Journal Article

The Role of Trade in the Evolution of the Nabataean Religious Belief

Hosawi, Salma Mohammed B

2017

Overview

This paper offers a historical and analytical study of the role of trade in shaping the Nabataean religious belief system, based on the hypothesis that the Nabataeans' extensive commercial activity across Arabia, the Levant, and Egypt directly influenced the evolution of their religious thought and rituals. Employing a combined historical and archaeological approach, the author examines inscriptions, iconography, and architectural evidence from major Nabataean cities-particularly Petra and Madā'in Ṣāliḥ-alongside trade routes such as the Incense Route and the Silk Road. The study reveals that the Nabataeans were not merely merchants but also cultural and spiritual mediators whose belief system reflected the diverse influences of South Arabian, Hellenistic, and Egyptian traditions, producing a flexible and inclusive religious model that blended monotheistic and polytheistic elements. Trade, therefore, functioned as a vehicle for both material and symbolic exchange, spreading rituals and deities such as Dushara and Al-Uzza, which acquired new attributes through intercultural contact. The research further demonstrates that commercial activity reshaped ritual practices themselves, turning them into public festivals linked with seasonal markets. Through comparative analysis of inscriptions and archaeological remains, the study concludes that Nabataean religion evolved through a dynamic interplay between economy and belief, where trade acted as a catalyst for cultural synthesis and spiritual transformation. The author asserts that exploring the economic dimension of Nabataean religiosity provides new insights into the interconnectedness of ancient Arabian and Mediterranean civilizations. Abstract Written by Dar AlMandumh, 2025, Using AI.

• Publisher: جامعة عين شمس - مركز بحوث الشرق الأوسط
• Subject: الأنباط / التبادل التجارى / التجارة / المعتقدات الدينية / النقوش النبطية