Rural cult centres in the Hauran : : part of the broader network of the Near East (100 BC-AD 300) / / Francesca Mazzilli.

• Superior document: Archaeopress Roman archaeology ; 51
• VerfasserIn: Mazzilli, Francesca,
• Place / Publishing House: Oxford : : Archaeopress Publishing Limited,, [2018]; ©2018
• Year of Publication: 2018
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Archaeopress Roman archaeology ; 51.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (212 pages) :; illustrations, maps.

The first comprehensive multidisciplinary analysis of rural cult centres in the Hauran (southern Syria) from the pre-Roman to the Roman period (100 BC-AD 300). This volume re-evaluates the significance of contacts between the elite of the Hauran and other cultures of the Near East in shaping cult sites.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Cover -- Contents Page -- List of Figures, Maps and Tables -- Chapter 1 -- Introduction -- Cult centres -- Towards a new perspective and approach -- Chapter 2 -- The geographical and historical background of the Hauran -- 2.3. Archaeological and epigraphical evidence -- 2.4. The road network -- Chapter 3 -- Rural cult centres in their pre-provincial political context -- 3.2. The Herodian influence in rural cult centres -- 3.3. Concluding remarks -- Figure 1: Plan of temple 2 at Sī', reconstructed in the early 20th century (the author, after PPUAES II ill. 387). -- Map 1: The Hauran (the author) -- Map 2: Rural cult centres in relation to settlements and roads of the Hauran (the author) -- Map 3: Roman roads in the Near East (the author, after Sartre 1982 map 1) -- Figure 2: Plan of the cella at Saḥr, reconstructed in the early 20th century (the author, after PPUAES II ill. 336). -- Figure 3: Plan of the sanctuary at Saḥr on the basis of a recent investigation (the author, after Kalos, 1997: fig. 4, together with Kalos 2003: fig. 1). -- Figure 4: Plan of the sanctuary at Sī' on the basis of a recent investigation (the author, after Dentzer-Feydy 2015: fig. 1). -- Figure 5: Plan of Sī' 8 (the author, after Dentzer-Feydy 2003: 60). -- Map 4: Distribution of dedications to Dushara (the author) -- Figure 6: Drawing of Nabataean capitals Type McKenzie 1 and Type 2, and a Nabataean capital at Sī' (the author, after McKenzie 2001: fig. 1, together with McKenzie 1990: 190, Diagram 14 i and PPUAES II fig. 341). -- Figure 7: Detail of the altar at Sī', depicting a male figure wearing a loincloth (the author 2010). -- Map 5: Distribution of representation of eagles similar to examples from Hegra (the author) -- Figure 8: Graph showing coins recovered at Sī' (information from Table 4 in Appendix) (the author).

Figure 10: Drawing of niche frame of the façade of sanctuary Sī' 8 (the author, after Dentzer-Feydy 2003: pl. 84). -- Figure 9: Decorative motif of vine branches from Sī', reused in the basilica of Canatha (the author 2010). -- Figure 11: Drawing of the decoration of the lid of the Tomb of the Kings sarcophagus (the author, after Goodenough 1958: no. 232). -- Map 6: Nabataean caravan routes in the Hauran and its proximity (the author, after Healey 2001 map 1) -- Map 7: Nabataean caravan routes in the Near East (the author, after Zayadine 2007 fig.207) -- Map 8: Distribution of dedications by Kasiu and Malikat (the author) -- Figure 12: A statue of a radiate head of a young male figure recovered in the debris of the theatron (PPUAES II 384, ill. 330 -- Dunand 1934: no. 46, pl. 15). -- Map 9: Distribution of dedications to Zeus and of his statues (the author) -- Map 10: Distribution of dedications to Athena and of her statues (the author) -- Map 11: Distribution of dedications to Tyche, local Tyche/Gad and of her/his statues (the author) -- Figure 13: Plan of the Temple of Artemis at Dura Europos. 1 indicates the adyton and 2 the courtyard with benches (the author, after Susan Downey 1988: fig. 40). -- Figure 14: Block with geometric style of vine branches with straight stem, from the sanctuary of Bel at Palmyra (the author, after Seyrig 1940: 301, pl. 32, no. 21). -- Figure 15: Heterodox Corinthian capital at Sī' (the author 2010). -- Figure 16: Heterodox Corinthian capital out of context from Palmyra (Schlumberger 1933: pl. 27.1). -- Figure 17: Drawing of a relief from 'the earliest phase' of the Temple of Bel at Palmyra (the author, after Morehart 1956: fig. 2). -- Figure 18: A male statue with long tunic from the sanctuary at Sī' (Dunand 1934: no. 65).

