Sphinx-like stone uncovered at Ibb royal archaeological site

New archeological discoveries in Ibb have been announced as having features indicating that they are either from a royal palace or a Yemeni king’s temple known as qis al-Aqdas, the most holy priest.

The local council’s General Secretary, Abdul-Salam al-Aghbari, said in a statement to Mo’tamar net that the German mission in the Dhafar area, headed by Professor Paul Yule of the University of Heidelberg, has discovered male and female human facial art and colored glass. Al-Aghbari also mentioned that a number of bronze pieces, agates and rings with Himiari and Ethiopian sculptures have been uncovered.

More notably, the dig has lead to the striking discovery of a sculptured lion-shaped stone with plant symbols and a tail end shaped like that of a sheep. This finding has caused quite a sensation and is being compared to Egypt’s Great Sphinx of Giza.

Officials expect the new, rare discoveries to reveal an important period of Yemen’s history, as the recent findings are only a glimpse of what is buried beneath the earth. 

Dhafar-Himiar’s region which is also known as Dhafar Yarim, is located on Mount Radian, 750 meters above sea level in the al-Sada district of Ibb governorate. This area was formerly a kingdom established by King Dhi Raidan in 115 BCE. Dhafar, located in the foothills of Raidan, became the capital of the kingdom which lasted for 650 years. 

The Himirite kingdom continued to expand their power to the north and annexed the Saba state in Marib, creating the first united kingdom in history 2000 years ago, called ‘ Saba-Tho Radian’, headed by King Shorahabil Bin Ya’for Bin Abo Karb Asa’d “Asa’d al-Kamil”. It was the most powerful kingdom in southern Arabia between 300 and 525 BCE because of their control over 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 their remains still surviving the natural conditions. In response to inquiries regarding the steps being taken to protect the historical sites and avoid repetition of previous plunder, al-Sada’s general-secretary assured that security authorities and three patrols are standing guard over the sites. 

Related Content

•  Yemeni artifacts redline
•  Two kidnapped Japanese tourists set free
•  Tribal mediation starts to free Japanese tourists kidnapped in Mareb
•  Mediation committee back in Sa’adah
•  French suspect in smuggling case released on bail
•  Journalists demand improvments in freedom and professional standards in Yemen media
•  Al-Wasat comes back by court sentence against minister’s decree
•  Cabinet orders closure of monopolizing diesel stations
•  Customs Training Institute attacked by two mortars
•  Senior official denies closure of UN offices