PRE-ISLAMIC STONE SCULPTURES FROM ARABIA By Hamid Ibrahim A1-Mazroo This Thesis is ...

221 Pages·2009·10.13 MB·English

A
STYLISTIC
AND COMPARATIVE
STUDY OF UNPUBLISHED
PRE-ISLAMIC
STONE SCULPTURES FROM ARABIA
By Hamid Ibrahim A1-Mazroo
is Submitted for
This Thesis
Philosophy
the Degree of Doctor of
Archaeology,
the. Institute of
at
London.
College,
University
1990
1.
Abstract
This thesis has involved the compilation of a catalogue of
unpublished pre-Islamic sculptural material, comprising statues,
heads, bearing human faces
statuettes, reliefs and plaques stylized
inscriptions. The from three known
and objects come mainly
(al-6U1ä,
in the kingdom Saudi Arabia Fadak
archaeological site of
Qaryat the
and al-Fail), and other unknown sites situated within
(ancient
South Western Arabia Yemen).
region of
The thesis drawings The
contains maps, and photographs.
first divides the to their
catalogue objects according regions and
then the from South Arabia into
sites, sub-divides objects groups,
types The has been done
and sub-types. classification partly on a
basis,
typological and partly, upon a' combination of several
outstanding aspects, such as method "of manufacture' and other
technical considerations.
A discussion individual in
of each object or classified object
the follows its description. In these discussions
catalogue
to focus
attempts are made on many related aspects such as stylistic
function. An is to
and comparative studies and attempt also made
trace the between the
regional stylistic variation sculptures of
Qaryat South Arabia. No has
al-Faü and publication made any attempt
to from these to their
catalogue sculptures regions with respect
This thesis thus to fill the needs for a
stylistic variation. seeks
scholarly cataloguing and discussion of this important class of art.
behind
Conclusions drawn concerning the main reasons the
are
South Arabian
the
of conventional
uniformity and conformity
light the
statuary. This study also sheds new on sculptural styles
Arabian
to be found in the peninsula.
pre-Islamic
Contents
Page No.
1.
Abstract
2.
Acknowledgements
3.
Abbreviations
.
Introduction
ý4.
List Maps 10.
of
Maps 11.
Chapter 1: Geographical
and
Historical Background 15.
Chapter 2: North-West Arabia: 53.
Human Representations
Chapter 3: Qaryat 70.
al-Faü:
Human Representations
Chapter 4: South-West Arabia:
Human Animal Representations
96.
and
Group I: Sculpted Human Heads 101.
List Types A-L
of
Group II: Plaques Bearing 135.
Stylized Human Faces
List Types A-E
of
Group III: Reliefs Bearing Human 152.
Animal Figures
and
Group IV: Statuettes 166.
of
Female Figures
Appendix: The Inscriptions 178.
Conclusions 194.
200.
Bibliography
212.
List Figures
of
213"
Figures
241.
List Plates
of
246.
Plates
2.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the assistance of many people in
the course of preparing this thesis. I am indebted most of all to
Mr. P. J. Parr, Supervisor, for his help throughout
my and guidance
for his
my period of research, and constructive suggestions and
interest in the
sustained subject.
My to King Saud University is because this
obligation unique,
have been its
work could not undertaken without generous
sponsorship. I am especially indebted to the following: Professor
A. Ansary for his kindness
to
al- and permission consult and study
from Qaryat Dr. A. Masry,
unpublished sculptural objects al-Faü;
Director the Department Archaeology Antiquities, for his
of of and
in Mr. Qadi'Ismacil
assistance consulting unpublished materia; al-
Akwa6, Director the for Antiquities Libraries in
of organization
and
Sanä helpful in
to
was most permitting me study unpublished
material.
I indebted to Professor A. Beeston, Professor R. Smith, Dr.
am
S. al-Thaib and Mr. -M. al-Rousän for their assistance and
penetrating remarks concerning the palaeographic aspects of the
inscriptions in this thesis.
studied
My thanks due to Dr. G. King, Professor M Colledge Mr.
are and
C. Phillips for their information. My thanks
valuable criticism and
are also due to Ms. Chris Crickmore for patiently typing the script
the
and checking spelling.
Last, but certainly not least, I wish to express my gratitude
in
to my wife who continually supported and encouraged me my work.
