Dushara: Difference between revisions

Dushara is known first from [[Epigraphy|epigraphic]] Nabataean sources who invariably spell the name ''dwsrʾ'', the [[Nabataean alphabet|Nabataean script]] denoting only consonants. He appears in Classical Greek sources Δουσάρης (''Dousárēs'') and in Latin as ''Dusares''. The original meaning is disputed, but early Muslim historian [[Hisham ibn al-Kalbi|Ibn al-Kalbi]] in his "[[Book of Idols]]" explains the name as ''Dhū l-Šarā'' ({{lang-ar|ذو الشرى}}), meaning likely "The One from Shara", Shara being a mountain range south-east of the [[Dead Sea]]. If this interpretation is correct, ''Dushara'' would be more of a title than a proper name, but both the exact form of the name and its interpretation are disputed.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The religion of the Nabataeans : a conspectus|last=F.|first=Healey, John|date = 10 May 2001|publisher=|isbn=9789004301481|location=Leiden|pages=85–97|oclc=944920100}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. II: C–G|last=Lewis|first=B.|publisher=Brill|year=1991|isbn=9004070265|edition= New|location=Leiden|pages=246–247|oclc=399624}}</ref>