[ 726 ] 
rfloft evidently appears from the thirteenth of the 
aforefaid infcriptions. The following term Up, BE- 
NV, or BANV (agreeing with the Arabic ) FILIO- 
RVM, relates to all the perfons before- mentioned. 
MALCHVS, IARIBOL, or IARIBOLIS, NA- 
SA, and MATTHA, are proper names of men, 
that occur in other Palmyrene infcriptions. That 
the word ABDEBAL, i. e. THE SERVANT OF 
BAL, or BAAL, applied to MATTHA’s father 
here as his proper name, favours very ftrongly of the 
Eaft, particularly of Syria, Phoenicia, and Arabia, 
where fuch proper names as thefe were frequently 
afliimed, is too clear and obvious a point to Rand 
in need of any proof. 
15. From the date prefixed to this infcription we 
may conclude, that it is older than any of the others, 
handed down to us in the Palmyrene language and 
charadter, which have been hitherto publiflied. For 
it is dated in the year of Seleucus 360, and con- 
fequently was preceded by the commencement of the 
ChriRian aera only 49 years, when the emperor Clau- 
dius prefided over the Roman world. 
16. From the laR obfervation we may colled!, that 
one at leaf! of the infcriptions, in the long portico, 
Rill preferved amongft the ruins of Tadmor, is prior 
to the reign of the emperor Hadrian ; though our 
celebrated Dr. Halley, who had not feen this, which I 
have now attempted to explain, took for granted, 
that all of them were poRerior to the commence- 
ment of that reign. 
1 7. It has been thought proper here to add to the 
plate of Mr. Dawkins's infcriptions, in the Palmyrene 
language and charadter, the two other plates, contain- 
ing the Greek ones, with which he has favoured the 
public. 
