| Abstract: |
This paper presents a theory of the Nabataean dichotomy between private and public culture. Through use of material culture and primary sources, a picture of the public façade of the Nabataean is created which shows that the Nabataean kingdom adopted attributes from foreign cultures that made it look more promising as a trading partner to its neighbors. This was especially important since the economic structure of the society was based on their ability to continue trade through the region. Examination of hydraulics, architecture, religion, language, numismatics, pottery, and statuary, show that while the public face of the kingdom was metropolitan and international, the private culture remained distinct and true to the traditional character of the Nabataean society. Because of the care with which the monumental structures adhered to this public façade, this dichotomy seems to have been deliberately created, although the proof for this claim is less than concrete because of the lack of surviving official documentation. |
