Saudi Arabia
Pre-classical Age: 3500-800 B.C.
The Story of The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon:When The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomons fame and relationship with the Lord, she chose to visit him and present him with questions. With each question she asked, he had an answer for. No question was too difficult for him to explain. When she learns that his wisdom is real and his riches are bountiful, she knows the reports she had heard in her own country were beyond the truth. She says, "Praise be to the Lord our God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel." In learning the truth, she decides to gift the king many spices and gold pieces from her caravan, in which she arrived. In return, Solomon gave The Queen all she desired and asked for. She then left and returned to her own country with what she had learned and received from King Solomon.
This gold funerary mask was found by a group of archaeologists in Saudi Arabia in 1998. It was found near the town of Thaj with the remains of a young girl. “The tomb, dated to the first century CE, contained the remains of a young girl, whose body was adorned with gold, rubies, and pearls, including a magnificent gold funerary mask” (Saudi Arabia).
According to archaeologists the findings of this royal tomb may confirm the location of an ancient city, called Gerrha. This city would date back to between 3,300 and 1,300 BCE. It seems that an artifact such as this would only be found in a tomb of someone that had great royalty and riches. “The funerary mask is today only one among a series of over three hundred artifacts that will be exhibited at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.” (Saudi Arabia).
This artifact is called the Anthropomorphic stele. It dates back to 4000-3000 BCE. It was found in the city of El Maakir in Saudi Arabia. These were used for commemorative purposes. “To greet visitors, evidence of early human settlements that have been identified across the Arabian Peninsula” (Roads of Arabia). Though this artifact dates back about six thousand years ago, it appears very modern.
This artifact was found in a group of three, which were very similar to this one. It is said the were also used for burial or religious practices (Roads of Arabia). This artifact seems to have quite a smooth surface and for its time and is very mesmerizing. The artifact can be found in the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.
This artifact was found by a camel herder in 2010 while digging up part of his land. The shape and proportions suggest that it is meant to represent a horse or donkey. Despite the image making this artifact look small, it ways about 300 pounds, as well as it being thirty-four inches long and seven inches thick.
“Based on tools also unearthed at the site, some archaeologists have dated this fragment to approximately 7000 BCE” (Roads of Arabia). If this artifact was truly from this time, it could show that horses domesticated far before, we thought. However, it could be that a horse was a religious symbol for the time, or that a horse was seen and someone wanted to remember and capture what they had seen. For a time so far in the past, it is hard to say for sure.
Some of the earliest writings in Saudi Arabia date back to around 553 BCE. The language of this time is the Aramaic language. This language would have stemmed from the last king of Babylon, Nabonidus (Aramaic Scripts). Writings of this time, in Arabia, can help tell us about how they lived.
The Arabian Peninsula made life easier for trading and simply having access to water. “The Arabian Peninsula provided relatively easy access to the neighboring river-valley civilizations of the Nile and the Tigris-Euphrates. Because these civilizations had more money than others, is was easy to make trades” (Aramaic Scripts). Because of the ability to make connections and trade, it made a life for Arabians of that time easier, compared to other civilizations.
Classical Age: 800 B.C.- 500 A.D.
Geography
Arabia begins on the side of Babylonia and Maecene. It is also surrounded by the desert of the Arabians on one side, the marshes opposite of the Chaleans on another, and in the other direction the Sea of Persia. Arabia is prone to both harsh rains and scorching heats, and the atmosphere is cloudy. Despite this, their plant growth is excellent. This helped with their trades along the silk road.
This artifact was found in Southwestern Arabia from around 1000 BC. This artifact is an incense burner. On the front of the rectangular front, behind the animal; it depicts two serpents flanking a disk set. The animal on the front could have served as a handle.
Around this time period, Saudi Arabia had a lot of wealth, because of trade. “The kingdoms of southwestern Arabia gained considerable wealth and power through their control of the trade in incense between Arabia and the lands of the Mediterranean seacoast” (Incense Burner). This artifact aids in showing that incense was important in the religion and culture of Arabia.
Qaryat al-Faw was the capital of the Kindah Kingdom. The Kingdom existed from the first century BC to the fourth century AD. It was located in south-central Arabian Peninsula (Arabia).
