Taima Hieroglyphic Inscription

Taima' Hieroglyphic Inscription is an archeological inscription which dates back to the twelfth century B.C. It was discovered in 2010 in the governorate of Taima' in the region of Tabouk in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the first inscription in the Arabian Peninsula on a fixed rock near the Taima' Oasis. It carries a royal signature "double cartridge" of King Ramsis the 3rd, one of Egypt's Pharaoh kings, who ruled Egypt between 1192-1160 B.C.

Taima' Hieroglyphic inscription was discovered on a rock which is two meters high above earth northwest of the governorate of Taima'. It is possible to reach the site of the inscription through the old trading route which connects the governorate of Taima' and the city of Tabouk for about 50 kilometers.

Taima' hieroglyphic inscription consists of two cartridges (frames) on which information was written about the king, attributed to King Ramsis the 3rd. This inscription is considered one of the well-known traditions in Ancient Egypt to name Egypt's kings. The inscription contains four parts: the coronation title Niso-Bitty which means (the king of the Delta region and Upper Egypt), and the name of birth, Sari' bin Ra', meaning the sun's worshipped, the name of the king or the name of the family, in addition to a description of the king.

Saudi archeologists carried out a field as well as desk research through which they figured out the existence of a direct trading route which connects the Nile Valley with Taima'. This route, on which the Egyptian caravans traveled, was used at the time of the Pharaoh Ramsis the 3rd in the twelfth century B.C. to supply these Egyptian caravans from Taima' with Madya's famous precious goods, such as incense, brass, gold, and silver. The route which links the Nile Valley with Taima' is determined by the royal signatures (cartridges) of King Ramsis the 3rd, which were put on watering places in Sinai Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula.

The historical Taima' Oasis is located in the governorate of Taima' in the region of Tabouk. It is considered one of the important historical cities due to its strategic location. It was a gateway for old trading routes. Its location on the old trading route between the Arabian Gulf and Aqaba Bay enabled it to become a meeting point where trading routes between the north and south of the Arabian Peninsula meet. In addition, Taima' controlled the trading caravans which crossed it.

Taima' witnessed various historical civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula due to its geographical location which guaranteed its connection with the civilizations of the Nile countries, Mesopotamia, and the Levant. Taima' was also the north gate of the Arabian Peninsula and a main significant market of precious goods towards the end of the second millennium and the beginning of the first millennium B.C.

Taima' embraces diverse historical antiquities, such as circular structures, stone circles, and rocks that have inscriptions of various meanings; some are symbolic, others talk about human events, while some contain writings in Nabataen and Thelmud lines.