Eggsquisitely Mythical #3: Ancient Arabia
- Wera Niyom
- Mar 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Hello, fellow eggs and mythology lovers!
For our next Eggsquisitely Mythical issue, we are doing a deep dive on the myths and legends of Ancient Arabia.
BACKGROUND
Arabia is a peninsula in the extreme southwestern corner of Asia. Pre-Islamnic Arabia was home to many ancient kingdoms like Sheba (or Seba) and Ma'in. The earliest populations of Arabia included the Sabaeans and Minaeans. Arabia dates back to the Bronze Age (3300 BC) which now makes up modern-day Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In Eastern Arabia, common languages spoken included Aramaic, Arabic, Syriac, and Persian. In Western Arabia, people spoke Dadanitic, the language of Lihyan (also known as Dedan). It is unknown when the kingdom's existence ended.
DEITIES
Please note that a lot of the deities in this list did not have proper names so they are referred to by titles that indicate a quality, family relationship, etc.
For deities whose gender is unknown, they are referred to as "deity."
'Amm is the moon god of Qataban.
'Athtar is the god of thunderstorms and natural irrigation.
A'ra is the local god of Bosra.
Abgal is the local god of Palmyra.
Abirillu is an unknown deity.
Almaqah is the chief god of Sabaeans, god of artificial irrigation.
Anbay is the god of command and decision, often regarded as a deity of justice.
Aranyada' is an unknown deity.
Arsu is the personification of the evening star.
Ashar is a nomadic deity.
Asira is the local god of Tayma.
Atarquruma is an unknown god worshipped by the Qedarites.
Atarsamain is an unknown deity worshipped by the Isamme tribe.
Athirat is an unknown goddess worshipped in Qataban.
Athtar Shariqan is an unknown god.
Azizos is the personification of the morning star.
Balaw is a god worshipped by the Awsan Kingdom.
Basamum is a god worshipped in South Arabia, believed to be associated with healing.
Dai is an unknown deity.
Datin is an unknown god.
Dhat-Badan is the goddess of the oasis.
Dhat-Sanat is the goddess of official Qatabanian pantheon, function unknown.
Dhat-Zahran is the goddess of official Qatabanian pantheon, function unknown.
Dhu-Ghabat is the chief god of the Lihyanites.
Dhu-Samawi is an unknown deity.
Dushara is a mountain god.
Gad is the god of fortune.
Haubas is an oracle and unknown deity.
Haukim is the god of law and justice.
Hawl is the moon god.
Hilai is the god of the new moon.
Hubal is the god of divination.
Kahl is the patron god of the Kindah Kingdom.
Al-Kutbay is the god of writing.
Al-Lat is the goddess of fertility and war. Athena is her Greek counterpart.
Ma'n is a nomadic deity.
Malik is an unknown god.
Manaf is an unknown god, but believed to be solar god. Zeus is his Greek counterpart.
Manāt is the goddess of fate, destiny, and death. Nemesis is her Greek counterpart.
Mun'im is a nomadic deity.
Nab'al is a god worshipped in Kaminahu.
Nasr is a god worshipped by the Himyarites.
Nikrah is the god of healing.
Nuha is the goddess of the sun.
Qaynan is believed to be god of smiths.
Qaysha is an unknown deity.
Ruda is a solar god.
Salm is an unknown deity.
Sha'd is a nomadic deity.
Shams is a solar goddess.
Shay al-Qawm is the god of war and the night.
Shingala is an unknown deity.
Syn is the chief god of the Hadhramites.
Ta'lab is the moon god.
Theandrios is an unknown god whose Arabian name is not known.
Al-'Uzza' is the goddess of might, protection, and love. Aphrodite is her Greek counterpart.
Wadd is the god of the Minaeans.
Yatha is the god of salvation.
MYTHICAL CREATURES
Anqa is a female bird said to fly far away and only appear once in ages. The words means "long-necked," which suggests the bird resembles a heron, crane, or other long-necked birds. It is said to be very beautiful and colorful with a long neck, human face, and four pairs of wings.
Bahamut is sea monster (a gigantic fish, whale, or sea serpent) that helps to hold the earth up while being completely submerged in the water.
Dandan is a mythical fish said to be the largest fish in the sea that can swallow a ship in one gulp.
Falak is a giant serpent that lives below Bahamut, to help hold up the earth. They live in the seventh hell and are known to be very powerful.
Ghoul is a demon-like humanoid who lives in graveyards and consumes human flesh.
Hatif is a voice that can be heard from an unidentifiable source. It usually comes from ghosts.
Hinn is a supernatural creature, exact nature unknown.
Jinn, also referred to as a djinn or genie, are believed to have originated as malevolent spirits in deserts and unclean spaces. They are spirits, ranked lower than angels, who can appear in human and animal forms.
Karkadann is a mythical rhinoceros. Its horn is believed to be an antidote to poison.
Kujata is the cosmic bull that carries the angel who supports the earth. It stands on top of Bahamut.
Marid is a type of devil.
Al-Mi'raj is a sea serpent who lives on an island called Jazirah al-Tennyn (which translates to Sea Serpent Island). It can take on the form of a rabbit with unicorn-like horn or horns.
Nasnas is a monster who is described as "half a human being; having half a head, half a body, one arm, one leg, with which it hops with much agility."
Nephilim are considered giants in some cultures, but in others, they are considered fallen angels.
Qareen is a spiritual double of a human, similar to a jinn but not actually one.
Qutrub is a type of jinn or demon, kind of like a werewolf. It is similar to a ghoul in that it haunts graveyards and eats corpses.
Roc is a giant raptor.
Shadhavar is a creature that resembles a unicorn.
Shahmaran is a half-woman and half-snake creature.
Sila, also referred to as si'lat, is a malicious class of jinn. They are talented shapeshifters, but animals can recognize them. They are known to lead travelers and nomads away to their deaths.
Were-hyena is a type of werewolf, but involves hyenas.
LEGENDS, MYTHS, AND FOLKTALES
Creation of the People
There once was a man who fell in love with a si'lat and had children with her (known as the banu si'lat). It was rumored that the people of Arabia were conceived from the individuals who were half-si'lat. The mother had left the family behind after seeing lightning in the sky.
Legend of Şahmaran (also in Ancient Anatolian Mythology)
Şahmaran encounters a poor man named Camasb, who is known as Yada Jamsab or Jamisav in other versions of the story. When he tries to steal honey with some of his friends, he gets stuck in a cave and his friends leave him. While exploring the cave, he discovers a secret passage to a chamber that leads to a beautiful garden with thousands of snake and Şahmaran, a serpent-shaped female body. He falls in love with her and they live together for a while.
She teaches him about medicine and herbs, but he begins to miss his family and life on earth. When he expresses his desire to leave, he promises he won't share the secret of her home. As time goes on, he continues to maintain this secret. Until one day, the king of Tarsus becomes ill and it is explained that Şahmaran can cure his disease. She is caught in her cave and brought back to the king where she is killed in a bath called Şahmaran Hamam. Now a troubled physician, Camasb faces misfortune after betraying Şahmaran.
The Lost City of Atlantis of the Sands
The lost city of Atlantis of the Sands was an ancient city in Arabia that was destroyed and buried under sand, caused by the anger of the gods. Many archaeologists believe in the existence of this lost city and it is believed to be in the southern deserts of modern day Saudi Arabia.
That concludes today's discussion about Ancient Arabian Mythology. We hoped you found this informative and consider exploring the history of some ancient civilizations in your free time. Who knows what interesting facts you'll uncover?
Check out these other articles written by former team members:
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