Text
al-Nadīm, Fihrist 9.1:
They hold a fast to the Moon from the 8th day, for 30 days. On the 20th day the presiding headman breaks barley bread for their assembly to (in honor of Ares), the god who is Mars. The 30th day is the beginning of the month of sl-Tamr, I mean of the dried dates, and (during) this (month) is the marriage of the gods and goddesses. They divide in it the dates, putting kohl on their eyes. Then during the night they place beneath the pillows under their heads seven dried dates, in the name of seven deities, and also a morsel of bread and some salt for the deity who touches the abdomens. … Every 27th day of the month, I refer to the lunar month, they go out to their sanctuary, which is known as Dayr Kādī. They slaughter and burn offerings to the god Sīn, who is the Moon. They also eat and drink. Then on the 28th day they go forth to the Cupola of al-Ujurr (= Ugur), where they slaughter and burn sheep, cocks, and many more chickens to (in honor of) Ares, who is Mars. If they wish to slay a large victim like a zabrukh, which is a bull or a sheep, they pour wine over it while it is still alive. If it quivers they say, “This offering is received,” but if it does not quiver they say, “The god is angry and will not receive this offering.” Their way of slaughtering every kind of animal is to cut off its head with one blow. Then they carefully observe its two eyes with their movements, as well as its mouth, its convulsions, and how it quivers. They draw an augury from it, employ magic, and seek an omen about what will happen and take place. If they wish to burn a large animal, such as one of the cows, sheep, or cocks, while it is alive, they hang it up with clamps and chains. Then a group of them exposes all sides of it to the fire until it burns. This is their great offering, which is for all of the gods and goddesses together. They state that the seven heavenly bodies, that is, the deities, are males and females who marry and have passions for one another, and also have bad and good luck.
Source (list of abbreviations)
al-Nadīm, Fihrist 9.1
Bibliography
| Dodge 1970, 764-765 | Dodge, Bayard. The Fihrist of al-Nadim. A tenth-century survey of Muslim culture. New York, London: Columbia University Press 1970. |
Amar Annus
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