The Religion of the Nabataeans: A Conspectus

262 Pages·2001·24.96 MB·English

by  John F. Healey

THE RELIGION OF THE NABATAEANS
RELIGIONS IN
THE GRAECO-ROMAN WORLD
EDITORS
R. VAN DEN BROEK H.J.W. DRIJVERS
H.S. VERSNEL
VOLUME 136
THE RELIGION
OF
THE NABATAEANS
A Conspectus
BY
JOHN F. HEALEY
BRILL
LEIDEN •BOSTON •KÖLN
2001
This series Religions in the Graeco-Roman World presents a forum for studies in the social and cultural
function of religions in the Greek and the Roman world, dealing with pagan religions both in their own
right and in their interaction with and influence on Christianity and Judaism during a
lengthy period of fundamental change. Special attention will be given to the religious history of regions and
cities which illustrate the practical workings of these processes.
Enquiries regarding the submission of works for publication in the series may be directed to Professor
H.J.W. Drijvers, Faculty of Letters, University of Groningen, 9712 EKGroningen, The Netherlands.
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Healy, John F.
The religion of the Nabataeans / by John F. Healey.
p. cm. — (Religions in the Graeco-Roman world, ISSN 0927-7633 ;
v. 136)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 9004107541 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Nabataeans—Religion. I. Title. II. Series.
BL1677.H43 1999
299’.27—dc21 99-058629
CIP
Die Deutsche Bibliothek – CIP-Einheitsaufnahme
Healey, John F.
The religion of the Nabataeans / by John F. Healey. – Leiden ; Boston ;
Köln : Brill, 2000
(Religions in the Graeco-Roman world; Vol. 136)
ISBN 90–04–10754–1
ISSN 0927-7633
ISBN 90 04 10754 1
© Copyright 2001 by Koninklijke Brill nv,Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
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printed in the netherlands
To Elizabeth
Without whom not

CONTENTS
Foreword ...................................................................................... xi
Abbreviations in Text .................................................................. xiii
Note on Transliteration of Names ............................................... xiv
List of Maps and Plates and their Sources ................................... xv
Chapter One: Problems of Method and a Survey of Sources .... 1
Nabataean “Religion” .............................................................. 2
The Study of Dead Religions ................................................... 3
“Nabataean” Religion .............................................................. 9
The Transformations of Nabataean Religion .......................... 13
Syncretism or Assimilation ....................................................... 14
The Sources ............................................................................. 17
Epigraphic ............................................................................ 17
Archaeological ..................................................................... 17
Literary ................................................................................ 18
(i) Greek and Latin .............................................................. 18
(ii) Syriac and Arabic .......................................................... 20
Iconographic ........................................................................ 21
Onomastic ............................................................................ 22
Conclusion ............................................................................... 24
Chapter Two: Background: Nabataean History and Trade ....... 25
Nabataean History ................................................................... 25
Nabataean Trade ..................................................................... 32
The Nabataean Regions .......................................................... 33
Connections with Arabia ......................................................... 34
Chapter Three: Sacred Places .................................................... 38
Introduction ............................................................................. 38
Religious Installations at Nabataean Sites ............................... 39
Petra ..................................................................................... 39
(i) Temples ....................................................................... 39
(ii) Processional Ways ....................................................... 45
(iii) High-places ................................................................ 48
(iv) Locations of Special Cults .......................................... 49
(v) Tombs ......................................................................... 50
viii contents
Hegra and Ruwafah ............................................................ 53
WadiRamm ........................................................................ 56
Khirbet et-Tannur and Khirbet edh-Dharih ...................... 59
Southern Syria (Hawran) ..................................................... 62
The Negev, Egypt and Sinai ................................................ 67
Religious Architecture ............................................................. 71
General ................................................................................ 71
Typology of Nabataean Religious Sites ............................... 73
Excursus: Architectural and Related Terms ............................ 75
Chapter Four: The Nabataean God and Goddess ..................... 80
The Nabataean Conception of the Gods ................................. 80
Dushara, the Nabataean God .................................................. 85
Dushara’s Assimilation to Non-Nabataean Deities ................. 97
Dushara and A<ra, the God of Bosra ................................... 97
Dushara and Dionysos .........................................................100
Dushara and Zeus ................................................................101
Dushara and the Sun (Helios) ..............................................102
Conclusions ..........................................................................106
The Nabataean Goddess: Allat, al-<Uzza ................................107
Allat ......................................................................................108
Al-<Uzza ...............................................................................114
Chapter Five: Other Deities Worshipped by the Nabataeans ....120
Kutbaand Al-Kutba ................................................................120
Deities of Regional Importance ...............................................124
Baalshamin ...........................................................................124
Qos .......................................................................................126
Hubal ...................................................................................127
Manotu and Qaysha ............................................................132
Foreign Goddesses ...................................................................137
Isis ........................................................................................137
Atargatis ...............................................................................140
Evidence of Other Deities ........................................................141
The Protective Deities ..............................................................143
Shay<-al-Qawm ....................................................................143
Personal Deities: the Divine Obodas ...................................147
Family Deities ......................................................................151
City Deities: Tyches, Sa<bu, Gad of the Nabataeans ..........153
State Deities: the God of the King .......................................154
contents ix
Chapter Six: Images and Rituals ................................................155
Objects of Worship ..................................................................155
Cult-niches and Images of Gods ..........................................155
The mwtb>and Altars ...........................................................158
Sacred Times and Persons .......................................................160
Festivals ................................................................................160
Ritual Action: Offerings .......................................................161
Personnel ..............................................................................163
Private Cults .............................................................................165
The marzehaand the triclinium ...............................................165
Tombs and the Dead ...........................................................169
Religious Formulae ..................................................................175
“Remembered be ...” ...........................................................175
“For the life of ...” ................................................................178
Chapter Seven: The World of Nabataean Religion ...................181
A Desert Tradition? .................................................................184
Aniconism ................................................................................185
Emergent Monotheism ............................................................189
Nabataean Religion in the pre-Islamic Context ......................191
Bibliography .................................................................................211
Indices ..........................................................................................235