jan 1, 84 BC - Battle of Cana

Description:

The Battle of Cana pitted the Greek Seleucid Empire, led by King Antiochus XII Dionysus, against the Arab Nabataean Kingdom. Fought in an unknown village likely south or southwest of the Dead Sea, the conflict was sparked by Nabataean expansion and their ambush of Judaean Hasmoneans, leading to Seleucid concerns over Nabataean power.

In the battle, Antiochus XII was killed, marking a significant victory for the Nabataeans. His demoralized army fled and faced starvation in the desert. The Nabataeans, exploiting divisions among the Hasmoneans, gained control over strategic territories, prompting Seleucid retaliation.

The backdrop to the conflict was the Nabataean trade route through Gaza, which generated wealth and influence. Hasmonean capture of Gaza threatened Nabataean interests, leading to clashes and Nabataean support from the Seleucids.

The Nabataeans, under King Obodas I, capitalized on Hasmonean divisions and won decisive victories, including at Gadara. Antiochus XII's campaigns to counter Nabataean influence ended disastrously, with his death and the routing of his forces at Cana.

Following these triumphs, Obodas I was revered as a deity by the Nabataean people, with temples like Avdat commemorating his rule. The Battle of Cana solidified Nabataean dominance in the region and paved the way for further conquests, including the capture of Damascus.

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