Ivoire d’Arslan Tash inscrit

Arslan Tash ivory inscription is a small ivory plaque with an Aramaic language inscription found in 1928 in Arslan Tash in northern Syria (ancient Hadātu) by a team of French archaeologists led by François Thureau-Dangin.

It has been dated to the late 9th century BCE, on the basis of the name "Hazael" in the inscription, who has been speculated to be the Biblical Hazael of Aram-Damascus. The inscription is known as KAI 232.

The plaque, along with many other ivory items, was found on the site of a palace from the 8th century BC belonging to the city's Neo-Assyrian governor.

Three parts of the plaque have been found; two parts fit together, the third one does not. The two joined parts together are 2 cm high and 7.9 cm long, while the third part is 1.9 cm high and 3.2 cm long. The entire inscription on the plate is usually reconstructed as follows: