Nabih Faris Islamic and Arabic at Princeton Again

Sabaean inscription list the gods 'Athtar, Almaqah, Dhat-Himyam, Dhat-Badan and Wadd.

Deities formed a part of the polytheistic religious beliefs in pre-Islamic Arabia, with many of the deities' names known.^[1] Upwardly until about the quaternary century Advertising, polytheism was the dominant grade of religion in Arabia. Deities represented the forces of nature, dearest, death, and so on, and were interacted to by a diverseness of rituals.

Formal pantheons are more than noticeable at the level of kingdoms, of variable sizes, ranging from unproblematic city-states to collections of tribes.^[2] The Kaaba alone was said to have contained upward to 100 images of many gods and goddesses.^[iii] Tribes, towns, clans, lineages and families had their own cults too. Christian Julien Robin suggests that this construction of the divine world reflected the society of the time.^[2]

Many deities did non take proper names and were referred to by titles indicating a quality, a family relationship, or a locale preceded by "he who" or "she who" (dhū or dhāt).^[two]

Pantheons and groupings [edit]

Pantheon	Deities
Northward Arabian ("Ma'addite"/"Maddeni") pantheon (including the Nabataeans, Palmyrenes, and Qedarites)	Abgal, Abirillu, A'im, Allat, 'Ammi'anas, A'ra, Arsu, Asira, Atarsamain, Atarquruma, Bajir, Dai, Dhat-Anwat, Dushara, Fils, Gad, Hubal, Isaf and Na'ila, Al-Kutbay, Manaf, Manat, Nuha, Nukhay, Al-Qaum, Quzah, Ruda (deity) (earlier known equally Ruldaiu), Sa'd, Suwa', Theandrios, Al-Uqaysir, Al-Uzza
South Arabian ("Yemenite"/"Homeritae" [Himyarite]) pantheon (including the Sabaeans, Himyarites, Minaeans, Qatabanians, and Hadhrami people)	A'im, Almaqah, 'Amm, Anbay, Athirat, Athtar (both his general form and in the grade of Athtar Shariqan), Balaw, Basamum, Dhat-Badan, Dhat-Himyam, Dhat-Sanat, Dhat-Zahran, Dhul Khalasa, Gad, Haubas, Haukim, Hawl, Nasr, Nikrah, Qaynan, Shams, Syn, Ta'lab, Wadd, Yaghūth, Yatha, Ya'uq

Alphabetical list [edit]

