New engravings, sculptures and drawings have been found recently in the Raidan Temple archaeological site in Dhafar. The temple was discovered last year, and the new findings were uncovered by a German mission headed by Professor Paul Yule, an archaeology expert from Heidelberg University.
The joint mission undertaking the excavation at Dhafar consists of both German and Yemeni experts. The new findings consist of drawings on horizontal strips. On the bottom, there is a row of drawings of bulls’ heads. Above this strip there is an embroidery-like inscription of leaves and grapes, and on the top level there is a strip of animal drawings such as deer, gazelles, tigers and some mythical winged animals engraved on stones that constitute one side of the temple’s wall.
On the wall of the other side of the temple there is a block of stone 135 centimeters tall on which a full picture of a king with a crown on his head and a sword at his side, holding an engraved scepter and a bunch of plants in his hand. The findings are estimated to be dated between 100 and 300 AD, for the facial engraving is similar to those found in south-west Iran dating from this period, and the temple was built around the same time. “Though there is a word engraved in an ancient language above the king’s picture, pronounced ‘wedan’, it is not the name of the king.
It may have a religious meaning which specialists and future findings may shed light on this,” said Fuad al-Qashm, general manager of the Ibb bureau of archaeology and antiquities museums. Al-Qashm believes that the new discoveries are rare and that they have great importance, for they reveal an important period of Yemen’s history and civilization. Officials think that the findings are only a glimpse of what lies beneath the earth, as this region was the headquarters and capital of the Himyarite Kingdom established by King Thi Raidan in 115 BCE which lasted for 650 years.
The Himyarite Kingdom was the largest and most powerful ancient Yemeni state in southern Arabia between 300 and 525 BCE, because it expanded its power to the north and annexed the Saba state in Marib.
This created the first united kingdom in history 2000 years ago; called ‘Saba-Tho-Raidan’, headed by King Sharhabil Bin Ya’for Bin Abdo Karb Asa’d Asa’d al-Kamil, which controlled much of the east-west perfume and incense trade. The Ibb governorate witnessed the rise and fall of almost all Yemeni civilizations. Most state and kingdom capitals were there, with many remains surviving the wear of time.
