Nabataean

Cave tomb at Petra, in southwest Jordan. Petra was an ancient city, with many dwellings and tombs carved into the distinctively veined sandstone cliffs. It was the capital of the Nabataean civilization from 312 BC until AD 106, when the Nabataeans were defeated by the Romans.

Member of an Arab people who lived in the northwest of the Arabian peninsula. They are mentioned in cuneiform inscriptions and in 312 BC defeated a Syrian army. At that time they were nomads and monopolized the long-distance caravan trade, becoming a strong nation with their capital at Petra.

By 100 BC, their dominion stretched from Damascus to the River Euphrates and to the Red Sea with the port of Elath. The state was formed into the Roman province of Arabia Petraea in AD 106. Certain outlying districts continued an independent existence until about AD 200, when Palmyra seized what was left of their trade.

The Nabataeans wrote in a unique script and used Aramaic. The best-known god in the pantheon was Dhu-Shara (Dusares), who was identified with Dionysus. Numerous dedications to him in Aramaic and Greek have been found in Jordan.