The Phœnician origin of Britons, Scots & Anglo-Saxons : discovered by Phœnician & Sumerian inscriptions in Britain, by preroman Briton coins & a mass of new history : with over one hundred illustrations and maps

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Mor oR “ AMORITE"’ CUP-MARKED INSCRIPTION WITH SUMERIAN Script oN TomB OF AN ARYAN SUN-PRIESTESS, OF ABOUT 4000 B.C. FROM SMYRNA, SUPPLYING A KEY To Cup-Mark ScRIPT IN ANCIENT BRITAIN.

(“The Dean Hoffman Tablet.’’)?

TuIs uniquely important archaic inscription, figured at p. 257 (Fig. 43), affords, through its explanatory Sumerian script, an additional key to the pre-historic Cup-mark script of Early Britain, etc.- and also attests the use of Cup-mark script by the Mors or Amorites, who are therein called Avi or “ Ary-an.’’ It, moreover, establishes still further the newlyfound fact that a large proportion of the words used by the Aryan Mors oy Amorites, so early as about 4000 B.C., ave radically identical in sound and meaning with common words in our modern English.

The inscription is engraved on the stone in horizontal parallel lines in panels, as is common in Sumerian inscriptions, and shows the direction and sequence in which it is to be read, and in which I have read it. My reading thus differs from that of Prof. Barton, who read it cross-wise, inverted on its left side, and interpreted the Cup-marks as mere numerals, and so considered it to be a votive record of the gift of “a field of clay,” of certain “ cubits ’’ measurement to a temple of the Sun-god, though he admits that his interpretation, the only one, apparently, yet made, gives a somewhat involved reading that does not make very good sense. The form of this Sumerian writing is of the archaic type of about 4000 B.c., and this early date is confirmed by the word-signs being written erect, as in the very earliest documents.

My decipherment of the individual word-signs, made mainly through the sign values found by M. Thureau-Dangin,? is in general agreement with their values as read by Prof. Barton, excepting one or two minor signs; but the sequence of the signs, as now read in their orthographic direction, make sentences entirely different from his, and make good sense throughout.

In order to establish my reading, given at Pp. 257, I here supply the recognized transliteration of the Sumerian writing in roman type, and underneath have placed the literal meaning in English, word for word, with references to the authorities for the same. And I have adhered to the separate paragraphs as marked in the lines of the inscription.

Literal Translation of Hoffman Tablet, Word for Word.

Ist line TUR GAL KUD. Tomb of the Girl good. MES XAL USU KI DUG QA. Master hasten the Under- to (this) jug (ofthy) cue! ground Sun (vessel) (or assembly)

TU TAS SARU-TAS. Thou TaS! All-Perfect Tag !

* In Library of General Theological Seminary, New York. * Jour. American Orient Soc. xxiii, 23, &c. 7TRIG,