Mortuary Statue

CBS Register: Fragment of slab in limestone, mortuary stone. In relief bust of bearded man with Palmyrene inscription to the left of his head. Black color around eyes and hair partly preserved.

Romano: "Rectangular inscribed loculus relief with frontal bearded male bust to approximate hip level. Man wearing two garments: a tunic and a mantle over both shoulders which envelops both arms and falls down his left side. His right arm is bent grasping the edge of the mantle; his left arm is bent and with the two middle fingers bent he holds a flat rectangular object (a book roll or schedula) against his chest tucked slightly beneath his mantle. Hair is rendered as flame-like locks from top of head towards forehead. Prominent, awkwardly rendered ears sitting almost perpendicular to the sides of his head. Deep creases over forehead. Sharp ridge for eyebrows. Very large almond-shaped eyes with thickened ridges for upper lids, overlapping lower. Incised circle for iris touching upper lid; drilled dot for pupil. Black pigment filling iris and outlining rim of eyes. Long straight nose with flaring nostrils deeply indented. Prominent cheekbones and furrows from nose to beard. Short beard with individual hairs of moustache and locks of beard rendered. Protruding lips with deep indentation between lower lip and jutting chin. Carefully rendered hands with fingernails represented. Ring with circular bezel on small finger of left hand. Inscription in Palmyrene dialect of Aramaic in four lines to the right of the head: "Ma'an, son of Bar'a, son of Zabd'ateh. Alas!" Red pigment in letters of inscription."