Mysteries Department
Sign inRequest access
0

Did the Dhofari alphabet derive from North Arabian or South Arabian writing?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Has the Dhofari script been deciphered?·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the letter forms derive from a North Arabian archetype close to Thamudic BAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. The letter forms derive from a North Arabian archetype close to Thamudic B. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

A North Arabian origin for a script used in the far south would mean writing moved down the eastern side of Arabia, not out of the Yemeni kingdoms⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Al-Jallad puts forward: the letter forms derive from a North Arabian archetype close to Thamudic B.
  2. Al-Jallad: letter shapes align mainly with North Arabian scripts, especially Thamudic B.For: The letter forms derive from a North Arabian archetype close to Thamudic B.
  3. Asked on this site
Add evidence
1What it bears on2What you found3Where it comes from
Which answer?
Does it count for or against it?
In a sentence, what did you find?
What you found optional
Where it comes from optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Propose an answer
Your answer, in a sentence
What would rule it out? optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Ask a sub-question
Your question
Why it would help optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Add a source
The source
What it shows about this question optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.

Discussion 0

Add to the discussion