Petra Tour: High Place of Sacrifice
One of the most beautiful tours in Petra leads to the high sanctuary on the Jabal al-Madhbah, passing the so-called obelisks, and down into Wadi Farasa East.
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This relief under a rock ledge is the central niche of a triclinium directly in front of it (see the previous photo). It became known as the Dushara-Dionysus niche because it was interpreted as a double representation of Dushara, the main god of the Nabataeans in Petra: below in the usual aniconical manner through the betyl and above in figurative form as supposed Dionysus.
Robert Wenning examined the niche on site as part of the Petra Niches Project and through typological comparisons with other sculptures. This enabled him to identify the relief bust as Obodas Theos, i.e. as a representation of the deified Nabataean king Obodas.
The beardless male figure with his hair falling down on his shoulders has a thick wreath on his head. However, this is not made of ivy or vine leaves - on which the Dionysus theory is based - but of long, pointed bay leaves. This allows an interpretation as a portrait of a king, because such large laurel wreaths are known from coins with portraits of kings.
The three holes in the upper edge of the medallion probably served to fix another crowning. A symbol of a god or ornamental element (as in coin portraits) could have been inserted into a hole at the top of the wreath.
Wenning also expressed that, to his knowledge, Dushara is not represented as Dionysus anywhere in Petra, and he doubts that Dionysus was worshipped and syncretised with Dushara in Nabataean times.
Information mainly from
Robert Wenning:
- Obodas Theos. Der statuarische Befund eines nabatäischen Gottes, 2015
- The Many Faces of Dushara - A Critical Review of the Evidence, 2016
© Photos, summary: Haupt & Binder
One of the most beautiful tours in Petra leads to the high sanctuary on the Jabal al-Madhbah, passing the so-called obelisks, and down into Wadi Farasa East.
A Nabataean king Obodas, raised to god - but which of the kings named Obodas, is discussed in research. Robert Wenning mentions Obodas II (or III, reigned 30 - 9 B.C.), a.o. because the deification of kings is known only since the time of his successor Aretas IV (9/8 B.C. - 39/40 A.D.), which is why a reference to Obodas I (ca. 96 - 87 B.C.) seems rather unlikely. The existence of a king Obodas II, who is said to have ruled 62/61- 60/59 BC, is doubted.
Wenning has summarized the various theories:
Obodas Theos. Der statuarische Befund eines nabatäischen Gottes. In: Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins, 131 (2015), pp. 44 - 58
The Many Faces of Dushara
A Critical Review of the Evidence
In: Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan 12 (SHAJ XII). Department of Antiquities of Jordan, Amman, 2016. pp. 189 - 210
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