mesha stele: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “mesha stele” mean?
An ancient inscribed stone monument erected by King Mesha of Moab around 840 BCE, commemorating his victories and construction projects.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient inscribed stone monument erected by King Mesha of Moab around 840 BCE, commemorating his victories and construction projects.
A primary historical source for the Moabite language and the political history of the Levant in the 9th century BCE; often used in archaeology and ancient Near Eastern studies as a key artifact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. 'Stele' (plural: stelae) is standard in both, though 'stela' is also an accepted spelling, with no regional preference.
Connotations
Identical academic and historical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside specialized academic fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “mesha stele” in a Sentence
The [noun, e.g., scholar, museum] studies/displays/possesses the Mesha Stele.The Mesha Stele [verb, e.g., dates to, records, commemorates] a specific historical event.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in archaeology, ancient history, and Semitic studies to discuss Iron Age Levantine history and epigraphy.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the artifact; discussions focus on its epigraphy, historical context, and material composition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mesha stele”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mesha stele”
- Misspelling as 'Meshia Stele' or 'Meesha Steele'.
- Using lowercase ('mesha stele') when it should be capitalized as a proper noun.
- Confusing it with the Tel Dan Stele or other ancient inscriptions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is written in the Moabite language, using a variant of the Phoenician alphabet.
It is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
It is one of the longest and most significant inscriptions from the Levant in the Iron Age, providing historical details not found in biblical texts.
It was discovered in 1868 in Dhiban, modern-day Jordan.
An ancient inscribed stone monument erected by King Mesha of Moab around 840 BCE, commemorating his victories and construction projects.
Mesha stele is usually academic / technical in register.
Mesha stele: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːʃə ˈstiːli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiːʃə ˈstiːli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MESSenger (Mesha) delivering a STONE Letter (Stele) to commemorate his victory.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STONE PAGE FROM HISTORY; A MONUMENTAL TEXTBOOK.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary academic field where the term 'Mesha Stele' is used?