Калбак–Таш XII (A-32)
Description
This inscription is placed along the upper edge of the rock. It was published first by V.M. Nadeljaev in 1980. On this plane, it is written horizontally, opposite to the rest of the inscriptions here that are vertical lines. The scribe must have been lying on the rock on his belly with his head down. For the readers of this inscription, its signs are upside down. The inscription consists of 10 signs. The length of the inscription is 14,7cm, the height of the signs оis1,5–2,5cm. The first sign is seen not well, the rest are well preserved. I.L. Kyzlasov counts 11 signs.
V.M. Nadeljaev also writes that it is a horizontal inscription which was made by a scribe lying on the upper surface of the altar with his face towads the altar’s front surface. Thus, all the signs are upsde down. (Nadeljaev 1984: 102). V.M. Nadeljaev read this inscription from left to right.
Reading of V.M. Nadeljaev
Transliteration: ä d² γ k i(ï) s² ŋ b² r² p
Transcription: Äd, aγï, kis-aŋ bärip…
Translation: Having given possessions, treasures, furs…
(Nadeljaev 1984: 102)
Reading of I. L. Kyzlasov
Transliteration: pa(ä)r²b²ŋ²s²i(ï)j¹γd²ä(a)
Transcription: (a)pa (e)r b(i)ŋ(ä)si (a)j(ï)γd²a
Translation: A 1000 men detachment of Apa Er (being) in evil.
(Kyzlasov 2002: 93)
Comments
(a)j(ï)γd²a is problematic as runic sources do not have ayïg ‘bad’, only añïg.
Reading of L.N.Tybykova, I.A. Nevskaya and M. Erdal
Runic transliteration:
Transliteration: p I/А r2 b2 ŋ2 s2 I y1 g1 d2 A
Transcription: ... (ä)r b(ä)ŋ(ü)si y(a)g(ï)da
Translation: … ‘Immortality of a man is in (fight against) the enemy.’
Alternative interpretation:
Transcription: (a)pa (ä)r b(i)ŋ (ä)ši yagïda
Translation: Apa Er, his 1000 comrades are (fighting) against the enemies.
Comments
1. b2 ŋ2(?) s2 I – ‘his eternity, his immortality’. An Altenative interpretation is b(i)ŋ (ä)ši.
2. y1 g1 d2 A – ‘in the enemy, in the fight’,in the sense that a man finds his eternity in the fight against enemies. In Yenisei inscriptions, there are numerous instances of usage of yagï, mostly with the explicit ï in the end of the word, but sometimes ï is not written, see the inscriptions Е 32,7, Е 44,2, Е 49,3 (Kormušin 1997).