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Posted by Pope Reverend I, BV on 2/4/2009, 1:10 am, in reply to "Hmmm"
...on your definition of... "Arabia".
Nabataea.Net: Nabataean History
-- "Arabia" in ancient history
Throughout history, the Arabian Peninsula has been traditionally called 'Arabia.' This was particularly true during, Greek, Roman, Persian, and Byzantine eras. At times Roman historians would refer to Arab rulers as "King of the Arabs." The use of this term has often proven confusing to the modern historian whose definition of 'Arab' is colored by recent history.
Ancient Arabia
The term Arabia comes from Old-Persian where it is pronounced 'Arab'ya'. This was the name of the country to the west and south of Mesopotamia. As one reads ancient literature, three main zones can be discerned.
The southern towns and kingdoms bordering on the Indian Ocean (modern Yemen and Oman)
The nomadic interior (Saudi Arabia),
A northwestern part (Jordan and parts of Syria).
The Latin names of these three zones are:
Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia),
Arabia Deserta (Desert Arabia)
Arabia Petraea (Arabia ruled from Petra).
The Nabataean "Arabs" were in the area LONG before Pompey or Trajan arrived on the scene...
Arabia Petraea
These Arabs lived between Egypt and Mesopotamia, eventually leaving their nomadic way of life, they build several towns. The principle people in this area were the Nabataeans and Petra was their capital.
The oldest reference to these Arabs can be found in the biblical book Genesis, where Arabian merchants buy and sell Jacob's son Joseph. Other references can be found in the Assyrian king Salmanasser's account of a battle in 853 BC
But...
Pompey didn't "set up" the Decapolis...
The "League" of cities was a common arangement..
-- Set up by the Leaders of the cities involved.
And...
As you can see by the "note" on Pliny's list...
-- Damascus was considerably north of the others
-- and so is sometimes thought to have been an "honorary" member.
-PRev1- 
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