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Nabataean religion
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Nabataean religion
The Nabataean religion was a form of Arab polytheism practiced in Nabataea, an ancient Arab nation that was well established by the third century BCE and lasted until the Roman annexation in 106 CE. The Nabateans were polytheistic, worshiping a wide variety of local gods, as well as deities such as Baalshamin, Isis, and Greco-Roman gods, including Tyche and Dionysus. They conducted their worship at temples, high places, and betyls. Their religious practices were mostly aniconic, favoring geometric designs to adorn sacred spaces. Much knowledge of Nabataean grave goods has been lost due to extensive looting throughout history. The Nabataeans performed sacrifices, conducted various rituals, and held a belief in an afterlife.
Most of the deities in the Nabataean religion belonged to the pre-Islamic Arab pantheon, with the inclusion of foreign deities such as Isis and Atargatis.
Dushara, a Nabataean deity whose name means "Lord of the Mountain," was widely worshipped in Petra. He was venerated as the supreme god by the Nabataeans and was often referred to as "Dushara and all the gods." Dushara was regarded as the protector of the Nabataean royal house. However, following the fall of the royal house to the Romans, the religion declined, and its primary deity lost prominence. During this period, Dushara became associated with other gods, including Dionysus, Zeus, and Helios.
Manāt, known as the goddess of fate, was worshipped by those seeking rain and victory over their enemies.
Al-Lāt, referred to as "the great goddess who is in Iram," was widely known in Northern Arabia and Syria. She was associated with the goddess Athena in the Hawran. Al-Lāt was venerated in Palmyra, but her temple shows no evidence of blood rituals being performed there. It is believed that she and Al-Uzza were once a single deity, which bifurcated in the pre-Islamic Meccan tradition. Pre-Islamic Arabs believed that the goddess Al-Lāt, along with Al-‘Uzzá and Manāt, was the daughter of Allah, although Nabataean inscriptions describe her as Allah's wife instead. These same inscriptions also refer to both Al-Lāt and Al-‘Uzzá as the "bride of Dushara."
In Arabic, Al-'Uzza's name is believed to mean "the mightiest one." She was venerated in the city of Petra, with her cult primarily centered in the Quraysh and the Hurad Valley, north of Mecca. The goddess was associated with a type of betyl characterized by star-like eyes and was linked to the Greco-Roman goddess Aphrodite. Pre-Islamic Arabs regarded her as one of the daughters of Allah, alongside Al-Lāt and Manāt.
Al-Kutbay was one of the lesser-known deities of the Nabataeans, believed to have had a temple in Gaia and to have been venerated in Iram. There is some ambiguity regarding the deity's gender. In Gaia, Al-Kutbay was considered female, while in Qusrawet, Egypt, the deity was believed to be masculine and referred to as Kutba. However, most evidence suggests that Al-Kutbay was female, as betyls associated with her are similar in design to those of Al-‘Uzzā.
Baalshamin was a Syrian deity who became a Nabataean god following the expansion of Nabataea into southern Syria. His name, meaning "Lord of Heaven," associates him with the sky. Baalshamin is believed to have originated from the storm god Hadad, who was worshipped in Syria and Mesopotamia. As a sky deity, he is often identified with the Greek god Zeus. A temple dedicated to Baalshamin is located at Si, which appears to have been a center for pilgrimage.
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Nabataean religion
The Nabataean religion was a form of Arab polytheism practiced in Nabataea, an ancient Arab nation that was well established by the third century BCE and lasted until the Roman annexation in 106 CE. The Nabateans were polytheistic, worshiping a wide variety of local gods, as well as deities such as Baalshamin, Isis, and Greco-Roman gods, including Tyche and Dionysus. They conducted their worship at temples, high places, and betyls. Their religious practices were mostly aniconic, favoring geometric designs to adorn sacred spaces. Much knowledge of Nabataean grave goods has been lost due to extensive looting throughout history. The Nabataeans performed sacrifices, conducted various rituals, and held a belief in an afterlife.
Most of the deities in the Nabataean religion belonged to the pre-Islamic Arab pantheon, with the inclusion of foreign deities such as Isis and Atargatis.
Dushara, a Nabataean deity whose name means "Lord of the Mountain," was widely worshipped in Petra. He was venerated as the supreme god by the Nabataeans and was often referred to as "Dushara and all the gods." Dushara was regarded as the protector of the Nabataean royal house. However, following the fall of the royal house to the Romans, the religion declined, and its primary deity lost prominence. During this period, Dushara became associated with other gods, including Dionysus, Zeus, and Helios.
Manāt, known as the goddess of fate, was worshipped by those seeking rain and victory over their enemies.
Al-Lāt, referred to as "the great goddess who is in Iram," was widely known in Northern Arabia and Syria. She was associated with the goddess Athena in the Hawran. Al-Lāt was venerated in Palmyra, but her temple shows no evidence of blood rituals being performed there. It is believed that she and Al-Uzza were once a single deity, which bifurcated in the pre-Islamic Meccan tradition. Pre-Islamic Arabs believed that the goddess Al-Lāt, along with Al-‘Uzzá and Manāt, was the daughter of Allah, although Nabataean inscriptions describe her as Allah's wife instead. These same inscriptions also refer to both Al-Lāt and Al-‘Uzzá as the "bride of Dushara."
In Arabic, Al-'Uzza's name is believed to mean "the mightiest one." She was venerated in the city of Petra, with her cult primarily centered in the Quraysh and the Hurad Valley, north of Mecca. The goddess was associated with a type of betyl characterized by star-like eyes and was linked to the Greco-Roman goddess Aphrodite. Pre-Islamic Arabs regarded her as one of the daughters of Allah, alongside Al-Lāt and Manāt.
Al-Kutbay was one of the lesser-known deities of the Nabataeans, believed to have had a temple in Gaia and to have been venerated in Iram. There is some ambiguity regarding the deity's gender. In Gaia, Al-Kutbay was considered female, while in Qusrawet, Egypt, the deity was believed to be masculine and referred to as Kutba. However, most evidence suggests that Al-Kutbay was female, as betyls associated with her are similar in design to those of Al-‘Uzzā.
Baalshamin was a Syrian deity who became a Nabataean god following the expansion of Nabataea into southern Syria. His name, meaning "Lord of Heaven," associates him with the sky. Baalshamin is believed to have originated from the storm god Hadad, who was worshipped in Syria and Mesopotamia. As a sky deity, he is often identified with the Greek god Zeus. A temple dedicated to Baalshamin is located at Si, which appears to have been a center for pilgrimage.