Nabatéens

The Nabatéens (in Arab: الأنباط Al-Anbaat ) was people trading of the south of the Jordan and Canaan, and of the north of the Arabia, whose settlements in the Oasis at the time of Flavius Josèphe gave the name of Nabatène to the border region between the Syria and the Arabia, between the Euphrate and the Red Sea.

Their capital was the troglodytic city of Pétra, located today in Jordanian territory.

Their trade proceeded mainly between the oases, where they practiced the Agriculture in an intensive way. These oases were connected by commercial roads. The borders of this unit were not precisely defined.

The Roman emperor Trajan subjects Nabatéens definitively and incorporates them in the Empire, where their culture is dissipated and disappeared.

Culture

The culture nabatéenne is known thanks to the thousands of found inscriptions which testify to a good degree of Alphabétisation, although one does not have traces of a Littérature. Analyzes Onomastique S indicate that the culture nabatéenne could have included many Ethnie S.

Ancient texts on Nabatéens suggest that their trade route and the source of their products was regarded as commercial secrets. Diodore of Sicily described them like a powerful tribe of approximately: 10000 warriors, preeminent among the wandering tribes of Arabia.

They avoided agriculture, the dwellings fixed and the use of the Vin. In addition to their pastoral activity, they traded with the ports. The transported goods were mainly Encens, Myrrhe and spices of happy Arabia (i.e. of current the Yemen), as with the Egypt (Bitume coming from the Red Sea).

Their arid country was their best protection against the invaders. Indeed, they succeeded in hiding the collecting rainwater cisterns to them, in the shape of bottles, which they had dug in the stone or clay.

The venerated principal gods with Pétra were Dusares and Uzza.

Language

The language of the inscriptions nabatéennes, which flower during the II E, shows that it is about a local modification of the language araméenne, Lingua franca which ceases having a supra-regional importance after the end of the Empire achéménide in -330. The Alphabet nabatéen drift of the Aramean alphabet. The nabatéen is strongly influenced by the Arab dialects, of the people of the surroundings. Finally, as from the 4th century the Arab influence becomes dominating, the slipping nabatéen of the araméen to Arabic. The Arabic alphabet itself draws its origins in the cursive alternatives of the nabatéen of the 5th century. As from the 3rd century, Nabatéens stop writing in Araméen and use the Greek in the place.

History

Origins

The origins of Nabatéens remain obscure. While being based on the similarity of their name, Saint Jerome proposed a bond with the tribe Nebaioth (of Nebayot, the elder one of twelve wire of Ismaël) mentioned in the Genèse , but the modern historians are careful as for this interpretation and the origin of first Nabatéens remains badly known. Another assumption brings their name closer to the Hebrew word nabata . At the time of Teglath-Phalasar III, the Hebrews called thus the Araméen S, then later, it was employed for the wandering Arab tribes which paid tribute with Assurbanipal.

With the Captivity in Babylon (starting from 586 av. J. - C.), began in Judaea one time without being able frankly established. The Édom ites seized the south of Judaea and Nabatéens probably occupied without clashes the territory forsaken by the latter and continued their trade. It is indeed at that time that inscriptions nabatéennes are found on the territory édomite. This migration, whose date remains unknown, made them main from the coasts of the Golfe of Aqaba and the important port of Elath.

Herodote mentions a king of the Arab , combined Perses, which would have helped Cambyse in the conquest of the Egypt. It could be a question already of Nabatéens. According to Agatharchide, at 3rd front century J.C., Nabatéens behaved as pirates and brigands on trade route connecting the Egypt to the East, until the Ptolémées put an end to their attacks.

Nabatéens were subject to very early foreign cultural influences, in particular Araméen born. Nabatéens wrote a letter with Antigone in characters Syriaque S. the araméen continued to be the language used for their parts and inscriptions when the tribe becomes a kingdom, and benefitted from the weakening of the Séleucides to extend their territory towards north on the fertile grounds to the east of the Jordan.

