Medusa in Nabataean, Hatran and Palmyrene cultures

Abstract

Medusa is a powerful Greek methodological creature that had a face of a woman with snakes instead of hair, her name is derived from the Greek verb μέδω meaning “to guard or protect”, which makes it one of the important decorative elements related to classic funeral forms of art including wreath, light torch, snake and anchor, which all were supposed to protect the dead in their afterlife. The head of Medusa was to be found on different artistic works from Greek and Roman Civilizations, which had their significant influence on the cultural aspects of Ancient Near East; consequently classic mythological characters and symbols would be found in architecture and other artistic works of Nabataean (4th Century B.C.-106 A.D.), Hatran (3rd Century B.C. – 3rd Century A.D.) and Palmyrene (3rd Century A.D.) Kingdoms. This paper aims at shedding the light at the different depictions of Medusa in artistic works of these Ancient Arabic Kingdoms, as well as the different symbolic functions related to them.