Arabian Mythology
Arabian mythology pertains to the various religious groups that existed during pre-Islamic Arabia. Some of these included the Islamic religion, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. Arabian polytheism was based on the veneration of various deities and spirits. It was done at various shrines and temples, such as the Kaaba in Mecca. Various rituals were performed to invoke Deities, such as pilgrimages and rituals. There have been varying theories on the role of God in Meccan religion which is known today as the Islamic religion.
Other religions were represented in varying degrees. The influence of the Aksumite and Roman civilizations greatly affected the northeast, but Christianity was still the most dominant religion in the region. Christianity made a lesser impact in the remainder of the peninsula, but did secure some conversions. With the exception of Nestorianism in the northeast and the Persian Gulf, the dominant form of Christianity was Miaphysitism.
The peninsula used to be a destination for Jewish migration. The influence of the Sasanian Empire and Zoroastrianism also resulted in Iranian religious groups being present in the region.
Prior to Islamic Arabia, the pre-Islamic religions were polytheistic, and many of the deities’ names were known. There were also varying levels of kingdoms, and various clans and families had their own religious groups. A large number of deities did not have proper names and were referred to by titles indicating a quality, a family relationship, or a locale preceded by “he who” or “she who”.
The nomadic Bedouins had different religious beliefs and practices from the settled tribes. These are believed to have included a wide variety of beliefs such as fetishism and the veneration of the dead. While the Meccans worshipped their gods at their temples, the urban Arabs believed in a more complex and complex pantheon. All of this was replaced with the modern version of Islam which in itself had various interpretations leading to the formation of various sects.
