A note on the trident mark, stone worship and cult practicesin Southeast Arabia

This article examines the practices of stone worship and associated rituals at the site of Mleiha during the period from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, within the context of the Bronze Age in Eastern Arabia. The article particularly focuses on the trident symbol found on some stones discovered at Mleiha, a prominent emblem also depicted on the local coins of Abi’il. The study suggests that this symbol might be connected to the worship of the Hindu deity Shiva, given its resemblance to later symbols associated with Shiva. The article supports this hypothesis by presenting archaeological and geographical evidence and discusses the possibility of the spread of these religious practices among various ancient cultures in the region. Additionally, it compares these practices with ethnographic parallels and references from multiple sources, including the book “Kitab al-Asnam” (The Book of Idols) by Hisham Ibn al-Kalbi (737–819 CE).in Southeast Arabia