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Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

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DURING 19TU CENTURY: ARABIA 735<br />

facts belong to <strong>the</strong> later ! syncretism and are evidently due<br />

to West Semitic, Arabian <strong>in</strong>fluence.<br />

Besides <strong>the</strong> above-named deities, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Arabian<br />

<strong>in</strong>scriptions we occasionally f<strong>in</strong>d still o<strong>the</strong>rs, most frequently<br />

<strong>the</strong> tutelary deity of Riyam (north of San'a), Tdlab (comp.<br />

<strong>the</strong> Arabic ta lab, " ibex ; " hence perhaps Capricornus <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Zodiac), <strong>the</strong>n a god called Sami 1 (= " <strong>the</strong> Hearer," sell.<br />

of prayers), a western and eastern Nasr (<br />

= <strong>the</strong> two eagles <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> sky), a god called ^a<strong>in</strong>an (comp. Hebrew Q(K)a<strong>in</strong> or <strong>the</strong><br />

Midianite tribe of Qenites ;<br />

perhaps <strong>the</strong> patron of goldsmiths<br />

and musicians), ano<strong>the</strong>r named Ramman <strong>in</strong><br />

northwest of San'a,' 2<br />

Shibam,<br />

identical of course with <strong>the</strong> Babylonian<br />

god Rammanu (by Syrians and Assyrians called Hadad)<br />

and with <strong>the</strong> Biblical Hadad-Rimmon. There was also a<br />

god named Hagir (;'. e., " he who prevents, wards off,"<br />

sell,<br />

misfortune), ano<strong>the</strong>r named Dhil-Samwa (Samwa be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

a sanctuary of <strong>the</strong> Banu Amir <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> district of Nejran), <strong>the</strong>n<br />

a Oatabanian god named Dhaw (= Palmyranian Saw and<br />

Hebrew Saw, 3 Hos. 5<br />

: 11), and still o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

As <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>scriptions of Senjirli (situated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> extreme<br />

northwestern part of <strong>the</strong> Semitic territory) immediately<br />

after Hadad, <strong>the</strong> Syrian Moon-god (orig<strong>in</strong>ally Hodad, comp.<br />

Wadd and alongside <strong>the</strong> later Arabic Udd and Udad), <strong>the</strong>re<br />

appears a god named El (" god " par excellence, but here by<br />

<strong>the</strong> side of o<strong>the</strong>rs), so we f<strong>in</strong>d a god named // at two places<br />

<strong>in</strong> South Arabia, once <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>ally M<strong>in</strong>ean city Harim<br />

and aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> territory of Qataban. We have from<br />

Harim a number of <strong>in</strong>scriptions record<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> consecration<br />

of virg<strong>in</strong>s to <strong>the</strong> god Mbtab-Natlyan, probably a Midianite<br />

deity. 4 One of <strong>the</strong> consecrators is <strong>the</strong>re called " Priest of U<br />

1<br />

Though brought about before 2000 b. c.<br />

2<br />

3<br />

Translated wrongly " <strong>the</strong> commandment " or " command " <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> English<br />

See Glaser, no. 119.<br />

Version. — The Editor.<br />

4<br />

Comp. Hommel, "The Ancient Hebrew Tradition," p. 320.<br />

54

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