Name	Clarification	Attestations
		Pre-Islamic era	Islamic tradition
'Amm	'Amm is the moon god of Qataban.[4] His attributes include the lightning bolts.[4] Amm is served by the estimate-god Anbay and has the goddess Athirat as his espoused.[five] [6] Qatabanians are as well known as Banu Amm, or "children of Amm".	Attested [a]
'Ammi'anas	'Ammi'anas is a god worshipped by the Khawlan. According to the Volume of Idols, the Khawlan would offer a portion of their livestock holding and land products and give i part to 'Ammi'anas and the other to God.[7] While no epigraphic evidence of this god is known, the existence of 'Ammi'anas cannot be ruled out equally his proper name is nowadays in the personal name of a Khawlanite leader.		Attested [b]
'Athtar	'Athtar is the god associated with the planet Venus and was the most common god to due south Arabian cultures. He is a god of thunderstorms and natural irrigation. As Athtar was considered remote, worship was unremarkably directed to the patron deity of a kingdom/culture.	Attested [a]
A'im	A'im is a god who was worshipped by the Azd of al-Sarah.[viii]		Attested [b]
A'ra	A'ra, known in Greek as Aarras, is a north Arabian tutelary god known from inscriptions in Bosra. The proper name implies a holy place or an altar, but its Arabic root also means "to dye". It is implied that many sacrifices (which may include children) were offered to the cult prototype, staining it with blood.[9] Equated with the Nabataean Dushara who was likewise worshipped every bit Dushara-A'ra.	Attested
Abgal	Abgal is a tutelary god worshipped by nomads, including bedouins,[10] and a tutelary god of the Arabs of the Palmyra region. His proper noun is constitute in inscriptions dating to the times of the Palmyrene Empire, but none in Palmyra itself.[11]	Attested
Abirillu	Abirillu is a god mentioned in an Assyrian inscription.[12]	Attested
Almaqah	Almaqah was the master-god of the Sabaeans, and a god of bogus irrigation. Associated with the bull'southward caput and vines, he was regarded as the progenitor of the Sabaeans, and his worship spread to the Ethiopian kingdoms of Dʿmt and Kingdom of Aksum.	Attested
Anbay	Anbay is a god worshipped in Qataban, alongside Hawkim, as gods of "command and decision". He was regarded as a deity of justice and an oracle, in attendance to the moon deity Amm. Anbay's name was invoked in a range of legal matters, from filing paperwork for the legal title of a edifice to the royal regulation of water supplies. His proper noun is related to the name of the Babylonian god Nabu.	Attested
Aranyada'		Attested
Arsu	Arsu is a northern Arabian god worshipped in Palmyra. He personifies the evening star, while the morning star is personified by Azizos, and he is associated with horses and camels. He is equated with Ruda, who was worshipped elsewhere in northern Arabia.	Attested
Ashar	Ashar is i of the nomadic gods of the Arabs during the Palmyrene Empire period, along with Azizos, Ma'n, Abgal, Sha'd, and Mun'im.	Attested
Asira	Asira is named in an inscription list the deities of Tayma.	Attested
Atarquruma	Atarquruma is a god worshipped by the Qedarites mentioned in an Assyrian inscription.[12] He probably originated as a grade of Athtar, who in Saba was associated with Kurum, thought to be a hypostasis or a consort of Athtar.	Attested
Atarsamain	Atarsamain is a deity of uncertain gender, worshipped amid the Qedarites, and was associated with Venus. He was peculiarly worshipped by the Isamme tribe.	Attested
Athirat	Athirat is a goddess worshipped in Qataban as the consort of 'Amm. Cognate to the West Semitic Athirat/Asherah who ordinarily has El as her consort.	Attested
Athtar Shariqan	Athtar Shariqan is a course of Athtar who was invoked as an avenger against enemies. The word "Shariqan" means "the Eastern I". The worship of this god has spread to the Central Arabian kingdom of Kindah, where his name appears in Qaryat al-Fawt.	Attested
Bajir	Bajir is a minor god of the Azd.		Attested
Balaw	Balaw is a god worshipped in the kingdom of Awsan aslope Wadd.	Attested
