Shams is a sun goddess of Arabian myth and patron goddess of the Himyarites in the southern highlands of Yemen. She's equated with the North Arabian sun goddess, Nuha. Her name means shining, Sun or brilliant.
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The Arabian Peninsula before Islam (c 610 CE) is a loose group of scattered kingdoms and city-states, with each region dedicated to its own gods. The early gods are protective, guarding the towns, households or individuals from physical harm and evil magic.
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Common to both North and South Arabia is the concept of the sacred trinity composed of the Sun, Moon and planet Venus. Through Arabia the names differ but the principle remains the same.
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Nuha the sun goddess in Northern Arabia and Shams (Shamsum or Dhat-Ba' dhanum) the southern Sun Goddess are seen as two manifestations of the same deity. Shams as Nuha is worshipped in a trinity with male gods of the Moon and Venus.
In Saba', west Yemen, she's revered as Shams with Athtar, the god of the planet Venus, and Almaqah, the god of the Moon. In Hadhramaut, south Arabia, Shams forms a magic trio with Athtar and the moon god Syn (Sin).
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The alabaster calcite carving above is from a temple donor, whose name is inscribed on the bottom: Rathadum. The priestess has her hand raised probably in a gesture of blessing, or she has to use the bathroom.
Shams is spouse of Athtar or 'Attar, god of Venus. He's a war god and praised as a giver of water. His symbols include the spear-point and the antelope, possibly the Arabian or white oryx (Oryx leucoryx), or the Nubian Ibex (Capra nubiana).
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Shams receives votive offerings in the shape of horses, who are animals of the Sun. Horses represent success, achievement, work and reward, good fortune and prosperity. They're associated with the elite, warriors and the wealthy.
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The Arabian horse is prized for speed, stamina, beauty, intelligence and gentle nature. After a long history of development the horse appears as a breed by the 7th century CE. Arched neck and raised tail are classic features of the Arabian horse.
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The Arabian is developed by the nomadic Bedouin people, who often bring the horse into the family tent for shelter and protection from theft. The horse has a friendly personality and interacts well with people.
Until about the 4th century, people of the Arabian Peninsula have varied beliefs. Some bring their own gods, such as El of the Canaanites and Bes of the Egyptians, thought to be originally a Nubian deity.
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In Mesopotamia, Venus god Athtar is identified with Goddess Queen of Heaven Ishtar / Innana. Shams gender-changes into the sun god Shamash. Shamash is the son of Sin, the Moon God, and has presided over Mesopotamian belief systems since c. 3400 BCE.
As Nuha in the north, she's also known as "the elevated sun". She is responsible for strong emotions of humans. Inscriptions in the region of Najd describe emotions as a gift from Nuha and other gods.
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One inscription reads, "by Nuha is the flying into a rage". Another states, "by Nuha is the jealousy of a lover".
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