TheKilamuwa scepter orKilamuwa sheath is a 9th-century BCE small gold object inscribed inPhoenician orAramaic, which was found during the excavations ofZincirli in 1943. It was found in burned debris in a corridor at the front of the "Building of Kilamuwa".
King Kilamuwa is believed to have ruled in the area of Zincirli in ca. 830 - 820 BC.
The object measures 6.7 x 2.2 cm, and is ornamented with soldered gold wire and gold plates; two of the rectangular plates are inscribed with a total of seven lines or writing.Felix von Luschan concluded that it was once on the handle (or sheath) of a staff or scepter.
| Line number | Phoenician script inscription[1][2] | Transliteration[2] | Translation by Galling[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 𐤎𐤌𐤓𐤆𐤒𐤍 | SMR Z QN | Thissmr |
| 2 | 𐤊𐤋𐤌𐤅 | KLMW | Kilamuwa |
| 3 | 𐤁𐤓𐤇𐤉 | BR ḤY | son of Ḥay(a), |
| 4 | 𐤋𐤓𐤊𐤁𐤏𐤋 | L RKBʿL | (made) for (the god) RKBʿL |
| 5 | 𐤉𐤕𐤍𐤋𐤄𐤓 | YTN LH R | May R(-KB'L) grant him |
| 6 | 𐤊𐤁𐤏𐤋 | KBʿL | (R)-KB'L |
| 7 | 𐤀𐤓𐤊𐤇𐤉 | ʾRK ḤY | length of life |
The inscription reads as follows: Thissmr Kilamuwa, son of Ḥay(a), made for (the god) RKBʿL. May RKB'L grant him length of life.[2]