Basamum	Basamum is a god worshipped in South Arabia whose proper name may be derived from Arabic basam, or balsam, a medicinal plant, indicating that he may exist associated with healing or wellness.[thirteen] [14] I ancient text relates how Basamum cured ii wild goats/ibexes.[thirteen]	Attested
Dai	Dai is named in an Assyrian inscription.[12]	Attested
Datin	Datin is a god primarily known from inscriptions in northern Arabia, simply his office is unknown.[15]	Attested
Dhat-Anwat	Dhat-Anwat is a tree deity worshipped by the Quraysh. The tree stood between Mecca and Yathrib, and devotees hang their weapons on it.		Attested
Dhat-Badan	Dhat-Badan is a goddess of the haven, worshipped in tree-circled pools.	Attested
Dhat-Sanat	Dhat-Sanat is a Qatabanian goddess who formed part of their official pantheon.	Attested
Dhat-Zahran	Dhat-Zahran is a Qatabanian goddess who formed function of their official pantheon.	Attested
Dhu-Ghabat	Dhu-Ghabat was the master god of the Lihyanites, who rarely turned to others for their needs. His name means "he of the thicket".	Attested
Dhu al-Kaffayn	Dhu al-Kaffayn is, according to the Book of Idols, a god worshipped by the Daws, specifically the banu-Munhib ibn-Daws. His name means "he of the two palms".[xvi]		Attested
Dhul Khalasa	Dhul Khalasa is a god worshipped by the Bajila and the Khath'am tribes, and was reportedly worshipped as a "god of redemption". His temple became known as the Kaaba of Yemen.		Attested
Dhu-Samawi	Dhu-Samawi, literally "the Heavenly One", is a god who probably originated from northern Arabia, but as well found worship in south Arabia. The Bedouin would offer votive statuettes of camels, to ensure well-being of their herds. The Amir tribe also worshipped this god, and in inscriptions Dhu-Samawi was regarded as the "god of Amir".	Attested
Dushara	Dhu al-Shara/Dushara is a mountain god worshipped primarily by the Nabataeans as their chief-god, and besides past the Banū al-Hārith ibn-Yashkur ibn-Mubashshir clan of the Azd. Probably originating every bit an aspect of Ruda, he is associated with the Sun and the planet Mercury.	Attested	Attested
Fils	Fils is a god who, according to the Volume of Idols, is associated with animals, and that animals roaming in the territory of his cult paradigm would go a holding of the god.[17] Primarily worshipped by the Tayy tribe, his cult image and sanctuary was said to be located on the Jabal Aja.[17]		Attested
Gad	Gad is a pan-Semitic god of fortune who is too attested in Arabia.	Attested
Ghayyan	Ghayyan is a god worshipped by the Banu Umayya of the Aws tribe.[xviii] Since Ghayyan's name can be traced in the traditional genealogy of the Umayya, it is possible that Ghayyan is a deified ancestor.[18]		Attested
Al-Harish	Al-Harish is a god worshipped by the Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal of the Aws tribe.[eighteen] Since al-Harish's proper name can be traced in the traditional genealogy of the 'Abd al-Ashhal, information technology is possible that al-Harish is a deified ancestor.[18]		Attested
Haubas	Haubas is an oracular deity of the Sabaeans. The deity'southward gender varies from expanse to area; in places where the deity is female, she is regarded as the consort of Athtar.	Attested
Haukim	Haukim is a god of law and justice, worshipped alongside Anbay equally gods of "control and decision". His proper noun is derived from the root "to be wise".	Attested
Hawl	Hawl was probably a moon god, every bit his name may have alluded to the lunar bike. He was worshipped in Hadhramawt.	Attested
Hilal	Hilal is a god of the new moon.
Hubal	Hubal is a god associated with divination. His cult paradigm stood in the Kaaba, and his rituals were in the form of throwing divination arrows before the image, in cases of virginity, expiry and marriage.[xix] He is worshipped by many tribes, including the Quraysh, who controlled access to the prototype. Hubal's name also appears in a Nabataean inscription in Mada'in Saleh, forth with Dushara and Manat.	Attested	Attested
Isaf and Na'ila	Isaf and Na'ila are a pair of deities, a god and a goddess, whose cult was centered nearly the Well of Zamzam. Islamic tradition gave an origin story to their cult imagess; a couple who were petrified past Allah as they fornicated inside the Kaaba.		Attested
