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Godfrey Tanner

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Professor Godfrey Tanner with an unidentified man at the University of Newcastle, Australia

About the original

DescriptionThis photo appeared in the News, Volume 12, Number 22, December 8 to 19, 1986. The text was: "Tanner assists in study of Ancient Arabia A Sydney University research team is gaining insight into ancient North Arabian culture by consulting Professor Godfrey Tanner, of the Department of Classics. Led by Dr Bill Jobling, the team is working in the Aqaba-Ma'an region of Jordan on ancient graffiti. Mr Richard Morgan, Director of Newcastle Regional Museum, who is an archaeology graduate of the University of Sydney, had made excursions to Jordan with the team as photographer over a six-year period. The team's studies have been rewarded with by the discovery of a most important Greek inscription. The area covered is about 2,700sq kms or rough stony desert, where the team found and photographed more than 5,000 North Arabian inscriptions and panels of rock art, all some, 2,000 years old. The carvings are indicative of the trading, lifestyles and fauna of the once fertile lands of the South East Jordanian deserts. The Greek inscription discovered by the team proves one of Dr Jonling's theories about transfusion of cultures in this part of the Middle East. The text of the inscription was sent to Professor Tanner, who translated it to read: Romans always celebrate with laurels. I, Zeno, wrote hail'! Professor Tanner says the form of the script suggests 120 to 220 AD as the date and the Greek contains one Latinism. Zeno also is mentioned in old Arabic graffiti nearby and seems to have a roman frontier official, or commander. Professor Tanner has been collaborating with Dr Jobling and other people from Sydney University for several years. For the last two years he has lectured to students in University's religious studies course. Dr Jobling, a student of the late Dr E.C.B. MacLaurin, has received support for the Aqaba-Ma'an survey from the Australian Research Grants Committee, the Queen Elizabeth II Research Fund and the University of Sydney. Dr Morgan has taken many photographs of the operations of Dr Jobling team. However, he was not able to travel to Jordan this season due to his commitments with the Newcastle Regional Museum. Professor Tanner says the expedition has provided important information about Roman operations in an area under the direct control of the Emperor Traian. The date around 113AD. The ancient City of Bostra seems to have been the centre of administration of the province. Rome governed the area until the conquest by Mohammed and his forces in the seventh century AD. Professor Tanner says an interesting feature of the Greek inscription is the use of the Latin loan word. The practice became very general after the transfer of the capital from Nicomedia, in Asia Minor, to Constantinople around 330 AD. By the time of the Greek inscription, many men of Greek origin, and with Greek names, were not only Roman citizens but also high Roman officials." This image was scanned from a photograph in the University's historical photographic collection held by Special Collections. If you would like to comment on the photograph, please contact Special Collections or add a Recollection, using these instructions.InformationSubjectUniversity of Newcastle (N.S.W.)Newcastle UniversityGodfrey TannerDatenot specifiedSourcehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/2721580996/

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CollectionUniversity of Newcastle HistoryPersonGodfrey Tanner

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RestrictionsThe image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose please contact Special Collections. Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

IdentifierP850A-134a

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