Aglibol

Aglibol

Aglibol

Syrian deity of the Moon

Aglibol is a god from Palmyra, originating from a north Syrian immigrant community.[1] He is a moon god who was worshiped in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra as part of a triad alongside Bel and Yarhibol, and associated with the sun god Malakbel.[2]

Quick Facts Major cult center, Symbol ...

Evidence of Aglibol's worship is primarily epigraphical. The earliest known mention of Aglibol was an inscription which dates back to 17 BCE and associates him with the sun god Malakbel.[2] Several other inscriptions made by the Bene Komare also associate him with Malakbel, including a bilingual inscription from 122 CE in which Aglibol and Malakbel sponsor a citizen by the name of Manai for his piety.[2]

Several second century CE inscriptions attest that Aglibol was venerated with Malakbel in a sanctuary known as the "Sacred Garden" (gnt' 'ilym),[3] which was one of the four principal sanctuaries of the city.[3] The Bene Komare tended to this sanctuary.[4]

The sanctuary had two altars, a sacred cypress and a bath. One of the reliefs found in the Temple of Bel show the two altars and the two gods.[5]

See also

References

Citations

  1. [1]
    Hoyland, Robert G. (2002-09-11). Arabia and the Arabs: From the Bronze Age to the Coming of Islam. Routledge. ISBN 9781134646340.
  2. [2]
    Smith II 2013, p. 66.
  3. [3]
    Smith II 2013, p. 67.
  4. [4]
    Stoneman 1994, p. 68.
  5. [5]
    W. Drijvers 1976, p. 37.

Sources

  • Smith II, Andrew M. (2013). Roman Palmyra: Identity, Community, and State Formation. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-986110-1.
  • Stoneman, Richard (1994) [1992]. Palmyra and Its Empire: Zenobia's Revolt Against Rome. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-08315-2.
  • W. Drijvers, H.J (1976). The Religion of Palmyra. Brill. ISBN 9789004047983.
  • Media related to Aglibol at Wikimedia Commons
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Aglibol, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.