The king Arétas II would have beaten the troops of the high priest and king of Jerusalem, Alexandre Jannée in 93 av. J. - C.. They occupied the area of the Hauran, and around 85 av. J. - C., their king Arétas III became lord of Damas and Cœlé-Syria. “ Nabatéens ” became the Arab name for Araméens, at the same time in Syria and Iraq, a fact which was wrongly used to prove that Nabatéens were immigrants araméens coming from Babylon. Suitable names on their inscriptions suggest that they were Arabs passed under araméenne influence. Starcky thinks that Nabatu of the south of Arabia were their ancestors. However, various groups among Nabatéens write their names of manner significantly different. This is why the archeologists feel reluctant to say that they all were of the same tribe, or that one of the groups was Nabatéens original.

The period gréco-Roman

See also: Pétra

Pétra is built quickly with I er at the time of Hellenic splendor, reaching its apogee with approximately: 20000 inhabitants. At that time, Nabatéens are combined with the first Hasmonéen S in their fight against the monarchs Séleucide S. They become then the rivals of the dynasties Judaea. These frictions are one of the main causes of the disorders which lead to the intervention of Pompée in Judaea. Many nabatéens is converted force to the Judaisme by the king hasmonéen Alexandre Jannée, who invades Moab and Gilead. King Obodas knew that Alexandre Jannée was going to attack it, and it could thus trap its forces close to Gaualne, thus destroying the army Jew.

The Roman intervention obtains mitigated results and the king Arétas III can keep, as vassal Romans, most of his territory, including Damas. In -62 Marcus Aemilius Scaurus accepts a bribe of 300 talents to raise the head office of Pétra, partly because of the difficult ground and partly because its vivres had decreased much. Hycanus, friend of king Arétas, is sent by Scaurus to obtain peace. Arétas accepts and keeps its territory, adding Damas to it, and it becomes Vassal of Rome.

Under Malichos II, in -32, Hérode declares the war in Nabatéens with the support of Cléopâtre. It ransacks and plunders Nabatène with its Cavalerie and occupies Such Al-Ashari. Nabatéens beat a retreat until Qanawat (today in Syria). Athenio, the general of Cléopâtre, envoit inhabitants of this city to tackle the forces of Hérode, which flee towards Ormiza. One year later, these forces beat Nabatéens.

After a Earthquake in Judaea, Nabatéens raise and invade Israel, but Hérode crosses the the Jordan to Philadelphia. The two camps are cut off. Nabatéens, under Elthemus, refuse to begin the battle, Hérode then decides to attack their camp Nabatéens, disorientated, fight and are beaten. The survivors beat a retreat, Hérode continues them, besieges them and some go. The survivors offer to the forces of Hérode 500 talents, but he refuses. Later, Nabatéens are forced to leave their cut off position, in order to seek water, it are beaten at the time of this last battle.

Under the Roman Empire, Nabatéens continue to thrive during. Their capacity extends on most of Arabia, Red Sea with the Yemen. In spite of a decline due to the emergence of trade route between Myoshormus and Coptos on the the Nile, Pétra remains a cosmopolitan shopping mall. Subjected to the Pax romana, Nabatéens lose their warlike and pastoral practices and become peaceful people dedicated to the trade and agriculture.

Under Trajan, the influence of Pétra is reduced and Nabatéens lose their independence during the reduction of their kingdom in Roman province of Arabia Pétrée.

At the 4th century, they converted with the Christianisme. The new Arab invaders, who were done pressing in the peninsula, find the Nabatéens last transformed into Fellah a , or peasants.

Kings nabatéens

Source

See too

Internal bonds

Avdat
Madâin Sâlih (Hégra)
Mamshit
Nizzana
Shivta

External bonds

Nabatéens, caravaneers and builders
Bulletin off Nabataean Studies
Nabatéens
Language and writing nabatéennes
Nabataea.net

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