Prior to the arrival and inital codification of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula in 622 CE (or year one of the Islamic calendar) the Kaaba of Mecca, physical centre of Islam did not hold the single symbol of "the God" as it does now. The Kaaba was instead covered in symbols representing the myriad demons, djinn, demigods and other assorted creatures which represented the profoundly polytheistic environment of pre-Islamic Arabia. We can infer from this plurality an exceptionally broad context in which mythology could flourish.
The Arabian deities included :
- El or Ilah (meaning 'God')
- Bel or Belshamin
- Yarhibol or Malakbel
- Aglibol
- a number of astral and local dieties
- Sin (or Nanna-Suen, Babylonian)
- Athtar (related to Ishtar)
- Shams (Samas or Utu)
- Orotalt
- Alilat (al-Lat?)
- Nergal
- Nabu (or Nebo)
- Bes (Egypto-Arabic)
- Uzza
- Yaghuth
- Manat or Manah
- Atargatis (Syrian)
- Astarte (possibly)
- Beltis (possibly)
See demons : In pre-Islamic Arab culture.
The pre-Islamic arabs, such as the Garamantes, were influenced by the religions of the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. These pre-Islamic mythological systems also later influenced Islamic mythology.
Source: Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia by Jeremy Black and Anthony Green
(Much more could be written about this topic.)
See also
