Shams (deity)
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Part of the myth series on |
Religions of the ancient Near East |
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Pre-Islamic Arabian deities |
Arabian deities of other Semitic origins |
Shams, also called or Shamsum or Dhat-Ba' dhanum, is a
Prior to Islam, religion on the Arabian Peninsula focused on local gods, with every tribe and kingdom having their particular protective deities. However, there were also gods common for all Arabs, and the trinity of gods representing the Sun, the Moon and the planet Venus seem to have been worshipped throughout Arabia, though their names, gender and worship differed between regions. Thus, Nuha was the name of the sun goddess in Northern Arabia, while the name of the sun goddess in Southern Arabia was Shams.
As Nuha, Shams was also worshipped in a trinity alongside the male gods of the Moon and Venus. In
In Mesopotamia, Athtar was identified with the goddess
According to Peter Stein, the "Hymn of Qaniya" is dedicated to this goddess.[6]
Gallery
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Sculpture of a Sabaean priestess raising her hand to intercede with the sun goddess on behalf of a donor. Probably first century.
See also
- List of solar deities
- Utu, also known as Shamash
References
- ^ Encyclopedia of World Religions, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2006
- JSTOR 44627449.
- JSTOR 25182330.
- ISBN 978-1-136-10628-6.[page needed]
- ISBN 978-1-4632-3709-7.
- ISBN 978-90-474-3032-2.
Bibliography
- Encyclopedia of World Religions, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2006
- Yoel Natan, Moon-o-theism, Volume I of II[unreliable source?]
- Tenri Journal of Religion, Tenri University Press, 1975[full citation needed]
- Hoyland, Robert G. (2001). Arabia and the Arabs: From the Bronze Age to the Coming of Islam. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-415-19535-5.
- Lurker, Manfred (2015). A Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-10628-6.