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MARIB
GOVERNORATE Marib is also located in the eastern region of Yemen and has a topography of mountains, valleys, plains and desert extending as for north as the Empty Quarter. The most important valley in Marib is Wadi Dhanah or Shebe Valley’, in the banks of which flourished the Sabean dynasty, the foundation of Yemeni history.
This is capital of the Governate, located 172km to the east of Sana’a along an asphalt road. Baraqish
(Yathel) Baraqish is located in the semi-arid area on the road to Hazm Al-Jawf, 125km, 125km from Sana’a. Baraqish stands on top of a lofty hill with a magnificent castle sealed off by a highly fortified wall, as high as 8 meters in some places, are in good condition. The wall has 57 towers and tow gates, one in the east and one in the western part of the wall. Baraqish is the city which led to the foundation of the Ma’een dynasty and retained its importance as a religious center even when the Ma’eenis made Qarnau their political capital. The Sabeans rebuilt Baraquish’s wall when they conquered the city in 450BC. The city was visited by the Roman Commander, Elius Gallousm in 24BC. The most striking feature of the city is the ruins of the temple, located in the southern part of the city. The temple reflects the dominant from of architecture used by the Ma’eenis and consists of 16 columns and beams. Archeologists believe that this was the Athter Temple, the Morning Star or Venus, Goddess of love. There is anther temple in the center of the city but only 4 columns can be seen. Many inscriptions can be found on the city wall’s faced. The city was inhabited unit the 1960s. There are further historical sites dating back to the Ma’een dynasty in Majzer district not far from Baraqish: to the west Ahqaf and Duroub Al-Sabi and, to the east, the site of Kharbat Al-Lisan. Historical
and Archaeological Sites on the Banks of Wadi Dhanah, Northern Balaq
Mountain-The Panorama of the Valley of Sheba From a point on the northern side of Balaq Mountain, overlooking Wadi Dhanah, one can see the two gates of the Great Dam, the lake of the new dam and the ruins of the old canals. Far a way, one can see the Dhanah Valley Delta or Valley of Sheba’, historically Known as the Land of two Heavens’. The road stretches to the Balaq mountain passing by the northern gate of the Great Dam. The most famous ancient city in Yemen. The old city of Marib lies in the Sabean plains on the outskirts of the east Yemen desert Mafazet Saihad’. It’s strategic position lends itself to its important role in history, as it controlled the ancient incense routs. It was a meeting point for caravans coming from the Qana port on the Arabian Sea coast, crossing the Wadi Hadhramout. Marib, for many centuries, was the capital of the Sheba Kingdom, and continued to be an important city throughout the Sabean dynasty, which ruled until the 6th century AD. The exact date of the foundation of the old city of Marib is not Known, despite the fact that inscriptions indicate that the wall of the city and palaces were built during the first half of the Sabean Makaribah (King) period (1 st period), in the 8th century BC. At that time, any king who could not control Marib and Salheen Castle would only be a marginal king even if he named himself king even if he named himself king of Sheba. The city was inhabited unit the era of caliph, Omar Bin Abdul-aziz, at the onset of the 8th century AD. The city was protected by a fortified wall with a circumference of 4500 meters, with three gates to the north, west and the south-east. The abandoned village, which is situated on top of a 25m high hill is actually attached to part of Sailheen Palace leading to the Royal Temple. It is here where eight huge columns stand at the foot of the north of the city and the third located to the south of the Royal Temple. The old city of Marib is the biggest archaeological site in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and holds the key to said that all the stones used in the buildings of modern day Marib were taken either from the old wall or from the Great Dam. Some believe that the old city is likely to have been built sometime during the second Millennium BC. |
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The Dam is the most famous of all ancient Yemeni ruins. The dam is 8km to the south-west of the city of Marib and is located in between the northern and central Balaq mountains. The waters from the eastern heights of Yemen used to be collected by the dam. It was a huge structern drain indicate that the dam was 35m high, 720m long and 60m wide at the foundations. The foundations were built of huge pieces of stone covered with rough volcanic stones. At the tip of the dam two gaps were left open through which water flowed into the irrigation system and canals and gravel on the sides. The surface of the exterior wall was covered with rough volcanic stones. At the tip of the dam two gaps were left open through which water flowed into the irrigation system and canals. The wall of the two openings (Al-Sadafain), still exist, as described by Al-Hamadani more than 1000years ago. The ingenuity of the irrigation system centerd on the collection of water flowing