This commemorative stele is decorated with the head of a bull, symbol of the moon god ‘Anbay, chief god of the state. It is inserted into a separate alabaster base inscribed in the South Arabian alphabetic script with "Taba'karib," the name of the deceased or dedicant, and with ''M'dm," his clan or tribe name.
Artist South Arabian, Arabian
Title
  • Funerary Stele with Bull's Head, Inscribed for Taba'karib of the M'dm Tribe
Date 300 - 200 BCE
Medium Alabaster
Dimensions Overall (stele): 9 1/8 × 6 1/2 × 1 1/8 inches (23.2 × 16.5 × 2.9 cm)
Overall (base): 3 1/2 × 7 3/8 × 2 1/2 inches (8.9 × 18.7 × 6.4 cm)
Credit Line Gift of K. T. Keller
Accession Number 51.293
Department Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View Ancient Middle East Gallery, Level 1 (see map)
Inscriptions Inscribed: [translated: Taba'karib] [named of dedicant or deceased]
Inscribed: [translated: M'dm] [clan or tribe name]
(K. T. Keller [1885-1966], Detroit, Michigan, USA);
1952-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Henshaw, Julia P., ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1995, p. 100 (ill.).