Epigraphy deals with ancient inscriptions and manuscripts revealed by archaeology; it is an auxiliary study to that of history. It studies the texts, languages and scripts from diachronic and synchronic points of view, and thus yields additional data on the cultural background of the people who produced the written sources. This book contains a selection of articles by the author on West-Semitic scripts and inscriptions published during almost forty years. Joseph Naveh is professor emeritus of Ancient West Semitic Epigraphy and Palaeography at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

Alphabetic writing is one of the principal features of Western culture. Our knowledge of the early history, development and spread of the alphabet is constantly changing. This introduction to West Semitic epigraphy and paleography is the author’s personal way of introducing this field of study on the basis of the evidence available to date. Sample pages A digital version of this book is available here

A digital version of this book is available here The literary documentation on southern Palestine at the end of the Persian period and the beginning of the Hellenistic period is very poor. Hence recently discovered Aramaic ostraca data 361-311 BC are the almost exclusive source for the study of the ethnic structure and the economic life in the period under discussion. Containing Aramaic words which are unknown from other sources, they also bear linguistic significance. The book contains the photographs, transliteration and translation with a commentary of 201 ostraca. It also contains a detailed introduction about the substantial and historical significance of the ostraca, as well as a glossary and an index of the proper names.

A digital version of this book is available here Sample pages Since the publication of Amulets and Magic Bowls: Aramaic Incantations of Late Antiquity in 1985, several additional magic texts came to the attention of the authors. This volume comprises a new collection of seventeen Palestinian metal amulets, accompanied by 14 Babylonian incantations on earthenware bowls, and 21 magic texts from the Cairo Geniza. As in Amulets and Magic Bowls, all texts are presented with translations, commentaries and photographs. The amulets are also reproduced in facsimile drawings. The book contains an introduction which deals with the relationship between liturgy and magic, as well as medicine and magic. There is also a glossary and detailed indices.

Alphabetic writing is one of the principal features of Western culture. Our knowledge of the early history, development and spread of the alphabet is constantly changing. This introduction to West Semitic epigraphy and paleography is the author’s personal way of introducing this field of study on the basis of the evidence available to date.

It was a widespread practice in the area of Palestine, Syria and Asia Minor during the fourth to the seventh centuries of the current era to use talismans written on metal sheets in order to ward off the powers of evil, to heal people, or to gain the love of a person. The common Babylonian practice of the same period was to write incantation texts on earthenware bowls. This book contains the texts of all the legible amulets in Aramaic known today, as well as 13 hitherto unpublished bowls. The texts are proved with translations and commentaries, and a detailed glossary of all the words is given. The study of these incantations provides a glimpse into the religious feelings and practices of common people in the Talmudic period and enriches our knowledge of Palestinian and Babylonian Aramaic usage. This book contains a wealth of new material for the history of magic in the Near East, edited and interpreted with meticulous scholarship. Sample pages A digital version of this book is available here