web viewand who were these arabs ? we know that, besides a very few exceptions, josephus used this...
TRANSCRIPT
The First Seminar for Nabataean StudiesThe Nabataean Centre for Archaeological Studies
Al-Hussein Bin Talal University19-20 August 2007
ABSTRACTS
Professor Jean-François Salles, IFPO-Amman, [email protected] or [email protected]
Umm Hadar, a military outpost between Judeans and Nabataeans ?
When telling us the story of Hyrcan the Tobiad and his settling in wadi Seer-Iraq al-Amir,
Flavius Josephus records that, when he was in Transjordan during ca 10 years as far we can
estimate (probably longer), Hyrcan was persistently fighting against the Arabs, trying to kill as
many as possible or to put them in captivity.
This is the only literary source we have about troubles in this region – let’s say from Birta-
Philadelphia/Amman down to Na’ur and the Jordan Valley— during the first two or three
decades of the IInd cent. BC : was it a real political turmoil (the Judeo-Greek historian insists on
« persistently »), or was it part of Hyrcan’s function as he was the tax perceptor for the Lagid
power in the area ? If so, however, it would not seem much needed to kill or make captive Arabs
who then would become unable to pay any tax any longer …
And who were these Arabs ? We know that, besides a very few exceptions, Josephus used this
word to designate the Nabataeans, and it looks most likely that Hyrcan’s wars took place against
the Nabataeans. It is well established now that Nabataeans and other Arab communities were
established in Ammanitidis during the IIIrd-IInd cent. BC (e. g. in Amman) or even in the Jordan
Valley (Pella probably) : their rôle, especially the Nabataeans, was to control the trading route
from their centre in the South to Bosra and Damascus in the North, long before the Trajana
Nova. Were they present also in the wadi Seer ? Although a few Nabatean pottery sherds and
coins were recovered from the American excavations in the village of Iraq al-Amir, there is no
reason to assume the existence of a Nabatean community there.
So, the question which arises is twofold : (a) what was the real extension of Hyrcan’s estate –
eventually petty kingdom in the last years of his life – to the South, along the ridge of the
Jordanian plateau, and to the South-West, in connection with the Jordan Valley (assuming than
Amman was most probably part of his domain to the North) ? and (b) where did these
confrontations take place, even if we consider that some of these Arabs were still semi-nomads ?
One must remember that Hyrcan came from Jerusalem and originated in a rich and powerful
Judean family ; one should also consider that a few years after his death, ca 175 or 170 BC, his
domain became a Hasmonean possession, as shown for example by the Hasmonean pottery and
coins discovered at Iraq al-Amir (village, American excavations, and Qasr al-Abd). The
abovementioned question should thus be enlarged : where was the « border » between the
Judeans and the Arabs-Nabataeans ?
A very preliminary piece of evidence may come from recent excavations at the site of Umm
Hadar, in the lower wadi Kufrayn (= Umm Hadar Plains), about 200 m upstream the Kufrayn
Dam, which will be presented during this address.
Professor John F. Healey, The University of Manchester, UK, [email protected] "The Realities behind Nabataean Tomb Inscriptions” imagining an aspect of
Nabataean life
The paper attempts to define more clearly the nature of Nabataean tomb inscriptions, exploring
the fact that though they refer to legal realities they are not in themselves legal documents. In
fact they raise many questions which cannot be answered definitively on the basis of current
knowledge, but a certain amount of light on the likely real-life situations leading to the writing of
particular inscriptions can be provided by comparisons with Palmyrene and similar epigraphic
sources.
It is clear that tombs were very important to Nabataeans and it is not surprising that so much
energy was put into their construction and religious or legal protection. Protection by the threat
of curses and fines is characteristic and an attempt is made to explain the background of
references to these aspects.
Professor Stephan G. Schmid, Université Montpellier III – CNRS UMR 5140, [email protected]
REFLECTIONS ON THE PLAN AND FUNCTIONING OF NABATAEAN FUNERARY COMPLEXES AT PETRA
Recent research focussing on the complex of the so-called Soldier Tomb in the Wadi Farasa East
revealed several results concerning that complex, but also Nabataean funerary installations in a
more general term.
For instance, archaeological excavation revealed a huge peristyle courtyard in front of the
Soldier Tomb. That courtyard was linking the Soldier tomb to the opposite banqueting hall as
well as to a two storied built structure, were multipurpose tasks were taking place, such as
cooking, storing and probably also living. The architectural layout of the complex closely
follows prototypes from Hellenisitic and early Roman luxury architecture such as huge villae and
palaces.
