Azizos | |
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God of the morning star | |
Relief carving of Azizos riding a dromedary, from the region of Tell Halaf and Harran (1st–3rd century AD) | |
Major cult center | Palmyra |
Genealogy | |
Siblings | Arsu |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Ares |
Roman equivalent | Mars |
In ancient Arab mythology, Azizos or Aziz (Palmyrene: 𐡰𐡦𐡩𐡦 ʿzyz) is the Palmyran Arab[1] god of the morning star. He is portrayed as riding a camel with his twin brother Arsu, although one source says that "Azizos is depicted as a horseman, whereas Arşu is a cameleer."[2] He was venerated separately in Syria as god of the morning star, Phosphoros, in company with the astral god Monimos, Hesperos.[3]
Azizos was identified as Ares by Julian in his work 'Hymn to King Helios'. He says "Now I am aware that Ares, who is called Azizos by the Syrians who inhabit Emesa..."[4]