3.
Abbreviations
AB: The Arts Bulletin
ADSA: Archaeological Discoveries in South Arabia
AO: Ars Orientalis
AJA: American Journal Archaeology
of
AS: Anatolian Studies
BASOR: Bulletin American School Oriental Research
of of
BFA: Bulletin the Faculty Arts
of of
BIA: Bulletin the Institute Archaeology
of of
BSOAS: Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies
DAKSU: Department Archaeology, King Saud University
of
(Riyadh)
DAM: Department Antiquities Museums
of and
JEA: The Journal Egyptian Archaeology
of
JS: Jaussen, S. Savignac, F. Mission Archeologique
and en
Arabie. Paris
LISAN Ibn Manzür, M. Lisän Arab. Beirut, 1955-6. (15
al-,
)
Vols.
L'PEHC: L'Arabie Preislamique Environnement Historique
et son
Culturel
et
QDAP: Quarterly the Department Antiquities in
of of
Palestine
(8
R`ES: Repertoire d'Epigraphie Semitique. Paris, 1900-68
)
Vols.
SA: Scientific American
SAB. DIC. Beeston, A., Ghul, M., Müller, W., Ryckmans, J.
Sabaic Dictionary. 1982
SAS: Seminar for Arabian Studies
SHA: Sources for the History Arabia
of
SHAJ: Studies in the History Archaeology Jordan
and of
(King
UM: The University Museum Saud University)
YM: The Yemen Museum
Symbols
Above letter is doubtful
o: whose reading
Lost illegible letter
x: or
[ 1: Restoration illegible lost
of parts now or
4.
INTRODUCTION
One of the main motivations of this research is to study
the to be found in the Arabian
sculptural styles pre-Islamic
Peninsula. This is based
study mainly upon stylistic and
comparative studies of unpublished stone sculptures which come
from three in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia
archaeological sites of
'Ulä,
(al- Fadak
and al-Fail), and with other unprovenanced
from South Arabia. For the this the
material purpose of study,
term 'South Arabia' is to Yemen.
used exclusively mean ancient
The form the this
sculptures, which subject of research
have been included in for the
our study a number of reasons,
important being:
most
(1) (with
All the sculptures the exception of Objects
Cat. Nos. 13,14,15 16) have been
and not studied or
before,
the
published and some of objects
carry interesting, inscriptions. It is for this
in
that the feels
reason particular writer strongly
the for these important to be
need sculptures studied
in
and catalogued a scholarly manner.
(ii)
The
examination of these sculptures, which are more
less to trace the
or contemporary, would enable us
between the
regional, stylistic variations sculptures
Qaryat South Arabia. No
of al-Faü and publication
from
has to
catalogue sculptures
made any attempt
these respect to their regional
regions with
This thesis thus to fill
seeks
stylistic variation.
discussion
the needs for a scholarly cataloguing and
this important class of art.
of
5.
Besides the
stylistic and comparative studies, an attempt
is to trace the the South Arabian
made original provenances of
An is to tools
sculpture. attempt also made assess which are
likely to have been in the to help in
used carving process, and
this details from have
enlarged photographs of various objects
been included. Such an approach has never before been taken to
pre-Islamic art in Arabia, however too much emphasis should not
be placed on it, as it has been possibly to make deductions
about the types of tools used only where traces of tool marks
the
appear on objects under examination.
Despite the importance its basic
of sculptural art and
in
rule exposing several cultural aspects, the sculpture of
Arabia has
pre-Islamic not received fair treatment
as a worthy
class of artifacts. Indeed, interest in Arabian
pre-Islamic
in
sculpture, and particular those of South Arabia, began only
after the excavations carried out by the American Foundation
for the Study of Man during 1950-52 Timna6 (ancient Qatabän
at
(W.
Märib Phillips 1955; R. Bowen F. Albright 1958;
and
and
G. van Beek 1952,1969a). The results of these excavations
have increased knowledge South
not only appreciably
our of
Arabian but have initiated important
civilization, also studies
South Arabian Stylistic
of statuary. and comparative studies
begun by Dr. B. Segall (Segall 1950,207-14; 1955b, 315-
were
18; 1956a, 165-70; 1956b, 75-88; 1957,35-42; 1958,155-78)
important have been by Dr. J.
and studies also carried out
1960,326-47; 1961a, 284-
Pirenne (Pirenne 1955-1956,37-68;
1977, Vol. I 2; 1986,
310; 1961b; 1962,257-62; section
H. Wissmann 1932
Vol. 2 fasc. 2) C. Rathjens and von among
and
6.
