Mesha Stele, Archaeological inscription at Dhiban, Jordan
The Mesha Stele is a monumental tablet of dark basalt stone found in the Jordanian settlement of Dhiban, now standing around 100 cm tall. The upper section shows a rounded shape, while the front face is covered with lines of ancient characters once carved with a pointed tool.
A German missionary came across the stone in 1868 in a village east of the Dead Sea, shortly before locals broke the object into several pieces. The inscription itself dates to the 9th century BCE and was commissioned by a ruler who wanted to commemorate his military successes against a neighboring kingdom.
The inscription is written in an ancient Semitic language that only specialists can read today, and shows the name of a Moabite king celebrating his victory over neighboring peoples. Visitors can see the letters on the surface, arranged in clear rows despite their age.
The original is displayed at the Louvre in Paris, while replicas can be seen in several Jordanian museums, including Madaba and Karak. Visitors should keep in mind that the piece is only about 60 cm wide and stands in a display case, so getting close helps to make out the characters.
After its discovery, French and British scholars attempted to take impressions of the inscription before locals broke the stone to use it as building material. These early paper copies helped reconstruct the missing parts later, so the text is now almost fully readable.
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