Lihyan

Lihyanite Kingdom
مملكة لحيان
6th century BC–3rd century BC
CapitalDedan
Common languagesDadanitic
Religion
North Arabian polytheism
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
Historical eraAntiquity
• Established
6th century BC
• annexed by the Nabataean state
3rd century BC
Succeeded by
Nabataean Kingdom

Lihyan (Arabic: لحيان, Liḥyān; Greek: Lechienoi),[1] also called Dadān or Dedan, was a powerful and highly organized ancient Arab kingdom that played a vital cultural and economic role in the north-western region of the Arabian Peninsula and used Dadanitic language.[2] The Lihyanites ruled over a large domain from Yathrib in the south and parts of the Levant in the north.[3][unreliable source?]

In antiquity, the Gulf of Aqaba used to be called Gulf of Lihyan, a testimony to the extensive influence that Lihyan acquired.[4][unreliable source?] The term "Dedanite" usually describes the earlier phase of the history of this kingdom since their capital name was Dedan, which is now called Al-'Ula oasis located in northwestern Arabia, some 110 km southwest of Teima, both cities located in modern-day Saudi Arabia, while the term "Lihyanite" describes the later phase. Dadan in its early phase was "one of the most important caravan centers in northern Arabia".[5] It is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.[5]

The Lihyanites later became the enemies of the Nabataeans. The Romans invaded the Nabataeans and acquired their kingdom in 106 AD. This encouraged the Lihyanites to establish an independent kingdom to manage their country. This was headed by the King Han'as, one of the former royal family, which governed Al-Hijr before the Nabataean expansion.

  1. ^ "Liḥyān - ANCIENT KINGDOM, ARABIA". Britannica. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. ^ Rohmer & Charloux 2015, p. 297.
  3. ^ Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide
  4. ^ Discovering Lehi. Cedar Fort; 9 August 1996. ISBN 978-1-4621-2638-5. p. 153.
  5. ^ a b Parr 1997.

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