Al-Jalsad	Al-Jalsad is a god worshipped by the Kindah in Hadhramawt.		Attested
Jihar	Jihar is a god worshipped by the Banu Hawazin. His image stood in 'Ukaz. Jihar is invoked in a talbiyah for longevity.		Attested
Kahl	Kahl is the patron god of the Kindah kingdom whose capital was Qaryat al-Faw.[twenty] The boondocks was called Dhat Kahl later him. His name appears in the class of many inscriptions and rock engravings on the slopes of the Tuwayq, on the walls of the souk of the village, in the residential houses and on the incense burners.	Attested
Al-Kutbay	Al-Kutbay is a god of writing worshipped by the Nabataeans.	Attested
Al-Lat	Al-Lat is a goddess associated with fertility and state of war. Her cult was spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and as far every bit Palmyra. She was equated with Athena, the Greek goddess of war. In the Hejaz region, she was especially worshipped by the Banu Thaqif of Ta'if, and she was too worshipped by the Nabataeans of North Arabia. There is also prove of her worship in South Arabia and Qedar, with her name existence attested in inscriptions. In Islamic tradition, her worship was ended with the destruction of her shrine in Ta'if.	Attested	Attested
Ma'n	Ma'n is 1 of the nomadic gods of the Arabs in Palmyra, paired with Sha'd. Ma'n'southward feast at Palmyra was celebrated on the sixteenth of August, on which meals of beef were feasted. The name Ma'n was as well attested in Nabataean names, also every bit the names of members of Edessa's purple family.	Attested
Malik	Malik is a god attested in northern Arabian inscriptions. His name means "king".	Attested
Manaf	Manaf is a god, described past Muslim scholar At-Tabari as "i of the greatest deities of Mecca", although little information is available nigh him. He is attested in the Hauran equally Zeus Manaphos, equated with Zeus. [21] It is said that women would keep his image abroad during menstruation. Some scholars propose that Manaf might be a solar god.[22]	Attested	Attested
Manāt	Manāt is the goddess of fate, destiny and expiry. In Nabataean and Latin inscriptions she was known equally Manawat. She is an ancient goddess, predating both Al-Lāt and Al-'Uzzá. She was associated with Dushara and Hubal, and was equated with the Greek goddess Nemesis. She became the chief goddess of both the Banu Aws and Banu Khazraj, the two polytheistic tribes of Yathrib (Medina). In Islamic tradition, her worship was ended with the destruction of her shrine in the shore of al-Qudayd.	Attested	Attested
Al-Muharriq	Al-Muharriq is a god worshipped past the Banu Bakr ibn Wa'il and the rest of the Banu Rabi'ah, besides equally by the Banu Tamim. His name means "the burner".		Attested
Mun'im	Mun'im, rendered in Greek as Monimos, was one of the nomadic gods of the Arabs during the Palmyrene Empire period, forth with Azizos, Ma'due north, Abgal, Sha'd, and Ashar.	Attested
Nab'al	Nab'al was a god worshipped in Kaminahu.	Attested
Nasr	Nasr is a god worshipped past the Himyarites and, co-ordinate to the Volume of Idols, was worshipped in a place called Balkha.[23] The tribe of Rabi`ah worshipped the god Nasr.[24]	Attested	Attested
Nikrah	Nikrah is a god associated with healing worshipped past the Minaeans. His shrine was an asylum for dying people and women in childbirth.
Nuha	Nuha is a goddess associated with the Lord's day. She was also associated with emotions, every bit described in various inscriptions in Najd, Saudi arabia.	Attested
Nuhm	Nuhm is a god worshipped by the Muzaynah, who named their children Abd-Nuhm after him.		Attested
Al-Qayn	Al-Qayn is a god worshipped by the Banu 'Amr ibn 'Awf of the Aws tribe.[18]		Attested
Qaynan	Qaynan is a Sabaean god, and based on etymology, might be a god of smiths.	Attested
Qaysha		Attested
Quzah	Quzah is a weather and a mountain god, as well equally a god of the rainbow, worshipped by the people of Muzdalifah. His attribute is the bow and arrows of hailstones.[25] He was probably syncretized with the Edomite god Qos and became known as qaws quzah.[26]		Attested
Ruda	Ruda is an important solar god in North Arabia. He is named in an Assyrian inscription equally Ruldaiu and is frequently mentioned in Thamudic and Safaitic inscriptions. Dushara may have originated as a form of Ruda.	Attested	Attested
