Šams
Šams (شمس) is the South Arabian solar deity and the chief goddess of the Kingdom of Himyar, cognate of Canaanite Šapaš. She was believed by the inhabitants of the fertile lands of South Arabia to be a preserver of crops and domestic life. In addition to being a solar deity, Šams was also a goddess of justice as she could see all human actions and bring all injustices to light, with oaths often being sworn by her name. She had various aspects and epithets that are still obscure and not well understood. She was sometimes associated with the bull’s head and the vine motif, which are solar and Dionysiac attributes. She is mentioned in a Himyarite hymn to Her. In North Arabia Her equivalent was known as Nuhē, Nuhay or Nuhā.
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