page_title: Nabataean art
section_title: Sculpture
hierarchical_section_title: Nabataean art / Sculpture
caption_attribution_description: Nabataean; Sculpture; Metalwork-Sculpture
context_page_description: Nabataean art is the art of the Nabataeans of North Arabia. They are known for finely-potted painted ceramics, which became dispersed among Greco-Roman world, as well as contributions to sculpture and Nabataean architecture. Nabataean art is most well known for the archaeological sites in Petra, specifically monuments such as Al Khazneh and Ad Deir.
context_section_description: Early Nabataean sculpture had several characteristics of Roman, Greek, and Syrian sculpture. Wild hair, dramatic facial expressions, and S-curves mirrored the Hellenistic style of sculpture. Greek sculpture was represented with the long, tight beards, symmetry, and perfecting of the human body.
  In later years, Nabataean sculpture later became very stylised. Certain elements, such as hair, were kept in the Greco-Roman style, but many other things evolved into what is now understood to be Nabatataean. These characteristics are found in facial structures. The eyes of several pieces are depicted with characteristically flat, cartoonish, semicircular eyes. The same pieces often have triangular noses and large, round chins. Beyond human forms, Nabataean sculpture has come in the form of animals such as birds, elephants, and camels.
  A number of different gods and goddesses are commonly represented throughout Nabataean sculpture. The majority are gods and goddesses that were worshiped by the Nabataeans; however, some are representative of Greek, Roman, and Middle Eastern beliefs. In addition, the Zodiacs are periodically represented throughout their many art forms. Dushara was a principal male deity of the Nabataeans. He has been compared to Zeus in Greek culture as well as Dionysus. Examples of Dushara have been found in several places in Petra as well as Khirbet Et-Tannur. Initially and traditionally, Dushara was represented in an aniconic form such as a square block, as is represented by the baetyls of Petra, but there is a large amount of detailed sculpture found of Dushura. One specific piece shows a Hellenistic face, showing action and fleshy, vivacious characteristics. Other commonly represented Gods would include: Al-Uzza, Al-Kutbay, Nike (mythology), and the Zodiacs.
caption: Nabataean sculpture, camel and riders. ca. 1st century BC
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