Sa'd	Sa'd is a god of fortune worshipped past the Banu Kinanah tribe. His cult image was a tall stone situated in the desert, and animals were sacrificed there for blessings.		Attested
Al-Sa'ida	Al-Sa'ida was a god whose cult paradigm stood on Mount Uhud, just information technology is not known if he was worshipped in a temple (haram).		Attested
Sakhr	Sakhr is a god worshipped by the Banu Haritha of the Aws tribe.[18]		Attested
Salm		Attested
Al-Samh	Al-Samh is a god worshipped by the Banu Zurayq of the Khazraj tribe.[eighteen]		Attested
Sha'd	Sha'd was one of the nomadic gods of the Arabs in Palmyra, paired with Ma'due north.	Attested
Shafr	Shafr is a god worshipped by the Banu Khatma of the Aws tribe.[18]		Attested
Shams	Shams/Shamsum is a female solar deity, possibly related to the Canaanite Shapash and the broader eye-eastern Shamash. She was the dominant goddess of the Himyarite Kingdom, and possibly still revered in some form past the Bedouin for several centuries afterwards.[27] [28] [29] [30]	Attested	Attested
Shay al-Qawm	Shay al-Qawm, "who he accompanies the people", is a god associated with war and the night and protection of caravans, primarily attested in Safaitic and, although less frequently, Nabataean. He is described as a god "who drinks no vino, who builds no home". Shay al-Qawm is also attested in Palmyra in an inscription dedicated past a Nabataean. Information technology is possible that the Lihyanite deity QM (Qawm) is a hypocoristic of his name .	Attested
Shingala	Shingala was named in an inscription list the deities of Tayma.	Attested
Su'ayr	Su'ayr is an oracular god of the 'Anazzah tribe.		Attested
Suwa'	Suwa' is a god worshipped by the Hudhayl tribe.		Attested
Syn	Syn was the main-god of the Hadhramites. His function is disputed; while he may be connected to the Moon, and by extension, the Semitic god Sin, his symbol is the eagle, a solar symbol.	Attested
Ta'lab	Ta'lab is a moon god primarily worshipped by the Sum'ay, a Sabaean tribal confederation which consisted of the tribes Hashid, Humlan and Yarsum. He was as well associated with pastures. He had an important temple in Riyam.	Attested
Theandrios	Theandrios is the Greek name of a god worshipped past the Arab tribes of Mount Hermon.	Attested
Al-Uqaysir	Al-Uqaysir is a god whose cult paradigm stood in Syria. According to the Book of Idols, his adherents include the tribes of Quda'a, Banu Lakhm, Judhah, Banu Amela, and Ghatafan. Adherents would go on a pilgrimage to the cult image and shave their heads, then mix their hair with wheat, "for every single hair a scattering of wheat."[31]		Attested
Al-'Uzzá	Al-'Uzzá is a goddess associated with might, protection and beloved. Equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite, she was an important goddess of the Nabataeans, and a temple dedicated to her was gear up at Petra. In the Hejaz, she became the chief goddess of the Quraysh, and a shrine housing three trees once stood in Nakhla. In pre-Islamic poetry, she was invoked every bit a symbol of beauty. In S Arabia, she was known equally Uzzayān and she was associated with healing. In Islamic tradition, her worship was concluded with the destruction of her shrine in Nakhla.	Attested	Attested
Wadd	Wadd is the national god of the Minaeans and he was too associated with snakes. According to the Book of Idols, the Kalb worshipped him in the form of a man and is said to take represented heaven, and his cult prototype reportedly stood at Dumat al-Jandal.	Attested	Attested
Al-Ya'bub	Al-Ya'bub is a god that belonged to the Jadilah clan of Tayy, who according to the Book of Idols abstained from nutrient and beverage before him.[32] It is said that the clan originally worshipped a different cult image until the tribe Banu Asad took information technology away from them.[32]		Attested
Ya'uq	Ya'uq is a god worshipped by the Khaywin.		Attested
Yaghūth	Yaghūth is a god worshipped by the Madhhij, a Qahtanite confederation. The people of Jurash in Yemen as well worshipped him.		Attested
Yatha	Yatha is a god associated with salvation. His name means "Savior".	Attested

