Ghumdan Palace

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The Ghumdan Palace , also known as Qasr Ghumdan ( Arabic قصر غمدان, DMG Qaṣr Ġumdān ) or Ghamdan Palace , is an old palace and at the same time a fortress in Sana'a in Yemen . It is located west of the Great Mosque of Sana'a , and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage zone in the old town of Sana'a.

The palace could have been from pre-Islamic times and was built by the Sabeans in the middle of the 3rd century AD under the rule of the last great Sabaean king Ilsharah Yahdub ; other historians date the start of construction to the 2nd or even 1st century AD. The palace was destroyed by Caliph Uthman , but perhaps earlier by the Abyssinian conqueror Abrahah Al-Hubashi. It has been renovated several times and found its way into Arab folk tales. The palace is also mentioned in Arabic poetry, poets mostly describe its beauty. The Palace Tower is considered by some to be the world's first high-rise.

The history of the palace is rich in legends and tales.

history

Although the old palace is now in ruins, it forms the prototype for the typical tower-like houses in the old town of Sana'a.

The last Himyarian kings who ruled Yemen from Ghumdan resided in the palace . It was reportedly destroyed by Caliph Uthman in the 7th century, fearing the palace might serve as a retreat for any rebels. Materials from the palace were used in the construction of the Great Mosque. The palace was rebuilt a little later. The ruins of the palace now form an earth wall that extends east of the Great Mosque to the city gate Bab Al-Yemen.

architecture

The old town of Sana'a with typical tower buildings

The palace tower was built on the top of a hill. There is disagreement about the original height of the building. Usually six to ten floors are assumed. In the early 9th century, a report states that the building was "seven stories high," "the highest room clad in multi-colored marble and the roof a single chunk of greenish marble."

The palace had a square plan. The four outer walls of the palace were made of white, black, green and red marble. The top floor of the tower contained the Bilqis Hall. Al-Hamdānī described this hall as follows: The four openings at the four ends of the hall gave a good view of the moon, which was worshiped by the kings of ancient Yemen. Bronze lions on every corner of the alabaster ceiling are said to have made a roaring noise when the wind blew through them. A gate known as "Qasr Al-Selah" is said to represent the last remnant of this tower.

see also article section: Architectural history of South Arabia

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Daniel McLaughlin: Yemen: the Bradt travel guide . Bradt Travel Guides, February 12, 2008, ISBN 978-1-84162-212-5 , p. 86 (accessed July 11, 2011).
  2. ↑ a b Charles Aithie, Patricia Aithie: Yemen: jewel of Arabia . Stacey International, 2001, ISBN 978-1-900988-15-5 , p. 34 (accessed July 11, 2011).
  3. ↑ Carolyn Han: From the land of Sheba: Yemení folk tales . Interlink Books, 2005, ISBN 978-1-56656-571-4 , p. 18 (accessed July 11, 2011).
  4. ^ A b Zaid Al-Alaya: The Ancient & Mysterious Palace of Ghamdan . Yemen Observer. October 1, 2005. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved on July 15, 2012.
  5. ^ Encyclopedia Americana . Americana Corp., 1966, p. 119 (accessed July 30, 2011).
  6. ↑ Carolyn Han: From the land of Sheba: Yemení folk tales . Interlink Books, 2005, ISBN 978-1-56656-571-4 , pp. 18– (accessed July 11, 2011).
  7. ^ P. Bidwell, RB Serjeant, RL Bidwell, Smith, G. Rex: New Arabian studies . University of Exeter Press, January 1, 1994, ISBN 978-0-85989-408-1 , p. 179, (accessed July 11, 2011).

Coordinates: 15 ° 21 '10.8 "  N , 44 ° 12' 51.9"  E