(R. Cleveland 1965; Rathjens 1953, Vol. 2; A Grohmann
others
1963; P. Costa 1978).
These have to knowledge,
publications added greatly our
have the known from South Arabia, but
and classifed sculptures
the tradition is,
although sculptural artistic of ancient yemen
to becoming better known,
a certain extent, as yet very
been
inadequate have to in the
studies made assist us
the to be found in
recognition of sculptural styles which are
Fadak
other archaeological sites such as al-6U1ä, and al-
Fa-u. ---The is by
student of pre-Islamic sculpture confronted many
difficulties, the important the following.
of which most are
The the discovered far
majority of sculptures and studied so
derive from unknown sites or unstratified contexts, and this
problem is often connected with the complicated problem of
detailed. discussion
chronology of which would only complicate
task the this
our and overshadow main objectives of research.
A further difficulty is the limited
number of charted
to development
researches of sculptures show any continuous of
the have been developed for Egypt Mesopotamia.
art, as and
Doubtless the taking
excavations and surveys at present place
in the Arabian peninsula will enrich our understanding and put
the Arabia in better
art of a perspective.
has been
Ever times art a method of
since ancient
expression through which the artist recorded circumstances and
his
familiar to him. Through art. the artist expressed
events-
Behind there
beliefs life. any work of art
and philosphy of
his
the to
urged artist complete
are specific motives which
7.
in to know the the
work, and order meaning and artistic value
form trace these Otherwise lot
of any art we should motives. a
the the be
of abstract and artistic significance of work may
lost or misunderstood. As an example of this we may take the
fact that, the Near Eastern depicting King,
sculptor, when a
would greatly magnify his image to the beholder the
show
ruler's political and social importance., Thus the success of
an artist's work should be evaluated according to his ability
to depict his
events, as well as emotional response to that
It is
event. natural that the artist's skill plays a direct
in the
role elaborating aesthetic aspects of the work.
In the
every nation of ancient world sculptural arts
assumed methods and forms that differed from to
one place
another. This difference was due to several factors, the most
(i)
important being (ii)
religious and social ethics; and the
the
effect of environment, as well as the political, and
in
the developed. The
economical state which art
artist could
"
the
not single-handedly alter prevailing artistic style; nor
he ignore the beliefs traditions he had inherited from
could or
his predecessors. This is especially true if we take into
the fact that to
consideration ancient art was not used express
thoughts beliefs, thus has different
personal and and a very
function from much modern art. Ancient art thus came to
beliefs, these
reflect the common traditions and religious and
by
traditions were reflected particularly strongly sculpture,
features to the
distinctive
took according
which on special
its place of origin, and reflected
conceptual philosophy of
8.
inter-regional difference,
even within an`area as comparatively
Arabia.
small as
Method Classification
of
The this thesis is based
material on which comprises
(statues,
types human
various of sculptural objects statuettes,
heads, face-plaques) housed in
reliefs and museums and
institutions in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia
archaeological of
(Department
Archaeology Museology, King Saud University,
of and
Riyadh; Department Antiquities Museums, Ministry
of and of
Education) the Yemen Arab Republic (National Museum
and
of
).
San'
The documentation
objects were studied and complete made
including identification
measurements,
of material,
The
photographs, etc. resulting material is presented in the
form The
of a catalogue. catalogue arranges the objects
to their
according geographical regions and provenance,
beginning the from the Northwest Arabian
with sculptures
sites
(Cat.
Fadak Nos. 1-10)
of al-6U1ä and and continuing with the
sculptures from Qaryat al-Faü (Cat. Nos. 11-23). Finally the
from South Arabia discussed (Cat. Nos. 24-85). The
objects are
divides the from South Arabia into
catalogue also objects
types This has been
groups, and sub-types. carried out partly
upon typological lines, and partly on a combination of several
major features such as artistic style and technique. In this
follows the
study the presentation of the material generally
indicated,
except where otherwise
same pattern of organization,
two
consisting of parts: