Athena - Allāt

 

Athena is shown here in a standing position, with a helmet on her head. In her right hand she once held a spear, and in the left she bears a shield decorated with the Gorgon's head. Athena was clearly identified with Allāt, the great Arabian goddess, who was worshipped from northern Arabia to Palmyra. The cult of Allāt was introduced by the Nabateans in the Hauran, a volcanic region in southern Syria, where the goddess became very popular. The small pedestal on which the goddess is standing here bears a Greek inscription that says: "for the health of our ruler" —a dedication to an emperor who is not named. 

Provenance: Suwayda. 

Era: circa 200 CE.

Substance: basalt. 

Dimensions: 158 x 47 x 14 cm. 

Text: Fortin (p. 276). 

Photo: Jacques Lessard. 

Collection of the National Museum of Damascus. 

Michel Fortin, Syria, Land of Civilization. Les Éditions de l'Homme, Musée de la Civilisation de Québec 1999.

Minerve de Soueida

Minerve