Italian underwater archaeologists continue to amaze us with their exciting discoveries. In April 2023, off the coast of Pozzuoli in the Campania region, they discovered the ruins of an ancient temple, which became a new puzzle for scientists. Having initially assumed that the temple belonged to the Nabataean people, researchers could not resist exciting questions about the origins of these mysterious people. RIA Novosti reports this.
The Nabataeans, whose history is shrouded in mystery, were considered Bedouins capable of creating magnificent palaces and rivaling the mighty Roman Empire. And although experts continued to view the Nabataean civilization as an important part of history, they were faced with the problem of a lack of reliable sources of information.
Why did the temple end up under water? The answer lies in the volcanic activity inherent in this region. Underwater research allowed scientists to make an amazing discovery: the temple was dedicated to Duzares, the god of the semi-nomadic Semitic Nabatean people. This prompted researchers to wonder how exactly the Nabatean people ended up in the Apennines.
According to historical data, the Nabateans inhabited the northern part of modern Saudi Arabia and Jordan. However, their presence in this part of Italy gives rise to much speculation and conjecture. One hypothesis is that the Roman Empire was democratic and open in religious matters, allowing the Nabateans to practice their faith freely. But scholars say the relationship between the Nabataeans and the Romans may have been more complex, going beyond politics. The history of this mysterious people also includes Persian, Latin and Greek motifs, adding further mystery to their origins.
The Nabateans left behind a huge number of historical monuments, each of which becomes a real puzzle for researchers. Each new discovery brings more information, forcing scientists to reconsider their understanding of the Nabataean civilization. However, the most difficult aspect of the research is the complete lack of written sources. The Nabataeans used Aramaic to communicate, but their own writing system is still a mystery.
A new discovery by underwater archaeologists near Pozzuoli gives new hope for unraveling the secrets of this mysterious people. Every artifact found and every structure studied brings us closer to understanding their culture, beliefs and connections to other ancient civilizations.