Nisan feasts of Harranian Sabians (1)

Text
al-Nadīm, Fihrist 9.1:
The beginning of the year is Nisan. On the first, as well as the second and third days of Nisan, they pray humbly to their goddess, Balthā, who is Venus. When entering the shrine of the goddess on these days, group by group in a scattered way, they slaughter sacrificial victims and burn animals alive. On the 6th day they slay for their divinity, the Moon, a bull, which they eat at the end of the day. On the 9th day they fast and then break the fast with the meat of lamb. On this day they also hold a feast in honor of the seven deities, the devils, jinn, and spirits. They burn seven lambs for the seven deities, a sheep for the Lord of the Blind, and a sheep for the deities (which are) the devils. On the 15th day they celebrate the mystery of the North with offerings, sun worship, sacrificial slaughter, burnt offerings, eating, and drinking. On the 20th day they go out to Dayr Kādī, which is a sanctuary near one of the gates of Harran known as Inn of the Oil Gate. They slaughter three zabrukh, a zabrukh being a bull. One is for the god Kronos, who is Saturn, one is for Arīs, who is Mars, the Blind God; and one is for the Moon, which is Sīn. They also slay nine lambs: seven for the seven deities, one for the god of the jinn, and one for the Lord of the Hours. They also burn (offerings of) many lambs and cocks. On the 28th day, they go out to a sanctuary of theirs in a village named Sabtā, near to one of the gates of Harran called Gate of Mirage. They slay a large bull to Hermes, the god, and they also slaughter nine lambs for the seven deities, with one also for the god of the jinn and one for the Lord of the Hours. They eath and drink, but on this day they do not burn any animals.

Source (list of abbreviations)
al-Nadīm, Fihrist 9.1

Bibliography

Amar Annus

URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0000473.php