Figure 19: High relief of a male bust recovered in the debris of the theatron at Sī' (PPUAES ill. 334 O). -- Figure 20: A female head of a statue from the sanctuary of Bel at Palmyra (Seyrig 1936: pl. 31, 2). -- Map 12: Persian caravan routes in the Near East (the author, after Graf 1994: 170 fig.1) -- Figure 21: A relief from al-Mushennef representing Zeus Ammon, now in the museum of as-Suweidā' (Syria) (the author 2010). -- Map 13: Distribution of inscriptions by Roman soldiers (the author) -- Figure 22: A relief of Mithras at Sī', now in the Damascus museum (the author 2010). -- Figure 23: Plan of the Mithraeum at Shā'rah (the author, after Kalos 2001: fig. 3). -- Map 14: Distribution of inscriptions mentioning 'Roman' names (the author) -- Figure 24: Plan of temple at 'Atīl (the author, after PPUAES II fig. 120). -- Figure 25: Plan of temple 3 at Sī' (the author, after PPUAES II ill. 341). -- Figure 26: The temple apse at Breikeh (the author 2010). -- Figure 27: Photograph of the apse in the temple at 'Atīl, showing niches on the façade (the author 2010). -- Figure 28: Drawing of a Vitruvian Corinthian capital (the author, after Amy and Gros 1979: fig. 23). -- Figure 29: Corinthian capitals from the temples at 'Atīl and al-Mushennef (the author 2010). -- Figure 30: A capital from the temple at Dmeir (the author 2010). -- Figure 31: A Corinthian capital from the eastern portico of the sanctuary of Bel at Palmyra (Schlumberger 1933: pl. 34.4). -- Figure 32: Cornice and sima from the temple at Sleim (the author 2010). -- Figure 33: Cornice and entablature of the temple at Sleim (the author 2010). -- Figure 34: The wreath-like branches and swastika meander motifs from the temple at 'Atīl (the author 2010).

Figure 35: The façade of the temple at al-Mushennef, showing fragments of decorative motifs widely used in rural cult centres of the Hauran (the author 2010). -- Figure 36: The North Gate at Gerasa, Jordan (the author 2010). -- Figure 37: Plan of the sanctuary at Sī' and its surroundings (the author, after Dentzer 1985: fig. 1 combined with Dentzer et al. 2003: 216, fig. 11). -- Figure 38: The cistern and temple at al-Mushennef (the author 2010). -- Figure 39: Plan of the sanctuary at Saḥr with its surrounding buildings (the author, after Kalos 1997: fig. 1). -- Figure 40: Plans of buildings surrounding the sanctuary at Saḥr (the author, after Kalos 1997: fig. 5.7, with Dentzer 1999: fig. 12-3). -- Figure 41: Plan of kalibé at Philippopolis (the author, after Segal 2008: pl. 43). -- Figure 42: Plan of the small temple III at Hatra (the author, after Kalos 1997: fig. 10). -- Figure 43: A niche on the North Gate of the sanctuary at Baetocaece (northern Syria) (the author 2010). -- Table 1: Division of the types of buildings that surround the sanctuary at Saḥr, according to Kalos (1997) and Dentzer (1999). -- Table 3: Coins recovered at Saḥr, according to Augé (2017). -- Table 5: Coins recovered at Sī', according to Augé (1986 -- 2003). -- Chapter 4 -- 'A religious cultural identity' of the Hauran in the pre-provincial period -- 4.1. People associated with the Safaitic script -- 4.2. The cult of Baalshamin and Allat -- 4.3. The cult of Zeus and Athena -- 4.4. Tyche -- 4.5. The rural cult centres in the Hauran and the hinterland of the Near East -- 4.6. Concluding remarks -- Chapter 5 -- 5.1. The Roman army -- 'A rural religious cultural identity' of the Hauran in the provincial period -- 5.2. New gods -- 5.3. Mithras -- 5.4. The use of 'Roman' names -- 5.5. Religious architecture -- 5.6. Statuary style -- 5.7. Concluding remarks -- Chapter 6.

Rural cult centres as meeting places in terms of their religious and economic functions -- 6.2. Economic activities -- 6.3. Personnel -- 6.4. Concluding remarks -- Chapter 7 -- Conclusion -- Abbreviations -- Bibliography -- Ancient authors -- Modern authors -- Appendix -- Gazetteer.