Within other results, this means that the monumental façade of the Soldier Tomb was not at all
an outside façade, but turned towards an interior space, more precisely the peristyle courtyard. In
other terms, when approaching the Wadi Farasa East, visitors would not have seen the tomb
façade or only a small bit of it. Surprisingly, Several other such installations can be pointed out
in the Petra area. Some of them belong to well known monuments such as ed-Deir, but there is
also an increasing number of smaller and less prominent monuments that clearly show similar
characteristics.
This leads to the question whether such multipurpose installations were rather the rule or the
exception at Nabataean Petra and the present paper tries to give a preliminary answer.
Professor Hani Hayajneh, Yarmouk University, [email protected]
"The Nabataean - Ancient North Arabian bilingualism in the epigraphical heritage of Wadi Ramm"
No abstract provided
Professor Christian Auge, CNRS Researcher (IFPO Amman), [email protected] or [email protected]
Researches on the Qasr al-Bint sacred area: new results of the French Mission.
The Qasr al-Bint, the best preserved among the masonry-built temples in Petra, towers over a
long paved courtyard including an altar and other structures. While former studies on the temple
itself were in the press, new field-researches were initiated in 1999 by the French Institute at
Amman, at the request of the Department of Antiquities, in order to set the building back in its
architectural and archaeological context. Nine campaigns of fieldwork already took place under
the direction of Christian Augé and François Renel. From 2001 on, the project has been part of
the mission From Petra to Wadi Rum.
For the sake of publication, we currently focus on the area in front of the temple. The main altar,
a large elevated platform, originally Nabataean, went through several transformations in ancient
times. On top of it a watertight cavity was hollowed out, connected with a complicated system of
channels and drains which run under the paving stones of the courtyard.
The excavation of the western part of the court revealed an impressive apse monument
(‘exedra’), built in Roman times at the edge of a previous building. This monument probably
collapsed from an earthquake in the 4th century AD. On its remains, a dwelling was built which
was later on destroyed in the 5th century AD. A considerable amount of archaeological material
was found, including fragments of decoration and of statues carved in both marble and
sandstone. Inscriptions show that the apse monument was inaugurated in honour of Marcus
Aurelius and Lucius Verus, co-emperors from 161 to 169 AD. In April 2004 a beautiful marble
portrait of Marcus Aurelius was discovered and is now on display in the Archaeological Museum
of Amman. His colossal statue was probably displayed in the curved central recess, close to
Verus’ one. Our architects, Laurent Borel and Chrystelle March, are now able to submit a
hypothetical reconstitution drawing for that monument, perhaps scheduled at first as a fountain
or nymphaeum, then as a theatrical façade which created a dramatic effect to visitors entering the
courtyard.
We also investigate an extensive Nabataean building located on the eastern side of the temple
and opening onto the sacred area through a monumental gate. In the Nabataean period this
building may have been devoted to some religious or official use and was also re-occupied in
Late Roman times.
Besides new information on the monumental arrangements during the Roman Empire and on the
Late Roman phases, the last campaigns shed more light on previous periods, revealing structures
linked to a Hellenistic occupation level, which is quite new in this area, and several building
phases in the extensive architectural programme conducted in later Nabataean times. Our team,
highly indebted to Dr Peter Parr’s investigations, intends to get a more accurate view on the
organization of the sanctuary, its water supply and draining, its approaches and insertion in
central Petra.
Dr. Zeyad al-Salameen, al-Hussein Bin Talal University, [email protected]
Weights, Measures and Time Reckoning In Nabataea
Nabataean epigraphic materials provide evidence that there were specified metrological units in
Nabataea. Preliminary study has shown that weight and measure systems in addition to the
names of the months in the Nabataean kingdom were based on those of Mesopotamia.
This study will try to:
discuss various weight and measure units that were practiced by Nabataeans and this
will include the linear measurements, weights and measures of capacity. Most of these
measures were widely used and known by the eastern merchants even though they had
variations in values.
determine the modern equivalents of these weights and measures. As we do not have
enough evidence to cover the whole matter comprehensively, this study is subject to
changes and modifications in the light of the archaeological discoveries. This study will try
to determine as nearly as possible their modern equivalents. Various attempts have been
made to ascertain the exact value of the ancient measures and weights but every unit had
different value. It was difficult to determine the exact modern equivalents of these units but
we could ascertain their approximate values.
discuss the Nabataean year and its division into months, days and hours.
