Cables　are　very　efficient　structural　members　used　in　tension　structures　such　as　cable-supported　bridges,　cable　roofs,　and　guyed　towers/masts　etc.　due　to　their　high　strength　and　light　weight.　The　analytical　static　analysis　of　a　cable　is　difficult　due　to　its　nonlinear　behavior　under　cable　tension.　In　this　paper　a　two-node　parabolic　cable　element　is　proposed　for　the　static　nonlinear　analysis　of　cable　structures.　Starting　from　the　equations　of　equilibrium　and　motion,　an　analytical　dynamic　stiffness　matrix　of　cables,　whose　coefficients　are　functions　of　the　frequencies,　is　derived　in　the　presumed　parabolic　cables.　Unlike　the　assumed　polynomial　displacement　interpolation　functions,　the　specific　feature　of　present　cable　element　is　that　the　explicit　expression　of　nonlinear　static　stiffness　matrix　is　obtained　from　the　derived　analytical　cable　dynamic　stiffness　matrix　letting　the　frequency　be　zero.　The　static　responses　of　cable　structures　subject　to　the　point　or　uniformly　distributed　loads　can　be　calculated　using　the　Newton-Raphson　iterative　procedure.　Several　numerical　examples　are　presented　to　illustrate　the　applicability　and　reliability　of　the　proposed　parabolic　cable　finite　element　formulation.　It　is　demonstrated　that　present　results　agree　well　with　those　obtained　from　the　nonlinear　theory　of　parabolic　cable　and　published　in　previous　literatures.　The　iteration　procedure　converges　fast　and　only　a　limited　number　of　cable　elements　are　implemented.