from anumber of valleys, when the water level had risen the irrigation of the largest possible area of the “land of the tow heavens” was possible. This was achieved through an ingenuous and precise engineering system consisting of an irrigation network linked to the drains either side of the dam, and was the most sophisticated engineering works of ancient times. It is believed that more than 70 sq. km of arable land in the Marib Valley was cultivated using the Dam’s irrigation network.The construction of the dam, according to inscriptions, dates back to the 8th century BC. However, the resulte of a study made by a German archaeological expedition, on a diversion dam in the Dhanan valley (Construction A), indicate that plans for building the dam underwent many stages and long periods between the start of the 2nd and 1 st Millennium BC. Whatever the date of the start of construction, it is an indisputable fact that the Great Marib Dam continued as a working monument through all ages of Yemen civilization from the beginninges of civilization until its collapse. Inscriptions indicate that the Dam did collapse and was renovated several times. The last time major work were carried out on the dam was during the Abyssinian occupation of Yemen in the 6th century AD. Al-Jufainah Dam The ancient dam, Al-Jufainah, was part of the Great Marib Dam’s irrigation network. It is 8km to the southwest of the center of Marib and dates back to the 1st Sabean period, and was built to accommodate the overflow from the Great Dam to irrigate the land to the left of the great Dam. Al-Jufainah Dam had four water distribution channels built of chipped stone and supported by a number of 10m high supporting walls approximately 300m in length. The foundations are 4m wide with the walls being 1.5m wide at the top. The walls of the dam suffered from major cracks and was rebuilt with rough volcanic stones, coated with a cementing substance called Qadhadh. This substance was found to have been uesd during the latter part of the Sabean Age between the years 100BC – 350AD. In comparison with other adms, Al-Jufainah, remains in rather good condition. Access to the dam is from the Great Dam, half-a-kilometer from the paved road an unpaved path to the left leads to Al-Jufainah dam exactly 1 km from the asphalt road. Diversion Dam (Construction
A) This is another of the diversion dams which was built much earlier than the Great Dam. It is located approx. 300m to the east of the Marib Dam in the center of the Dhanah valley. A German archeological expedition found the site in 1988-98 and noted that this dam was built 1000-2000 years before the Great Marib Dam. It was 55m long 30m wide, built with stones as big as 2m which were cemented with lead. However, these attempts were not successful due to the accumulation of sediment and deposits. A solution to the problem was found by using the natural features of the two Bslaq mountains. Thus, the engineering miracle of the The
Sabean well Six km to be west of old Marib, the Sabean well is located on top of a sandy hill a few meters higher than the adjacent fields. The opening of the well is located on top of the hill and is about 35m deep.
The
Sacred Biquis Temple The Awam Temple, or the Sun Temple, is 4k to the south-east of Bilquis Throne. It is the largest of the Sabean temples and the most important of all. It was devoted to the adoration of the Moon’ (Father), the Sun’ (Mother), and Blossom’ (Son). The Temple differs from others in that it is elliptical in shape and protrudes a little from the eastern side, resembling the shape of a kidney. The longitudinal axis of the Temple is 94m and the horizontal axis is 82.3m. The wall is 9m high and 3.9m wide. There is a hall with columns and 10m away eight columns stand high in one alignment. In the eastern side there is a small stone structure on four columns believed to have been built over tombs. The perimeter wall of the temple was built of stones with an ornamental top, considered to be an example of Sabean exterior ornamental styles. The construction of theof the temple dates back to a period earlier than the 8th century BC. According to inscriptions the temple performed its function for nearly 1000 years and was only neglected, together with goddess of Sheba’ in the late 4th century AD, when one of the Himyarite kings adopted christianity in 378AD. Anexpedition by the American Anthropoligical Institute carried out a partial excavation of the Temple in 1952, but a lot more work needs to be done to unearth the entire structure. Sirwah
This is the most important archaeological site after Marib, and dates back to the Sabean ago of Makarrib’. It is 37km west of Marib and 120km east of Sana’a. information from classical sources, particularly the works of Al-Hamadani, indicate Sirwah was the winter headquarters for the kings of Sheba, and the first capital of the Sabean dynasty. The only inscription found to confirm this is that of king Dhamar Ali which states “King of Sheba, Dhu Raidan, and his home Sirwah”. Important
