Khirbet et-Tannur

Nabataean depiction of Atargatis from Khirbet et-Tannur that was placed on the inner temenos enclosure entrance

Khirbet et-Tannur (Arabic: خربة التنور) is an ancient Nabataean temple situated on top of Jebel Tannur, in today's Jordan. Based on the cults statues iconography, whether the temple was dedicated to the fertility goddess Atargatis and Zeus-Hadad, or perhaps other gods of their own in that form is not yet certain.[1] The only inscription which mentioned a deity was in reference to the Edomite god Qos, who was the equivalent of the Arab god Quzah, the god of the sky. [2]

History

Nabataean sculpture of Eagle wrestling with Serpent, Khirbet et-Tannur

The remains of Khirbet et-Tannur consist only of the temple complex on isolated mountain top, which indicate a site solely functioning as a religious high place similar to those in other Nabataean regions.[3] While no dating is established, the temple went through three different phases. the earliest phase of the temple is usually dated around 7/8 BC on the account of an inscription engraved on a small stone block.[4] The final phase was dated by Glueck judging from the temple's sculptures and architectural principles to about the first quarter of the second century AD. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Khirbet Et tannur (reconstruction of the complex p.76) Judith S. Mckenzie, Sheila Gibson and At. Reyes
  2. ↑ "Starcky 1968 p. 209"
  3. ↑ Glueck 1937c, p. 364
  4. ↑ The religious life of Nabataea p. 244-245
  5. ↑ Mckenzie et al. 2002a p.53.
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