This is a 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.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• 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