The Thamud (Arabic: ) were a people of ancient Arabia who were known from the 1st millennium BC to near the time of Muhammad. Although they're thought to have originated in southern Arabia, Arabic tradition has them moving north to settle on the slopes of Mount Athlab near Meda'in Saleh. Numerous Thamudic rock writings and pictures have been found on Mount Athlab and throughout central Arabia. History The oldest known reference to Thamud's a 715 BC inscription of the Assyrian king Sargon II wh… (More on Thamud)