Editing Thamud (section)

===Pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions===
The Thamūd are infrequently mentioned in contemporary indigenous Arabian sources, although two [[Safaitic]] inscriptions carved some time between the first century BCE and the fourth century CE refer to "the year of the war between Gšm and the tribe of Thamūd [''snt ḥrb gšm ʾl ṯmd'']".{{sfn|Macdonald|2015|p=47}} An important exception is a temple at [[al-Ruwāfa]] in northwestern Saudi Arabia, built by the Thamūd themselves in the 160s CE.{{sfn|Macdonald|2015|p=49}} The temple inscriptions, known as the [[Ruwafa inscriptions]] (composed bilingually in [[Ancient Greek]] and [[Nabataean Aramaic]]) state that it was constructed by a priest named Šʿdt of the "Thamūd of Robathū" for [[Ilah|ʾlhʾ]], apparently the patron deity of the tribe, with the Roman government's support.{{sfn|Macdonald|2015|pp=54–56}} Robathū is likely the ancient name of modern al-Ruwāfa.{{sfn|Macdonald|2015|p=54}} The Thamūd in question were Roman auxiliary troops, as the inscription states explicitly:

<blockquote>
For the well-being of the rulers of the whole world... [[Marcus Aurelius|Marcus Aurelius Anthoninus]] and [[Lucius Verus|Lucius Aurelius Verus]], who are the conquerors of the Armenians. This is the temple that was built by the tribal unit of Thamūd, the leaders of their unit, so that it might be established by their hands and be their place of veneration forever... with the support of [[Quintus Antistius Adventus|Antistius Adventus]], the governor.{{sfn|Hoyland|2001|pp=68–69}}
</blockquote>