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{{Quote|1=Gustave Edmund Von Grunebaum's ''Classical Islam: A History, 600 A.D. to 1258 A.D.'' (pg 24)|2=Ghaiman had a red stone and the Ka'ba of al-'Abalat (near Tabala) had a white stone.}} | {{Quote|1=Gustave Edmund Von Grunebaum's ''Classical Islam: A History, 600 A.D. to 1258 A.D.'' (pg 24)|2=Ghaiman had a red stone and the Ka'ba of al-'Abalat (near Tabala) had a white stone.}} | ||
==God Eloh and his Black Stone== | |||
Ancient writers Herodian and Cassius Dio mention a temple in Syrian city of Emesa (nowadays known as Hims or Homs). Why was this temple special and particularly interesting for us? A local Semitic god named '''Eloh''' (meaning Lord) was worshipped there. He was better known to Romans and Greeks as '''Heliogabalus''', a corruption of '''Eloh Gabal''' (Lord of Mountain, one of Eloh’s titles). Eloh was associated with sun and thus identified with Roman god Sol and Greek Helios. | |||
In the temple one of the holiest relics of antiquity, the '''Black Stone''', was kept. It was believed to come from outside earth (meteorite?) and to be a manifestation of Eloh himself. Faithful from the entire Roman orient were flocking for a '''pilgrimage''' there. They were bringing valuable gifts and offerings. The followers of Eloh had to obey bizarre rules. '''For example they had to be circumcised and were not allowed to eat pork.''' | |||
This cult would probably be forgotten among thousands of others if not a dramatic twist of its fortune. In 218 a young priest of that temple and a Roman citizen Varius Avitus Bassus was prompted by his power-hungry family and usurped the throne of Rome by claiming to be an illegitimate son of murdered emperor Caracalla (ruled 211-217). He ruled for just four years and is remembered mostly by his nickname – name of his god – '''Elagabalus'''. | |||
Elagabalus was one of the most perverted rulers in universal history. This is not place for enumerate of his sexual adventures, obsessions and ideas. Let’s say for example that he was working as a male prostitute in cheapest bordellos of Rome. He had numerous wives and husbands at the same time. He was known to be a masochist and allowed everyone to beat him. The young man was literally sex-obsessed, but the contemporaries were telling that it is the cult of is Eloh that depraved him. | |||
The young emperor brought his famous Black Stone to Rome. He wanted to make the worship of Eloh either supreme or the only religion of the Roman Empire. This caused uproar among Romans. Every year in summer a bizarre procession was talking place. The Black Stone was placed on a chariot with reins stick to it (suggesting that the god himself was coaching). The emperor was walking afoot near the chariot. Senators, notable citizens, parade of soldiers, musicians and exotic animals followed. | |||
After four years of insane rule, Elogabalus was murdered by soldiers. His body was thrown to river Tiber. <ref>Poczet Cesarzy Rzymskich (In English: Roman Emperors), by Aleksander Krawczuk</ref> | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Golden coin of Elagabalus.jpg|Golden coin of Elagabalus | |||
File:Elagabalus-era coin.jpg|Another Elagabalus-era coin depicting the Black Stone. | |||
File:Black Stone on a chariot.jpg| Coin struck by Elogabalus. On the reverse the Black Stone on a chariot. | |||
File:Paphian Stone of Aphrodite.jpg|Another black stone: Aniconic Black stone once venerated at the Temple of Aphrodite, near Paphos, Cyprus | |||
</gallery> | |||
==What does the Hadith say about the black stone?== | ==What does the Hadith say about the black stone?== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/blstone.htm The Black Stone - the Omphalos of the Goddess] | |||
[[Category:Islam and Paganism]] | [[Category:Islam and Paganism]] | ||