New Light on the Biblical Millo from Hatran Inscriptions

Abstract

Hatran Aramaic mlʾ occurs in linguistic and archaeological contexts that establish that it corresponds to Hebrew millō(ʾ) and targumic Aramaic mlytʾ, and that it refers to some component of Hatra's circumvallation visible from the forecourts of its gates-possibly a terrace adjacent to the of the walls (including the walls of the gates), similar, in some respects, to the one found at Tell el-Ḥesi. This interpretation of Hatran mlʾ is supported by the usage of Akkadian tamlu and targumic mlytʾ. It is virtually identical to an interpretation of Hebrew millo(ʾ) put forward in the Middle Ages by Isaiah of Trani. In the appendix, it is argued that Aramaic lgw mn = Mishnaic Hebrew lpnym mn = biblical Hebrew mbyt 1- may be translated inside when used with nouns denoting perimeters, but that with nouns denoting areas they take on the meaning behind, inward from. With nouns of the latter type, inside is expressed by bgw = btwk.