This artifact is a life-size bronze hand from around the second or third century AD. On the hand is an inscription that indicates that it was offered to a lunar deity. The text pleads for well-being (Saudi Arabia). The detail on the hand shows the technological advances that they had already made for that time.
This bronze hand comes from the times that the Himyarites held power over southern Arabia. It represents the some of the last remains of paganism, before the rise of Judaism and Christianity (Saudi Arabia). This hand was discovered in Yemen in 1983.
"Bronze Hand of Pre-Islamic Arabia." History
2701 Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.
Post-Classical Age: 500 - 1300 A.D.
The Rise of Islam
This is the time that the Islamic faith rose above Christianity in Arabia. With the prophet Muhammad living in dying in this era, he brought many followers to worship Allah. After his death and the Qur'an becoming the Holy book for the Islamic faith, Mecca became a city of Islam. The city can only be visited by those who are Muslim.
This “Head of a Man,” dates back to the third-fourth century A.D. from southwest Arabia. This piece is believed to be part of a bigger royal sculpture. On his head is carved a laurel wreath, which is a sign of high rank. A long mustache and a beard have been carved out carefully. Along the side, place on is cheeks are ringlets of hair. This is significant since it is a sign of Yemeni Jews. Despite the pieces what have been broken off, this sculpture has a smooth surface, is shows the attention to detail that was given.
The Kaaba dates back to pre-Islamic times and is believed to be built by Abraham and his son Ismail. It is believed that it was first built as a four wall structure with no roof. It was rebuilt in 608 AD A door was raised above ground to protect the shrine from intruders.
In 629 AD it became the center of Muslim worship and pilgrimage. The Kaaba has been modified throughout history. In 683 AD the Kaaba caught fire and had to be fixed from the damage. The structure is made mostly from wood and stone.
The Qur’an is the holy book of the Islamic faith. It was written and compiled by the prophet Muhammad during about the last twenty years of his life. It is said that he received the messages from Allah. It was “completed” by the time of his death in 632 AD. Like any holy book of a religion, there is scripture of peace and justice. “O you who believe! Enter absolutely into peace!” (Quran 2:208). One line of scripture in the Qur’an speaks of killing, “And do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause” (Quran 17:33). The Qur'an also mentions that you can not kill a believer of Allah on purpose; if it happens you are damned to hell.
Religion in Ancient Arabia
Before the rise of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism the religion practiced by tribes was Polytheism. The top three tribes in Yathrib (now known as Medina), were Jewish. "Christianity spread throughout Arabia after Constantinople defeated Byzantine in 324 A.D. " (Boundless). Before Islam Polytheism was practiced, often in the form of animism. This means they believed that non-human entities such as plants and animals possessed some sort of spiritual power.
The most well-known monotheists were the Hebrews. Jewish tribes thrived in pre-Islamic times within Arabia. Jews migrated into Arabia in Roman times. The religion spread quickly throughout Arabia. They had contact with Jewish religious sects in Babylonia and Palestine. Yemeni Himyarites converted to Judaism in the fourth century. Jewish converts in the Hejaz were referred to as Jews by other Jews and those who did not practice Judaism. The converts sought advice from Babylonian rabbis.
After Byzantine was conquered by Constantine, Christianity spread throughout Arabia. Many tribes in Arabia embraced Christianity, some of these tribes include, Himyar, Ghassar, and Tunukh (Boundless). Jews and Christians both believed in the God of Abraham. The Christians believed in the God of the Old Testament, creator of the Universe, while the Jews believed in the God of Tanakh.
In 622 A.D. Christianity became less popular when the rise of Islam began. The rise of Islam came with the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The prophesies and words that were given to Muhammad from Allah helped him gain followers. His home of Mecca (where he died), became a kind of center for the Islamic faith. The Kaaba being located in Mecca, represent an important figure and past time for the Islamic faith.
The Silk Road in Arabia
For Arabia, their biggest trade items were incense and perfumes. The incense was known as Frankincense. The trades that were made from South Arabia to Mediterranean from about the third century B.C. to the second century A.D. were crucial for Yemen's economy. Trade routes stretched through the Sahara desert, Mediterranean countries, and Africa (Trade History). The silk road had existed for a long time before its peak in the eighth to the sixteenth century. Spice trades happened between India and the Greco-Roman civilization. Without the trade amongst the silk road, many civilizations, including those in Arabia would have had a very poor economy.
