On 25 January 2023, UNESCO announced the inscription of Yemen's ancient Saba dynasty site on the World Heritage List, the country's fifth World Heritage Site, and urgent conservation action is needed to inscribe the site on the List in Danger due to the destruction of Yemen's eight years of civil war, which has not stopped.
The ruins of the ancient Saba dynasty are located in the Marib province in central Yemen, including the ancient city of Marib, the temple of Awam, the temple of Buran, the ancient marib dam, and the ancient city of Sirwah (the ancient marib dam is divided into 3 small places) sites, witnessing the glorious history of the ancient saba dynasty from 1000 BC to 630 AD.
The ancient city of Marib was the capital of the ancient Saba dynasty and the administrative, economic and cultural center of the dynasty. The ancient city was built on the high ground on the outskirts of the Sebatain Desert, overlooking the northern oasis and surrounding area. The southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula is rich in frankincense, myrrh and other spices, is a famous spice production area, called by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus as the "happy Arabian spice coast", the ancient city of Marib is an important stop on the famous spice route. It was one of the largest cities in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula at that time, covering an area of about 1.1 square kilometers and with walls 7 to 14 meters thick. According to the inscription, the famous palace in the center of the city was built by the ancient Saba king Karib'il Wattar in the mid-7th century BC.
The ancient city of Marib was one of the largest cities in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula at that time, covering an area of about 1.1 square kilometers.
The Harunum Temple in the ancient city of Marib is the first stop for pilgrims, who then follow the famous pilgrimage route to the Temple of Awam.
The temple of Avam and the temple of Buran are not far from the ancient city of Marib. The Temple of Ahwam is the largest known temple in South Arabia and the most famous pre-Islamic temple in Yemen, dating back to the Neolithic period. The temple of Awam is dedicated to the official deity of the ancient Saba dynasty, and until the advent of Islam in the second half of the 4th century AD, a large number of pilgrims from the Arabian Peninsula came to worship every year.
Aerial photograph of the Avam Temple, with its oval façade clearly visible.
Statues on southern and western tombs outside the walls of the temple of Avam
The temple of Buran was built in 1000 BC using limestone and alabaster from the hills surrounding the Marib oasis, some of which were about 2 meters long and 30 to 50 centimeters thick. The temple of Buran enshrines the moon god believed in by the ancient Sabas, one of the main deities of the ancient Saba dynasty. The walls of the ancient city and temple are full of ancient inscriptions, recording major events such as the succession of the throne, religious activities, administrative decisions, etc., which show the past glory and historical ups and downs of the ancient Saba dynasty.
There are 6 sacred pillars on the altar of the temple of Buran (the first sacred pillar on the left is broken), each 8.2 meters high.
Aerial photograph of the Temple of Buran, whose rectangular structure is visible.
The ancient marib dam is a jewel among the dynastic ruins, built between late 3000 BC and early 2000 BC and used until the 6th century AD. The Marib Dam was originally a simple dike built with mud and small stones to reduce the speed of water flow and irrigate oasis farmland. Later, improvised mudrock dams were gradually transformed into more complex and huge water conservancy facilities, including a triangular dam 650 meters long, 20 meters wide and more than 15 meters high, as well as canals and other drainage systems. The Gumarib Dam is the largest, strongest and longest-standing dam in the history of the region, which is built of fine stone and masonry, collects monsoon rainfall from the surrounding three mountains, and irrigates 100 square kilometers of land, demonstrating the Gusaba's superb skills in agricultural irrigation and hydraulic engineering, which not only promoted the prosperity of local agriculture, but also created the largest man-made oasis on the Arabian Peninsula at that time, and the nearby plain became fertile land, so Yemen was known as the barn of the Arabian Peninsula.
The ancient marib dam is a jewel of the site, built between late 3000 BC and early 2000 BC and used until the 6th century AD.
The Gumarib Dam demonstrates the skill of the Gusaba dynasty in agricultural irrigation and water engineering
Located on a rocky hill about 40 kilometers west of the ancient city of Marib, the ancient city of Sirwach is well protected from the heavy rains and floods of the Sirwach Valley, and is full of fortresses and fortresses, which was the military and operational center of the year. The palaces in the ancient city are unique, unlike the ancient buildings of the same period in the Arabian Peninsula, the stones are connected by wood, and the construction is more exquisite.
Inscription in the ancient city of Sirvah
The western outer courtyard of the Avar Temple in the ancient city of Sirvah
Historically, Yemen has created a splendid culture and left behind many amazing sites, which are not only the wealth of the Yemeni people, but also the treasures of the Arab people and the people of the world. Today's Yemen has been mired in war for eight years, and it is deeply regrettable and sad that many Yemeni cultural sites, including the ancient Saba dynasty, have been seriously threatened by natural disasters, neglect of management, population displacement, theft of cultural relics and other factors.
The ancient Saba ruins showcase the architectural, aesthetic and hydraulic achievements of the Saba dynasty during its heyday, and are of great value for the study of ancient trade history. It is hoped that Yemen will emerge from the smoke of war and usher in the dawn as soon as possible, so that more cultural heritage can shine again and be passed on from generation to generation.
This article was published in World Knowledge Illustrated magazine
Issue 5/2023
Responsible Editor: SU