Notes [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b} Attested in archaeological and/or epigraphic evidence
2. ^ ^{a b} Attested in al-Kalbi's Book of Idols

References [edit]

Citations [edit]

1. ^ Hoyland 2002, p. 139.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Robin, Christian Julien, "Due south Arabia, Religions in Pre-Islamic", in McAuliffe 2005, pp. 87 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFMcAuliffe2005 (help)
3. ^ Armstrong, Karen (2000). Islam: A Brusk History. p. 11. ISBN0-8129-6618-X.
4. ^ ^{a b} Jordan 2014, p. 16.
5. ^ Jordan 2014, p. twenty.
6. ^ Jordan 2014, p. 37.
7. ^ al-Kalbi 1952, p. 37.
8. ^ al-Kalbi 1952, p. 35.
9. ^ Jordan 2014, p. 26.
10. ^ Hashemite kingdom of jordan 2014, p. 1.
11. ^ Teixidor 1979, p. 81.
12. ^ ^{a b c} Hoyland 2002, p. 134.
13. ^ ^{a b} Lurker 2015, p. 56.
14. ^ Hashemite kingdom of jordan 2014, p. 47.
15. ^ Hashemite kingdom of jordan 2014, p. 72.
16. ^ al-Kalbi 1952, p. 32.
17. ^ ^{a b} al-Kalbi 1952, p. 51.
18. ^ ^{a b c d eastward f m h} Lecker, Michael, "Idol Worship in Pre-Islamic Medina (Yathrib)", in Peters 2017, pp. 130
19. ^ Peters 1994, p. 109.
20. ^ Hoyland 2002, p. twoscore.
21. ^ Cook, A. B. (21 October 2010). Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion. ISBN9781108021234.
22. ^ Coulter & Turner 2013, p. 305.
23. ^ al-Kalbi 1952, p. ten.
24. ^ John F. Healey, Venetia Porter. Studies on Arabia in Honour of G. Male monarch Smith. Oxford University Press. p. 93
25. ^ Jordan 2014, p. 260.
26. ^ Teixidor 2015, p. 90.
27. ^ J. F. Breton (Trans. Albert LaFarge), Arabia Felix From The Time Of The Queen Of Sheba, 8th Century B.C. To First Century A.D., 1998, University of Notre Matriarch Printing: Notre Matriarch (IN), pp. 119-120.
28. ^ Julian Baldick (1998). Black God. Syracuse Academy Press. p. 20. ISBN 0815605226.
29. ^ Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions, 1999 - 1181 páginas
30. ^ J. Ryckmans, "South Arabia, Religion Of", in D. N. Freedman (Editor-in-Chief), The Ballast Bible Lexicon, 1992, Volume 6, op. cit., p. 172
31. ^ al-Kalbi 1952, p. 42.
32. ^ ^{a b} al-Kalbi 1952, p. 54.

Sources [edit]

• Becking, Bob; Horst, Pieter Willem van der (1999), Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, ISBN9780802824912
• Coulter, Charles Russel; Turner, Patricia (2013), Encyclopaedia of Ancient Deities, Routledge, ISBN978-1135963903
• Hitti, Phillip K. (2002), History of The Arabs (Revised ed.), Macmillan International Higher Education, ISBN9781137039828
• Hoyland, Robert M. (2002), Arabia and the Arabs: From the Statuary Historic period to the Coming of Islam, Routledge, ISBN1134646348
• Jordan, Michael (2014), Lexicon of Gods and Goddesses, Infobase Publishing, ISBN978-1438109855
• al-Kalbi, Ibn (1952), Book of Idols, Being a Translation from the Arabic of the Kitāb al-Asnām (Translation and Commentary past Nabih Amin Faris), Princeton Academy Press
• Lurker, Manfred (2015), A Lexicon of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons, Routledge, ISBN9781136106200
• Peters, Francis E. (2017), The Arabs and Arabia on the Eve of Islam, Routledge, ISBN9781351894791
• Peters, Francis East. (1994), Muhammad and the Origins of Islam, SUNY Press, ISBN9780791418758
• Teixidor, Javier (2015) [1977], The Infidel God: Pop Religion in the Greco-Roman Well-nigh Due east, Princeton University Press, ISBN9781400871391
• Teixidor, Javier (1979), The Pantheon of Palmyra, Brill Annal, ISBN9004059873
• Trombley, Frank R. (1993), Hellenic Religion and Christianization: C. 370-529, BRILL, ISBN9789004096240

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pre-Islamic_Arabian_deities

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