The architecture of Yemen dates back to ancient times, when it was part of a tradition

of South Arabian architecture. Developments continued during the Islamic period,

displaying both local characteristics and external influences. The historic cities and
towns of Yemen are also known for their traditional tower-houses

Ancient Yemen:
Remains of the ancient Marib Dam
In Antiquity, Yemen was home to several wealthy city-states and an indigenous
tradition of South Arabian architecture.[2][3] Historical texts and archeological
evidence indicate that large and richly-decorated palaces existed in several cities, such
as the Ghumdan Palace in Sanaa. Most of these structures have not been preserved,
although the remains of Shabwa, the former capital of Ḥaḍramawt, provide some
evidence of their structure.[2][4]

In the first millennium BCE the first large South Arabian kingdom, Saba', was created
by the Sabaeans with its center at Marib, alongside other kingdoms in the region. Its
influence reached as far as Ethiopia.[5] The oases of this region grew their agriculture
with the help of floodwaters. Marib city and some constructions in the Wadi Dhana
valley were likely established as early as the 2nd millennium BCE[5] and artificial
irrigation may date as far back as the third millennium BCE.[6] The ancient Marib
Dam was first built in the 6th century BCE and repaired up until the 5th or 6th century
CE.[5][6] It was a major feat of engineering in the ancient world and was used to
harness the water of biannual floods, allowing for more systematic irrigation.[6] The
first dam was a basic earth-built structure around 580 meters (1,900 feet) long and
probably about 4 meters (13 feet) high, situated between two rock formations. A
second dam was built towards 500 BC as a sloping rampart with a triangular cross
section. It stood about 7 meters (23 feet) high and was faced with stone and mortar.[6]
The next major reconstruction was undertaken by the Himyarites in or after the late
2nd century CE, who rebuilt it as another earthen structure faced with stone, this time
720 meters (2,360 feet) long, 14 meters (46 feet) high, and complete with more
sophisticated hydraulic systems.[6]

Decorative frieze of stylized ibex heads from the Sabaean period in Yemen, on
display at the Louvre[7]
Classical Sabaean temples were structures with an inner courtyard in peristyle form
(surrounded by porticoes).[5] An example of this is the Awwam Temple or Mahram
Bilqis, which was erected at the edge of a large, roughly oval, walled enclosure.[8] In
the Jawf region temples could have a hypostyle form. In both the Jawf and
Hadramawt regions there were also temples consisting of an interior space divided by
two rows of three or four pillars, which in Hadramawt often had bent entrances.[5]
The art of these temples is characterized by their abstractness, as exemplified by their
distinctive ibex friezes.[5] Aside from temple architecture, it also appears that the
traditional Yemeni tower-house emerged around this period, built with stone
foundations and upper sections in wood and clay.[5]

In the first century BCE the Romans arrived in the Red Sea region, resulting in a shift
in power and trade networks. A new Himyarite kingdom took control of Yemen. In
the same century the Palace of Shaqir (the "Towering One") was built in Shabwa. It
was destroyed circa 230 CE but subsequently rebuilt and restored.[5] The building,
made of mudbrick and wood on stone foundations, consisted of a towering multi-story
structure attached to a courtyard surrounded by two-story galleries. The galleries had
octagonal pillars covered with carved vine motifs and capitals carved with images of
griffins. Well frescoes depicted scenes with women and other decorative motifs. The
ornamental repertoire displays links with late Hellenistic art of the time.[5]

As the Himyarite kingdom grew stronger it cultivated a period of peace and cultural
exchanges. The capital was at Zafar (near Yarim), which was enclosed by double
walls and nine gates. It had a citadel, the Raidan fortress or Raydan Palace, which was
the seat of the Himyarite kings. Other stone castles were built in various locations. By
the 5th century AD, there is evidence that the indigenous styles were being influenced
by Byzantine and Late Antique Mediterranean art.[2] In the 5th and 6th centuries
Christianity spread in the region and churches were built. Abraha, a local Aksumite
ruler who made Sanaa his capital, built a cathedral there circa 567, allegedly with the
help of two architects provided by Byzantine emperor Justinian I.[4][2] The Ghumdan
Palace, which was probably first built around 200 CE, was preserved in collective
memory and probably influenced the architecture of future palaces. It apparently had
many stories, a transparent roof of alabaster, coloured stone inlay decorating its
façades, and animal statues.[5]

Islamic period

Vernacular architecture

References

Further reading
Last edited 3 months ago by Abo Yemen
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