The Nabateans
The Nabataeans were an ancient people whose original homeland lay in northeastern Arabia. They migrated westward in the 6th century BC, settling eventually in the mountain fortress of Petra.
In 847 BC, when the Nabataeans were still living in Arabia in the area of Medain Saleh, they were mentioned as enemies of Assur. The Nabataeans appear to have been a rather turbulent but highly talented people, who were originally employed in plundering but later became more artistically inclined. In Medain Saleh they had already begun carving out rock tombs with sculptured facades, an art for which they would become renowned at Petra.
According to ancient writers, the Nabataeans were the only people in the Near East to be ruled by a democratic monarchy. The Nabataeans drove the Edomites out of Jordan at the time when the Persians had taken the lead as a world power, and Petra probably became the capital of their kingdom in the 4th century BC. Aside from this, little is known of the Nabateans' history before 312 BC, when they were unsuccessfully attacked in Petra by the Seleucid king Demetrius I Poliorcetes (one of Alexander the Great's generals).
By the 1st century BC, the Nabatean Kingdom had became rich and powerful thanks to their control of the spice trade route, the easily-controlled entrance to the city through the Siq, and their skills in city building. During the reign of King Aretas III (86–62 BC), the Nabataean kingdom extended its territory northward and briefly occupied Damascus. During this time, Petra's population may have been as high as 30,000.
The Nabataeans became peaceful allies of Rome beginning in 63 BC, during which time they were influenced by Hellenistic-Roman culture. Much of the spectacular architecture of Petra derives from the combination of Nabataean, Assyrian, Babylonian, Hellenistic and Roman artistic influences. In Late Antiquity, changes in the trade routes caused commercial decline and the eventual end of the Nabataeans. (See History of Petra for more details.)
The Nabataeans' language, with its written script, was somewhat akin to Hebrew and Aramaic, but with strong Arabic influences. A cache of 152 scrolls was recently discovered in the Petra Church.
As is evident from their wonderful carved tombs, the Nabataeans buried their dead and worshipped their gods in half-excavated caves, a custom they may have derived from the habits of the original natives of Petra (such as the Edomites). The chief god of Petra was Dhu-shara ("Lord of Shara"). He was worshipped in the form of a black rectangular stone. Associated with Dhu-shara was Allat, the chief goddess of the ancient Arabs.
Sanctuary chambers may be seen at various points in the site of Petra, and many places of sacrifice open to the sky are met with among the tombs, marked by remains of altars. Both animal and human sacrifices took place at the High Place of Sacrifice at Petra.
Article Sources
- Eyewitness Travel Guide to Jerusalem and the Holy Land
- "Nabataean" - Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service
- Carel J. Du Ry, Art of the Ancient Near and Middle East, pp. 236-40.