Pre-classical sources:
Written Primary Source:
"Bible Gateway." 1 Kings 10 - - Bible Gateway. Holy Bible, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017.
Written Secondary Sources:
"The Aramaic Scripts of North Arabia." The Online Corpus of the Inscriptions of Ancient North Arabia - The Aramaic Scripts of North Arabia. The Khalili Research Center, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
Metz, Helen Chapin. "Early Arabia." Early Arabia. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017
"Roads of Arabia." ART Hound. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
"Saudi Arabia Unveils Ancient Treasures." Popular Archeology. Popular Archaeology, Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
Picture Sources:
"The Aramaic Scripts of North Arabia." The Online Corpus of the Inscriptions of Ancient North Arabia - The Aramaic Scripts of North Arabia. The Khalili Research Center, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
"Roads of Arabia." ART Hound. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
"Saudi Arabia Unveils Ancient Treasures." Popular Archeology. Popular Archaeology, Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
Classical Sources:
Written Primary Source:
"Ancient History Sourcebook: Ancient Accounts of Arabia, 430 BCE - 550 CE." Internet History Sourcebooks. Fordham University, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017
Written Secondary Sources:
"Bronze Hand of Pre-Islamic Arabia." History
2701 Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.
"Incense Burner | Work of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The MET, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.
Picture Sources:
“Arabia” Arabia: Fragment of a Kindah Wall Painting with a Man's Head, Qaryat Al-Faw, Southern Riyadh Province, 1st to 2nd Century CE, National Museum, Riyadh – Pictures From History. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.
"Saudi Arabia Unveils Ancient Treasures." Popular Archeology. Popular Archaeology, 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
Post-classical sources:
Written Primary Souce:
"The Qurans Verses of Peace and Tolerance." The Quran's Verses of Peace and Tolerance. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017
Written Secondary Sources:
"Head of a Man | The Met." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, I.e. The Met Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
Maucalay-Lewis, Elizabeth. "The Kaaba." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.
Picture Sources:
"Head of a Man | The Met." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, I.e. The Met Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.
Maucalay-Lewis, Elizabeth. "The Kaaba." Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.
Extra Sources:
Boundless. "Culture and Religion in Pre-Islamic Arabia - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. Boundless, 02 Oct. 2016. Web. 05 May 2017.
"SILK ROAD Dialogue, Diversity & Development." Economy and Trade | SILK ROAD. UNESCO, n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.
"Trade History of the Silk Road." Trade History of the Silk Road, Spice & Incense Routes. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017
Izzy,
ReplyDeleteI like the artifacts that you chose for each of the time periods. The bronze hand is really what stands out to me. The fact that it is a right hand seems to symbolize something. I found a really interesting video on the bronze hand by Neil McGregor from the British Museum at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00shkn6 This audio tells us more information behind the hand.
I also like how you illustrate the evolution of Arabian culture along the Silk Road with its Judaic and Christian influences and then the rise of Islam in the post-classical age.
1. The artifact that most stood out to me from pre-classical age was Anthropomorphic stele. It shows that how artistic people of ancient Saudi Arabia were. It was cool to know how there were used to welcome their visitor with such a beautiful artistic work. This kind of artistic work came in India during classical period.
ReplyDelete2. The life-size bronze hand really stood out to me from classical period. It was really interesting to know for what purpose they used bronze hand for.
3. During post-classical age it was same like India the rise of Islam. I think Islam influence was in every cultural during post-classical age it wasn't only in India and Saudi Arabia. Every religion had big effect of Islam culture also in your reading during post classical age most of the artifact and written was about Islam has I said earlier it was in all culture.
4A. I wasn't able to find anything that was affecting the cultural heritage. However, I did find something about the right of women's. The Saudi Arabia ranks 141/144 for gender equality so it was like women's can't go or do anything without permission of male. But the prince of Saudi Arabia had order to give women's equally right and do anything without male permission. It was interesting for me because I do what I like without permission of male but for Saudi Arabia women's it wasn't like that.
4B. I really loved reading about Saudi Arabia and you provided really good information. I think lzzy did a good job presenting the heritage of Saudi Arabia. Excellent job! Have a great summer.