Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
now believe that the temple predates the queen, and is actually around 4000 years old and
was dedicated to the moon.
The temple consists of a square with an open courtyard, at the centre of which lies the
old sacred well. Twelve steps lead from the open area to the hall, and there's a row of
fixed marble seats on the western side and a plinth on which a 6m statue of the Sabaean
Holy Oxen once stood.
Mahram Bilqis
RUINS
The kidney-shaped Mahram Bilquis (Temple of Bilqis/Awwam Temple) is believed to
date from at least 800 BC and was dedicated to the sun god. Measuring 94m by 82m, it's
the largest of all the Sabaean temples. Remains include a 9m-high wall, a hall with
columns and a row of eight, 12m-high columns.
Old Ma'rib
OLD TOWN
Rising like a spectre from the surrounding landscape is the eerie silhouette of Old Ma'rib.
Originally built long before the 1st millennium BC and sitting on foundations that are
vastly more ancient, it suffered much damage from bombs during the 1962 civil war, but
for the layperson it's the most romantic of the archaeological sites. A number of years ago
the last family finally moved out and with their departure one of the oldest inhabited
towns on earth effectively ceased to exist.
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Shabwa
Shabwa, the political, economic and religious capital of the ancient kingdom of Had-
ramawt, situated on the bank of Wadi Arma, has been described as 'a city forever beyond
the hills', an appropriate description for a place that has remained fantastically remote
right up until today.
The town, which is thought to have been founded sometime between 1500 and 1200
BC, was an important collection point for the camel caravans traversing the desert. Tradi-
tionally, the caravans were obliged to pay the high priest of Shabwa one-tenth of the total
value of their load. As a result, the city grew rich - rich enough to turn the surrounding
desert into a 4800-hectare garden of trees, fields and flowers.
Much of Shabwa awaits further excavation, but for the moment there are the remains of
the old
city walls
, the ruins of an
ancient temple
, various
storerooms
and what is said to be the
royal palace
to the east of the site.
