Nabataean tithes
Nabataean inscriptions in Najran:
Nabataean inscription dating back to 4 BC. It was found in Sidon, Lebanon. The inscription inaugurates the establishment of a council dedicated to the worship of the god Dhu Shura, in the presence of a Nabataean leader named Ibn Zuwail (Zuelos). It is possible that the council was also used as a rest stop for Nabataean merchants in the city of Sidon, which was one of the main ports in the Levant overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
The inscription was found among the remains of ancient columns and marble stones. Unfortunately, there is no clear depiction of the plan or shape of the building.
In Safaitic inscriptions, the expression “ytm” (orphan) is used for the situation of being deprived of divine grace and in need of help. Although the primary meaning of the word is literally “orphan”, there are examples of it being used metaphorically in this sense in Safaitic inscriptions.
An example: “He was orphaned and in need of help, so he prayed to Dushara..”
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