Dr. Salah Said, al-Hussein Bin Talal University,
Two New Inscriptions with the Name ¢ÝÃRÆ from UMM al-‰IMÆL
During the work with the survey team of Al al-Bayt University to explore the area which extending from Umm es-Surab in the west to Kūm el- ’A…mar in the east, and from the Syrian border in the north to the Baghdad Highway in the south, an area about 200km2, This survey which was conducted eleven weeks period from the middle of November 1996 to the end of January 1997, many of new Greek, Latin, Safaitic, and Nabataean inscription were found. This paper will study two Greek and Nabataean funerary inscriptions written on basalt stone, bearing only the name of the deceased person and their patronym, and as typical of the Greek inscriptions they included the age of the deceased. Both of them were found throughout the ruins of Umm al-‰imæl, the ancient town which locate 20 km to the east of Mafraq. These two inscriptions included a new addition for the name Šýãræ the national God of the Nabataeans as a compound name in „auræn.
Lucy Wadeson, PhD candidate, Keble College, Oxford University, UK, [email protected]
New Investigations into the Interiors of Petra’s Façade Tombs
While Petra is renowned for its monumental tomb-facades carved in the surrounding sandstone mountains, the funerary customs related to these tombs have remained elusive. This is because there are few textual sources and burial evidence has been lost through looting and later habitation of the tombs. Although the decorative façades have received much scholarly attention for their unique blend of Eastern and Western architectural forms, their interior chambers have not previously been the subject of a detailed analysis, which is the current focus of my research.
This paper will present the preliminary results of the analysis of data collected from the first-hand examination of the interiors of the façade tombs. Although the chambers now lack burials, they have remains of rock-cut burial and funerary installations. My work involves subjecting these features to a mathematical and comparative methodology in order to establish relations between the tomb interiors and their façade types and to find patterns that unite groups of tombs. Ascertaining developments in the internal arrangement of the tombs will shed light on their chronology and the little-known funerary customs of the Nabataeans.
Dr. Shaher Rababeh, Hashemite University, [email protected]
Factors determined the choice of the building techniques in Petra
Diodorus Siculus (XIX, 93-97) described the people of Petra, the Nabataeans, as having a
nomadic life style in 312 BC. On the other hand, Strabo (16.4.26) observed that in 24 BC the
Nabataeans had costly stone houses and painted and moulded works. These two descriptions are
considered the first real mentions of the Nabataeans in the ancient documents. Despite the
contrast between them, the ruins of Petra are rich and full of marvellous buildings. Therefore, it
is worth considering how the Nabataeans changed and developed their architecture, what types
of construction techniques they used to bring Petra to the height of its prominence, and what
determined their choice of building techniques. To answer these questions, it is necessary to
study the monuments of Petra in depth in order to reconstruct the engineering programme carried
by the Nabataean architect. This will be achieved by considering the carved monuments as the
main sources of evidence. Their technical features were documented by fieldwork, and this
evidence was then analysed to determine precisely when and why these features appeared or
evolved. This leads to explaining how the Nabataeans developed their architecture, and what
types of construction techniques they used to bring Petra’s architecture to its peak.
The results of the study reveal that the Nabataeans were influenced in the choice of their capital
by its site, which was well watered and well protected. Moreover, the location was in the heart of
the ancient trade routes, which extended in all directions, and reached all parts of the ancient
world. The topography and the shape of the site not only provided the necessary raw materials
for construction. But also the surrounding cliffs were used to carve their marvellous monuments.
Moreover, they used these cliffs as rich quarries to cut out the rock they needed to build their
freestanding buildings. The Nabataeans architects adapted to the surrounding environment. The
stone ashlar was the important constructional material that the Nabataeans used in both the
carved monuments and the built up buildings.
The results of the study show the sources of the building techniques used at Petra and why they
were further developed there. A few features of Edomite and other local architecture are seen in
Nabataean architecture. The Nabataeans also used construction techniques found elsewhere in
the Greco-Roman world. However, detailed examination shows that the Nabataeans were
selective in which of these techniques they used and how they refined these to suit the properties
of the locally available building materials, most notably sandstone. This also led to some
technical features not found elsewhere, and others which are the earliest surviving examples.
Consequently, it is shown that the Nabataeans had their own construction techniques, which are
as distinctive as their architectural style.
