The purpose of this article is to trace the origin of Aramaean religion. Especially, we explore that the formation of Aramaean religion was under the influence of Aramaean geographical settings. This study was based on Aramaic inscriptions which were discovered in Aram proper. We have reached the following conclusion: First, since ca. 1200 BCE, the Arameans built not only Damascus but also several city-states in northern Syria and upper Mesopotamia, and each city-state worshipped the guardian deity of the capital and the royal chief deity. Generally, the most renowned deity of Aram was Hadad, but he was worshipped only in the area of Aram-Damascus and Sam’al. Many cities worshipped different deities besides Hadad. Each city or kingdom had its own chief deity. For example, Shahar was worshipped in Nerab, and Ba’al-Shamayn in Hamath as the chief deity. The characteristic of the Aramean deities is the uncertainty of their divine spouses except for El-wer the spouse of Ba’al Shamayn. It is quite different from the Phoenician understanding of its deity. Whereas it is similar to the Mesopotamian tradition in that each city worshipped its respective chief deity, it is different from the Mesopotamian tradition in that the spouse deity was not mentioned. The Arameans rather followed the traditions of Israel, Edom, Moab, and Ammon in that the reference to the spouses of their chief deities was rare. Second, the major deities of Aram had their own functions respectively like many of the Mesopotamian and the Phoenician deities. However, most of the Aramean deities seem to be primarily related to rain. Since Hadad was called as the god of thunder or the cloud-rider, he was related to rain; Shahar was related with the god of storm since he appeared with the gods of the netherworld in Emar. Likewise, the major deities of Aram were generally related to rain or cloud. Third, the reason why Hadad appeared to be the national god of Aram whereas each city-state worshipped its own deity as in the case of the Phoenician religion, is best understood in the fact that Aram-Damascus was most influential among the Aramean states established in the west of the Euphrates, i.e. present-day Syria. Fourth, as in the various religions of the Ancient Near East, the animal sacrifice was central to the Aramean religion, but when and how have not been clearly known.

The purpose of this article is to trace the origin of Aramaean religion. Especially, we explore that the formation of Aramaean religion was under the influence of Aramaean geographical settings. This study was based on Aramaic inscriptions which were discovered in Aram proper. We have reached the following conclusion: First, since ca. 1200 BCE, the Arameans built not only Damascus but also several city-states in northern Syria and upper Mesopotamia, and each city-state worshipped the guardian deity of the capital and the royal chief deity. Generally, the most renowned deity of Aram was Hadad, but he was worshipped only in the area of Aram-Damascus and Sam’al. Many cities worshipped different deities besides Hadad. Each city or kingdom had its own chief deity. For example, Shahar was worshipped in Nerab, and Ba’al-Shamayn in Hamath as the chief deity. The characteristic of the Aramean deities is the uncertainty of their divine spouses except for El-wer the spouse of Ba’al Shamayn. It is quite different from the Phoenician understanding of its deity. Whereas it is similar to the Mesopotamian tradition in that each city worshipped its respective chief deity, it is different from the Mesopotamian tradition in that the spouse deity was not mentioned. The Arameans rather followed the traditions of Israel, Edom, Moab, and Ammon in that the reference to the spouses of their chief deities was rare. Second, the major deities of Aram had their own functions respectively like many of the Mesopotamian and the Phoenician deities. However, most of the Aramean deities seem to be primarily related to rain. Since Hadad was called as the god of thunder or the cloud-rider, he was related to rain; Shahar was related with the god of storm since he appeared with the gods of the netherworld in Emar. Likewise, the major deities of Aram were generally related to rain or cloud. Third, the reason why Hadad appeared to be the national god of Aram whereas each city-state worshipped its own deity as in the case of the Phoenician religion, is best understood in the fact that Aram-Damascus was most influential among the Aramean states established in the west of the Euphrates, i.e. present-day Syria. Fourth, as in the various religions of the Ancient Near East, the animal sacrifice was central to the Aramean religion, but when and how have not been clearly known.

Aramaean religion, Hadad, city state, Aram-Damascus