chapter sixreligionherbert niehr- introduction1
a systematic approach to presenting the religion of the aramaeans of syria
is not immediately apparent. the epigraphic and archaeological material
from Upper Mesopotamia, northern and eastern syria, southern anatolia,
and central and southern syria is as disparate as the regions and periods
from which our source material originates. therefore, an approach based
on regional geographic aspects has been chosen to present the religion of
the aramaeans, thus giving justice to the individuality of the sources. in
this approach, syria is divided into three regions: the area between the
tigris and euphrates, the area between the euphrates and the Mediter-
ranean, and the southwest area east of the lebanon (cf. the map in the
frontispiece).
the religion of the aramaeans of syria belongs to the larger sphere of
West semitic religions. they are characterized by the fact that a weather-
god heads the panthea, due to the importance of rain-fed agriculture in
syria and palestine. in the case of the aramaic pantheon it is the god
hadad. there never was a pan-aramaean religion, however, any more
than there was an overall aramaean kingdom. rather, there are many
different local panthea, which, depending on their location in syria, were
exposed to different influences. assyro-Babylonian, luwian, and phoeni-
cian influences are all apparent in the aramaean culture in syria.
1 Following my overview of the religion of the aramaeans of syria (cf. niehr 2010a)
i had the opportunity to present the main features of my work over the course of four
guest lectures at the École pratique des hautes Études in paris in March 2012. For this
invitation as well as the pleasant working conditions in the Bibliothèque des Études ouest
sémitiques of the collège de France i would like to thank my colleagues pierre Bordreuil,
andré lemaire, Maria-grazia Masetti rouault, hedwige rouillard-Bonraisin, and thomas
römer. in tübingen i want to thank alexandra gath for revising the german version and
Jessica Baldwin for the english translation.