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Maresha no. 66

Marriage Contract between QWSRM Son of QWSYD and Arsinoe Daughter of QWSYHB

Inv. No. 84-30-845-S2

Metadata

Collection
Israel Antiquities Authority | IAA (Public)
Language
Aramaic
Script
Aramaic
Find Type
Excavation
Acquired
(1) F. J. Bliss ; R. A. S. Macalister (2) Kloner ; et puis Alpert Berni ; Stern Ian (Subterranean) [(1) 1900 (fouilles dans Shepelah 1898-1900) (2) 1998-2016]
Created by
James D. Moore
Material
clay | sherd (for ostracon)
Updated by
James D. Moore, 2026-01-18
Date (Composition in text)
Babylonian iii Sel 136 [Persian]
Date (Composition)
Gregorian -176 [Persian]
Date (Composition)
Gregorian -176
Date (Composition)
Seleucid iii 136
References
  • Eshel, Esther and Kloner, Amos 1996.
  • Kloner Amos 2010.
General Notes
Discovered in underground system No. 84, Locus 30 in the summer of 1993 (IEJ 46).

Eshel, Esther, and Amos Kloner. “An Aramaic Ostracon of an Edomite Marriage Contract from Maresha, Dated 176 B.C.E.” Israel Exploration Journal 46 (1996): 1–22.
Kloner Amos. Maresha Excavations Final Report . III . Epigraphic Finds from the 1989-2000 Seasons / Amos Kloner, Esther Eshel, Hava B. Korzakova and Gerald Finkielsztejn. IAA Reports. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority, 2010.
Textual Notes
Kloner and Eshel 2010 edited the text again: ln.1 introduced the error on line one ŠNT C XX X III III for the correct reading in IEJ 46 ŠNT I C XX X III III. Ln. 3 restored at the end ⸢ˀ⸣[NT ... ZY ... THWˀ] "y[ou ... that she may be]". Ln. 7 restored ⸢R⸣[ˁWTY ...] "[my free wi]ll [...]". Ln. 9 minor changes in half brakets. Ln. 10 now indicates that ZWD is a scholarly correction to the text's ZWN.

Text and Translation

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Esther and Amos Eshel and Kloner Last updated 26 November, 2025 by James D. Moore

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Esther and Amos Eshel and Kloner Last updated 26 November, 2025 by James D. Moore

In the month of Sivan of the year 136 (of) Se[leucus, the king],
QWSRM, son of QWSYD, of his own free will,[ ... declared]
to QWSYD, son of QWSYHB: There is (a woman), Arsinoe [her name],
a previously unmarried woman. Now then: I am asking of you that [you give her to me that she may be]
my wife. Give (her to) me according to the custom of the daughters of [Edom(?)].
Male children whom I will have from her [shall inherit? ...],
and the masters of my house and my heirs, from [...].
QWSYD acceded with respect to what QWSRM [had asked, and gave him Ar]sinoe,
his daughter, (as) wife. When he gave him [his daughter(?)], QWS[Y]D [ga]ve to Arsinoe,
his daughter, provisions: clothing and utensil[s of ... that are] worth 300 silver zūzīn.
She bore (the provisions) and entered the domicile of the same QWSRM, her husband, in the presence of [...].
Signature.
Moore, James D.. 'Maresha no. 66.' DEAPS. 12 Dec, 2025. https://deaps.osu.edu/text_objects/13857. Accessed: 20 Jan, 2026.