What Does This Say?

This tag has been popping up all over downtown. A bunch of people have said it's written in Arabic script, but we're not sure. Can anyone offer some translation support?

UPDATE: while the comments on this post were marred by some knuckleheads, several people made an honest effort to translate the tag. There seems to be a growing consensus that it reads "Pharoah". There is another street-artist working in the same neighborhoods called "Faro"-- we'll ask around and see if they are one-in-the-same.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in Arts & Entertainment on June 7, 2006 3:15 PM

Comments [rss]

Adoe

all of u people who talk shit like u really have somehting important to say shut ur fukin mouth...u kno nothing of graffiti or the middle eastern culture so suck a dick...just cuz ur a fukin robot dont mean u can judge others n what they do whenever they do it...keep on cuddling ur fukin teddy bears at night n work ur 9-5 at burger king n pay ur ex child support cuz shes fuckin guys like us! hahaha bitch

rosie

it\'s \"faro\" he\'s taking over downtown NYC and lately... nj. this guy is a genius!

s i f e*

FARO.

jerky

Wow that scribble really shows great talent. Give loser pharoh a crayon and teach him how to draw!

that english girl

no i know this one. ive seen it so many times. i says "will you marry me and have my babies? ill give you heaps of free t-shirts saying i love weiners"

ive told him to wait for me so many times......

the rambling rainbow

this is an awesome new deal and fuck anybody who differs, they just dont understand the phamous faro thats rattling their cages

the rambling rainbow

they just dont understand the phamous faro thats rattling the cage

pm

this says faro is making me comment on this page.

hyaku nana

yo faro this is hott!

you are poppin up in crazy spots on the internet!

i'm lovin the dumb comments!

mummification in full effect.

egypt love!

EPS

Looks like there are alot of Vallone supporters in the house.

Stay up Faro!

Paul

I'm putting in my vote for far'oun as well, meaning pharoah.

Btw, lots of Egyptians are christians, and most arabs in the US are christians (some 70%, though that number changes). So, first, to assume any arab hates the US is stupid. Second, to assume all arabs are muslims, especially arabs in the states, is statistically incorrect.

revs

thats dope ..

virid

This image confirms that it's indeed the work of Faro:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35034351576@N01/128393206/

ugh

just because you can't read arabic characters doesn't mean they aren't legitimate. this does not equal scribbling with your pen, even if you're too ignorant to parse what it does equal.

streetwatcher

it is FARO.

Rico Starr

I just moved here from Iraq only a few months ago. It literally means "resolve to help", but it has been used as a motivational saying in Baghdad to rise up against the invading Americans. It would mean something like "join forces and help fight the intruders".

It's a powerful saying that is becoming more and more popular.

ggh

The ink nearly ran out on my pen and I actually just scribbled that exact same character as I was testing my pen on the back of a discarded envelope.

MushEE

not U.P.S. "ups"! like "gettin up". well these people are just basically hating . and btw. u aint funny

-ed

"he has MADDDDD UPPPPPPSSSS!"

Is that in addition to a few cans of spray paint and an inflated

ego and warped sense of self-worth??

BTW, I have some nice UPS's too. They're made by APC, and do a hell of job protecting against brownouts and powersurges.