Despite its brevity, this inscription has attracted some interest, because "it would be difficult to find a document which in a few fragmentary lines exhibits more precisely the fusion of Greek and Phoenician elements" (Fergus Millar).
The inscription is dated by the local Era of Arados, which began in 259 B.C.; for more information on this era, see Z. Sawaya, "The Eras of the cities of Northern Phoenicia" ( OpenEdition ).
The text is bilingual, in Greek (A) and Phoenician (B). The translation of B is adapted from IGLSyr., vol. 7 ( Persée ). The significance of this and other bilingual inscriptions is discussed by A.C. Ewins and E.B. Williams Reed in "A Companion to the Hellenistic and Roman Near East", pp.424-426 ( Google Books ); and in more detail by F. Briquel-Chatonnet, "Les inscriptions phénico-grecques et le bilinguisme des Phéniciens" ( Persée ).
[A] . . . hieropoios, serving as gymnasiarch in year 235, dedicated this to Hermes and Herakles.
[B] 'Astarthut (?) son of . . . [appointed ?] on [sea and on] land (?), son of 'Abd . . . [appointed . . . ] son of 'Astar[thu]t (?), dedicated this to Hermes and Melqart, in year 235, since the construction . . .
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