Dr Fawzi Abudanah, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, [email protected]
Life in Nabataea after AD 106
The transition that Nabataea had witnessed after AD 106 has been the topic of a scholarly debate
for many years. This paper will investigate the volume and significance of this change and its
influence particularly on settlements. The discussion will mainly consider the archaeological
evidence from the region of Udhruh and from other areas in the hinterland of Petra.
Dr. Mahdi Abdelaziz, Hashemite University-Zarqa-Jordan, [email protected] or [email protected]
Legal Features in the Nabataean inscriptions
Nabataeans themselves, in contrast to other civilizations, have left no written records, which
contain legal codes of their law or their legal system. Due to this, our knowledge of the
Nabataean legal system still depends essentially on the study of their legal inscriptions.
The Nabataean tomb inscriptions and the written papyri of the Dead Sea Region reflect directly
or indirectly certain features of the Nabataean legal traditions. They gives special indications of
the Nabataean legal traditions such as the patterns of inheritance, the women rights, the
engagement and the obligations and the transmission of the property.
The research represented here is an attempt to point up some of the Nabataeans legal
features reveal by their inscriptions, seeking to reach abetter understanding of their legal
system.
Mr. Christopher Tuttle, Ph.D. Candidate, Brown University, USA, [email protected]
Nabataean Zoomorphic Vessels
The Nabataeans produced a diverse repertoire of ceramic objects for both domestic and cultic
use, including a selection of zoomorphic vessels. Although such vessels have a long history
within the material cultures of various peoples in this region, those manufactured and used by the
Nabataeans appear to be unique. This presentation will examine and discuss the various
characteristics that distinguish these Nabataean vessel types.
The range of manufacturing techniques and styles used to create the various forms will be
examined and compared (or contrasted) to earlier and contemporary regional types. The
iconography of the different animals chosen for representation will also be explored in depth,
with reference to the wider spectrum of recognized Nabataean imagery. Finally, some functions
for these vessels will be proposed and related to possible interpretations of the meaning(s)
underlying the specific iconography chosen for each type.
Dr. Naif Haddad, Hashemite University, [email protected]
Towards a Notion of the Nabataean Architecture: Some Stylistic and Aesthetic Conception
In the Nabataean architecture we can observe cultural interaction, cultural interchange, cultural
exchange, cultural adaptation and cultural sharing. Cultural sharing is the symbolic exchange that
occurs between any divergent groups, peoples, nations, and societies. The cultural change in
societies and its reflection on the architectural products change the architectural practice through
their represented images over architectural works and cities. Metropolitan cities as in the case of
the Nabataean Petra are focal points, where these changes and their affects are experienced
significantly. Actually, the Nabataean architecture constitutes a main source of evidence not only
for the city of Petra, but for the architecture of the late Hellenistic and Roman period, since it
stimulates a new speculation and evolution of the roughly studied Eastern Hellenistic
architecture. The Nabataean architecture reflects the spirit of the Hellenistic and Roman periods
where architects moved among different cultures create high artistic standards, in cooperation
with local tradition by applying previous oriental and Western historical layers. These artistic
elements made Petra a model of a metropolis during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. This
artistic expression of this evolution makes it a unique school.
In fact, architects, sculptors and painters during the Hellenistic period, were indeed
experimenting together with forms, materials and techniques. However, sculpted and painted
figural motifs were an important component of many buildings in the Nabataean world. Certainly
these were not only decorative structures but they indicate how families wanted to be seen for the
eternity using different historical architectural layers. These architectural treatments of producing
a "pictorial effect" or "picturesque impression", as a result of its close connection with art, opens
a new vision of understanding the perception of the Nabataean architecture. This was reflected
through emphasizing more the stylistic and aesthetic aspects rather than the classical functional
structural approach. However, the Architecture of the rock-cut façades of Petra represents the
final artistic model of the evolution of facades of the Macedonian and Alexandrian tombs, while
the tombs at Medain Saleh were later imitations of the architecture of the rock-cut façades of
Petra. According to the particularities of the Nabataean’s, new treatments were executed in a new
approach related to local practices, yet with new expressions. These expressions represent the
final artistic model of the evolution of late Hellenized morphology.
This study aims to clarify the concept and the approach of the Nabatean Architecture during the
Hellenistic and Roman period, according to some aspects of the cross-cultural experience and
interaction especially of the Eastern centers, where Hellenism was the real cultural force on
eastern architectural products. Specifically, it attempts to identify the perception of some
architectural aspects, in terms of its stylistic and aesthetic qualities, reflected mainly in the façade
formation. A notion of the Nabatean architectural conception in relation to their morphology,
aesthetic constitution, and artistic experience, sense as an architectural experience and as a
cultural symbol is aimed to be present.
