īlān Yaz’an, and Shuraḥbi’īl Ya‘fur, kings of Saba’, dhū-Raydān, Ḥaḍramawt, and Yamanat, and that God (Īlān), Lord of heaven and earth, may give them reverence (?) for His name and prosperity to their persons and their guards and vassals in time of war and peace. In the month of dhū-Khirāfān of (the year) five hundred and forty-three. Peace and peace, the Barīk synagogue/sanctuary.
Source: Ry 534 + Rayda 1
January 465 CE
Ḥarīm Awshak dhū-Kabsiyān, dhū-Wadanum, dhū-Bananar, Sumyatha‘, dhū-Saddān, qayls of the Tan‘imum tribe, Wam‘um, Madī’īl, Naymān, Aytha‘ān, and Ḥalamum built the synagogue/sanctuary Ya‘ūq in their city Ḍula‘um for their lord Raḥmanān, Lord of heaven, that He may grant him, Raḥmanān, his wives, and his children, to live a respectable life and die a respectable death. May Raḥmanān grant them healthy children, acting in the name of Raḥmanān. They have built this synagogue/sanctuary Ya‘ūq from the foundations to the top, the assembly hall and the roofs. In the month of dhū-Di’āwān of the year five hundred and seventy-four.
Source: Ry 520
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
