The Eye in Ancient South Arabian Inscriptions and Monuments

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلف

Faculty of Archaeology- Cairo University

المستخلص

This research paper exploresthe eye, the main part of the human bodyresponsible for seeing, in ancient South Arabian inscriptions and monuments. It investigates thewords used for the eyeand their denotations and connotations in ancient South Arabian inscriptions such as rʾy, nẓr, ʿyn, trying to link its meanings in the inscriptions to Arabic dictionaries. Then, it studies the eye diseases among the Arabs in ancient Yemen and the thanks associated with the god for healing, seeking help from healing, thanking the god for the recovery of the inscription’s owner, or seeking protection from diseases. After that, the study examines the eye in religious beliefs, looking formeans to protect them from the evil eye and envy and making variousamulets. Finally,the study discusses the forms of the eye in art. The eye is one of the most important organs of the human body because, so the ancient Yemeni artist cared for highlighting the eye and carving it very carefully in human heads, statues, andeye stelaes because it helps in the appearance of their owner's features. To increase the beauty and vitality of the eye, the artist inlaid the eyes with various available materials.

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