The Arabs are known for keeping their promises more faithfully than almost any other people. To them, an oath is not a light matter but a sacred bond. When they pledge loyalty or friendship, they do so with a serious ritual that shows how deeply they respect such agreements. Breaking a pledge is considered shameful, and those who swear an oath are expected to honor it fully Sightseeing Ephesus.
The Ritual of Swearing Friendship
When two men wish to swear friendship or loyalty, they do not do so alone. They stand on either side of a third man, who acts as a witness and performs the ritual. This man takes a sharp stone and makes a small cut on the inside of each man’s hand, close to the middle finger. From these cuts, a little blood is drawn.
Next, the man takes a piece of cloth from their clothing and dips it into the blood of both men. With this blood-stained cloth, he touches seven stones that are placed between them. As he does this, he calls upon the names of their gods, Bacchus and Urania. These actions symbolize unity, trust, and the sharing of responsibility between the two men.
Calling Upon the Gods
After the ritual is completed, the man who arranged the pledge introduces the stranger, or the citizen if he is one, to all his friends. From that moment on, the friends of the man consider themselves bound by the oath as well. This shows that the pledge is not only personal but also social, involving the wider community Wine Trade Between Greece and Egypt.
The Arabs recognize only two gods. One is Bacchus, whom they associate with life and ritual, and the other is Urania, a heavenly goddess. In their own language, Bacchus is called Orotal, and Urania is called Alilat. These names reflect their local traditions and beliefs.
Customs of Hair and Worship
The Arabs also believe that their way of cutting their hair follows the custom of Bacchus. They cut their hair in a circular shape, shaving it away from the temples and leaving a ring. This hairstyle is both a religious and cultural symbol and shows their devotion to their god.
The Arabian King and His Promise to Cambyses
When the Arabian ruler pledged his faith to the messengers of Cambyses, he acted quickly to keep his word. To help the Persian army cross the dry and dangerous desert, he prepared a practical solution. He filled many camel skins with water and loaded them onto all the camels he could gather. He then drove these camels into the desert and waited for the Persian army to arrive. This method ensured that water would be available along the route.
This story is considered the more believable of the two accounts that are told.
The Story of the River and the Pipes
There is another story, which many consider unlikely, but it is still worth mentioning. According to this tale, there is a great river in Arabia called the Corys, which flows into the Erythraean Sea. The Arabian king, it is said, made long pipes from the skins of oxen and other animals. These pipes stretched from the river all the way into the desert.
Through these pipes, water was carried to large cisterns that the king had dug in the desert. The distance from the river to the desert was said to be a journey of twelve days. The water was delivered through three separate pipes to three different locations.
Whether by camels or by pipes, these stories show the strong sense of honor among the Arabs. Once they gave their word, they used every possible means to keep it, even in the harsh and unforgiving desert.