Dr Younis Shdaifat & Mr. Salem Al-Btoush, Mu’tah University, [email protected]
Studying of the Pottery Objects From Al-Rabbah
This paper includes a study for the pottery objects which were discovered in Al-Rabba site in Al-
Karak governorate in 1978 season. Which was conducted by the department of antiquities.
This study is the first scientific study that handled these objects typologically and
chronologically. Regarding the typological side, these objects were divided and classified into
different groups, and then they were described in accordance with their shapes, clay, colors,
decorations and manufacturing methods. Regarding the chronological side, they were chronicled
depending on similar objects which were found, in the region and other neighboring regions, in
different chronicled archeological layers in order to estimate its chronology, and consequently,
identify the importance of Al-Rabbah during the era which these objects date back to.
Finally, the study has identified the settlement in the site during the era which extends from the
second half of the second century BC until the beginning of the second century A.D. This is the
same era that these objects date back to. The study has also proved that Nabataean people settled
in this site during that time as there are lots of Nabataean pottery objects which date back to the
same era.
Dr Muntasir al-Hamad, UK, [email protected]
A Further Discussion of the Nabataean Conditional Particle hn’ in Light of ‘Ayn ‘Avdat Inscription
The two infamous Nabataean conditional clauses of ‘Ayn ‘Avdat first published by Avraham
Negev[1] have invited a lot of argument about the Nabataean syntax, the influence of Arabic in
Nabataean and the linguistic map of the region then[2].
However, the original comments and the discussion did not provide any solution to the newly
discovered conditional article hn’ and how it differs from the common hn.
Therefore, in this presentation the researcher will try to offer a new meaning to this conditional
particle which goes in line with the Arabic influence appearing in this inscription as well as the
poetic form of the two conditional clauses.
العربية باللغة االبحاث
- د.سالمة صالح النعيمات / قسم التاريخ / الجامعة األردنية .
- محمد إسماعيل النصرات / طالب دكتوراه / قسم التاريخ / الجامعة األردنية.
م(106اإلمبراطور الروماني تراجان وضم المملكة النبطية عام ) :-
لقد عّمد الرومان إلى إقامة عالقات ودية مع األنباط، نتج عنها التعاون بين الدولتين, ق.م(، كما25فاشترك األنباط في الحملة التي وجهها الرومان على الجزيرة العربية عام )
م(، لكن الصراع مع الرومان ظل66 ق.م( و )4ساعدوهم في إخماد الثورات اليهودية عامي ) يلوح في األفق, فما لبث الرومان أن قضوا على دولة األنباط, حينما أمر اإلمبراطور الروماني
م(، وحولها إلى والية رومانية عرفت106تراجان بضمها إلى اإلمبراطورية الرومانية عام )(.Arabia Provinciaبالمقاطعة أو الكورة العربية )
( -Cornelius Palmaعلى أنه ليس هناك حادثة سياسية مقترنة باستيالء الحاكم الروماني في) بأمر من اإلمبراطور تراجان – على البتراء العاصمة األولى لألنباط, وضم دولة األنباط إلى
اإلمبراطورية الرومانية. غير أن بعض المؤرخين يرى أن ضم البتراء إلى الدولة الرومانية جاء نتيجة رغبة الرومان في إحكام سيطرتهم على الطرق التجارية المربحة، أو أنه نتيجة لسياسة
التوسع التي انتهجها اإلمبراطور تراجان في الشرق.
وتتفق معظم اإلشارات التاريخية على أن إلحاق دولة األنباط باإلمبراطورية الرومانية كانم(, أي بعد وفاة الملك رب أيل الثاني آخر ملوك دولة األنباط.106سنة )
ويظهر من نتائج الحفريات األثرية التي قامت في منطقة البتراء أن ضم المملكة النبطية كان بشكل سلمي ولم يتخلله أي عمال عسكريا أو حرب بين األنباط والرومان، يؤكد ذلك أن
تجارة األنباط ظلت مستمرة وبشكل ثابت وقوي خالل القرنيين الثاني والثالث الميالديين.
وسيتضح ذلك – إن شاء الله- عندما يتم مناقشة الروايات التاريخية التي تتحدث عن إلحاقالمملكة النبطية باإلمبراطورية الرومانية في المصادر التاريخية المعاصرة.
- د.سالمة صالح النعيمات / قسم التاريخ / الجامعة األردنية .
- محمد إسماعي