Note sur deux "autels" de Hégra

10 pagesInternational audienceThis short article presents two inscriptions from Madâin Sâlih, ancient Hegra in north-west Saudi Arabia, JSNab 81 and 82, which are written to the left of a double betyl carved in relief. JSNab 82 mentions the word msgdy', the plural form of msgd, normally used in Nabataean to designate an "altar". This inscription shows that this word was used, at least in the southern part of the Nabataean kingdom, to designate a betyl, i.e. a divine symbol. The author provides a new copy of these texts and makes also a comment on JSNab 39, which mentions another msgd and which was thought to be associated with an altar. Finally, the article contains a previously unpublished Nabataean inscription from Bosra which dedicates a msgd