Archaeological Sites in Sirwah The Temple of the God of the Moon, “Master of the Mountain Goats”, is located on a hilly area 10m from the surface of the valley. The eastern part still exists in the from of a semicircular shape, 7m high. It was built of polished stone and construed in a vacuum’ style, with its entrance in the southern side. There are 4 columns connected to the western wall which represent the “Holy of Holies’. A rectangular stone table with stone seats around it is located inside the Temple. Near the entrance is a famous victory inscription, two slabs each 3m long, 80cm wide and 60m thick. The
Sacred The Well is located 30m from the Temple of the Master of the Mountain Goats and is still operational. In the western side there is a 10m high tower, which is still in good condition and attached to the Sacred Well. Both the Well and the Tower represent good examples of the typical Sabean style of architecture. The German Archeological Expedition carried out excavation work here between 1993 and 1994. Kharbat
Saud (Old Katal) Kharbat saud is 60km to the north-west of Marib. The road to Kharbat Saud begine 25km from Marib in the direction of Wadi Raghwan. It’s historical significance lies in the fact that it is strategically located along the ancient incense trade route. It is at a junction of two roads: one comes from Shabwa across the towns of Qatban-Marib-Kharbat Saud and then goes on to Baraqish and Ma’eeni cities. The other comes from Seiyun passing by Aber-Jidran-kanai’s-Kharbat Saud and on to Baraqish and the Ma’een. Located on a hill, Kharbat Saud is square in shape, approx. 270m long and each side is surrounded by a defensive wall, a typical defensive fortification. The wall is built with semi-chipped stones in the style of towering protrusions. It is 4m high and has a southern and northern gate. Within the city are ruins of temple. Because of the frequent attacks by the M’aeenis, the city never flourrished architecturally. There are many historical and archaeological sites around Kharbat Saud. Other important sites are: *Al-Asahel city, still buried undergeround. *The ancient dam *Al-Raib archeological site. Stone
& Marble Quarries Like the many enormous stone columns which are still standing to this day in day in many parts of Marib are likewise huge pieces of marble and alabaster. The source of this marble and alabaster if from quarries which are found at knais and Jadran, 120km north-east of Marib on one of the paths of the ancient trade route which linked Hadhramout and Ma’eenite Jonf and went through Kharbat Saud. Paths
and Branches of the Incense Road There is a tourist road here one can get to see the paths and branches of the ancient trade road through the nearby cities which are close to the foot of the mountains, including the ancient city of Hafri. This city is located 30k from the center of Marib to the south of Yella district in Joba. It is at the northern outskirt of Jabal Murad. The city was highly populated and has huge ruins which are sur rounded by a double wall, built of unchipped stones. The city is approx. 230m long from the north and 170m wide from the south-west to the north-east. It consists of two parts which date back to the first Sabean dynasty. An Italian Archeological Expedition carried out tests at the site and thought the city might be the oldest city in Yemen. 1st Tourist Road across the desert From Jobah city to Dhafar Hano Al-Zareer city, south of Shaqeer mountain and then on to the Qatbani cities across the historic hilly Mablaqah Road. 2nd
Tourist Road Ramlat Al-Sab’atain’ This is interesting road which links Marib with Shabwa, passing by the outskirts of Mafazet Saihad, Known today as Ramlat AL-Sab’atain. Best time to go through here is during sunrise when a magnificent site is composed by the Sun rays which cut through the vest sandy hilly. A cup of tea may be offered by your Bedouine guide, under the shade of a hair-woven tent, to ease the effects of the heat. 3rd
Tourist Road This road starts at Marib, passes by Jidran and Kan’ais though the desert path (Aber area) towards Seiyun and is the shortest route across the desert. |
What is know today as the Bilquis Throne, is mentioned in scriptions as Barran Temple the home of the Goddess Almaqa'(Moon),the inscriptions also mention Dhat Hameem (Sun) and Athter (Blossom). The results of the German expedition show that the Temple went through two historical stages, the first stage extending from the 2nd Millennium BC to the beginning of the 1st Millennium BC, and the second stage starting from 850 BC to the end of the Sabean dynasty. The Temple is aquara in shape with an open courtysrd opposite the most holy area of the six columns’. The Sacred Well and its annexes are located in the center of the courtyard. There is a rectangular stone basin which receives water from a fountain, the head of the Holy Oxen. There are twelve steps which connect the open hall to the holy area, with walls surrounding the open courtyard from south, west and northerly directions. There is also a row of fixed marble chairs in the western side. In the rear yard of the holy area was a 6m high statue of the Holy Oxen mounted on six legs, 4m in length. The six columns’ are supported by fixed stone foundations. The sacred courtyard is encircled by a brick fence which has five towers, there of them are in the western side. The main gate of the Temple is located in the northern side.