Syria's communities and civilizations – history, sites and heritage
Nabataeans
الأنباط
Civilizations and historical peopleshistorical
The Nabataean kingdom, centred on Petra, extended into the Hauran of southern Syria, where Bosra was its northern capital, and briefly controlled Damascus (85–71 BC). Rome annexed it in AD 106. This is a historical people.
The Zenon papyri attest Nabataean penetration of the Hauran by the mid-3rd century BC, and the earliest evidence of Nabataean kingship comes from a Hauran inscription, probably from Bosra. UNESCO describes Bosra as the northern capital of the Nabataean kingdom.
Sources and details
Bosra, Petra and Hegra formed the three central cities of the kingdom, which reached as far north as Damascus for a short period (85–71 BC).
After the death of the last king, Rabbel II, Rome annexed the kingdom in AD 106; Bosra became the capital of the Roman province of Arabia.
Sites connected with this community 3
- Ancient City of DamascusDamascus · Historic architecture
Damascus, under Nabataean control 85–71 BC.
- Ancient City of BosraDaraa · Historic architecture
Bosra, northern capital of the Nabataean kingdom.
- Bosra Museum (Citadel)Bosra, Daraa · Museums
Bosra Museum in the citadel.
These categories describe history, language and faith – not exclusive identities. Many Syrians belong to several, and some names refer to civilizations of the past.