THE GOVERNORATE OF ADEN
The Governorate of Aden consists of a
number of directorates spreading around Aden creater and
its old port, on the coasts overlooking its bays. It
includes a number of islands in the Gulf of Aden and the
Arabian Sea.
Aden City “ A Historical Outlook”:
Aden was one of the rich ancient Arab
Cities. It had a deep rooted history dating back to 3000
and was mentioned in the Mousnad inscriptions. It was
also mentioned in the Old Testament as “Eden”. Through
history BC up to the contemporary date. Aden witnessed
many historical events but it did not lose its position
as an important seaport linking the Indian ocean and the
Mediterranean as the Asian Trade was coming through the
Old Aden port at Sirah bay, then to be carried , by the
Yemenite caravans to the north so as to be distributed
to the ancient Orient and there from to the ancient
world. Hence persisted movement of trade between the
West and Orient. The weakness of the role of Aden as an
important seaport due to some political changes in the
consecutive states through history and the transfer of
the seaport either to Qana in Shabwa on the Arabian sea
or to Mawza’a and Mokha on the Red Sea, but Aden Seaport
reverts quickly to its natural functioning in pioneering
as a matchless seaport.
Furthermore, Aden was one of the
ancient famous Arabian Markets, there used to be held an
annual market during the first ten days of Ramadan . The
most important of what used to be exhibited in Aden
Market of Yemenite products, the perfumeries and
perfumes of Aden Manufacture like Adam, Brood, Dyes.
Aden was famous for the manufacture of the best
fragrances in the world. It was also the starting point
for the camel caravans through the road known as the
Asa’ad Pathway. After the advent of Islam. The Arabian
towns entered a new stage characterized in its first
stages by taking interest in construction of mosques;
spread of Islamic sermon givers in the main cities of
which Aden was one. Thus in Aden the famed Mosque of
Aban was built which is attributed to Aban Bun Othman
Bin Affan and dates back to the second Half of the first
century AH. Towards the end of the 7th century AD. Aden
continued as an Islamic metropolitan and a starting
point for pilgrimage and traders for from Aden used to
spring out many roads and paths, of which some were
along the shoreline to Jeddah or through the mountains
and Plateau to Mecca. At the beginning of the
Independence of the Yemenite States from the Center of
the Islamic Caliphate, the activity of Aden seaport was
linked to those states which took turn in ruling Yemen
or parts of Yemen as from the date of establishment of
the Ziyadaite State. At the beginning of the ninth
Century AD passing through the control of Bani Ma’an,
then the rise of Ali Bin Al Fadal the Qarmatin with his
call. Aden was one of his main cities.
Then the influence continued by the
Najahide State. Then the Sullayyhides till Aden became a
capital of the Ziraite State which continued as of 1083
till 1173 AD. Then Aden entered under the rule of the
Ayyubides as of 1147AD till 1229 Ad. Then the Rasullides
as of 1226-1454 AD, then fell under the last Islamic
Yemenite State at the beginning of modern history “ The
Tahiride State as of 1446 AD to 1507 AD. These
consequent in Aden all the defense fortresses and
fortifications at the Mountains change enclosing it
represented in fortresses, forts, walls, Bridges,
Cisterns, Roads .. etc,, at the beginning of the modern
history at the 16th century AD, Aden became an objective
for the Portuguese –Ottoman Contention. When the
ottomans ruled Yemen during the first period as of
1538AD till 1635AD , they transferred Aden into an
advanced belligerent fort so as to face the Portuguese
ambitions in the Arabian sea which in turn weakened the
commercial importance of Aden Seaport and the loss of
its prosperity factors and thus the main prosperous
seaport was that of Mokha. The second important reason
which annihilated the role of Aden was the commerce in
Yemeni coffee instead of Eastern Condiments whose
Transit Trade caused Aden to prosper.
The Coffee Trade through the Port of
Mokha (Mokha) was the new economic base and as a
commercial trade between the East and the Mediterranean
through 16th, 17th, 18th centuries AD. Aden seaport
continued to deteriorate. Till the British Colonialism
occupied Aden in 1839 till 1967AD.
The Old Port of Aden at the foot of
Sirah Fortresses continued just for ten years after
occupation due to its cover with sedimentation due its
negligence due the past period. Also other changes took
place regard to the size of ships after the discovery of
steam from coal in addition to the fact that the old
port worked during the seasonal months only. Thus the
port of Aden moved to Al Tauahi and Maala became its
northern tip and was called the backyard seaport. In
1869 AD. AL Maala and Tawahi extended due to the
activity of the modern port and during the prosperity of
coal trade as fuel source Aden port reclaimed its
importance in Trade Commerce and the introduction and
catering services to the ships.
Maala was famous for Shipwrighting and
this is an ancient trade known by Yemen for millenniums.
At the beginning of Exploitation of Petroleum instead of
Coal as of 1928 AD the big ships used to dock in the
port and the Trade average between East and West rose to
great heights and thus the importance Aden flourished
and its services were made ever made ever viable let
alone construction of Warehouses for Petroleum at the
Western extremity of Maala. The Fish Quarters enlarged
and so did the construction activity and establishment
of modern facilities as witnessed today.
The current status for historical and
Tourist Features in Aden
Old Aden Town
Located in the Creater and surrounded
by Shamsan mountains from one side and the sea from the
other sides. Most of its houses and streets date back to
the end of the 19th century. The architectural style
prevailing in Aden is a mix of the elements of Yemenite,
Indian and Victorian architecture. The city includes
important sites such as Al-Aidrus mosque and Minaret
dating back to 500 years ago, and the old market with
its special flavor perfumed with the smell of Adenite
incense.
Defensive Fortifications:
Sira Fort:
The guard post of Aden city and a
symbol of its safety .It stands atop a mountain at the
sea entrance. It overlooks the old port and dates back
to more than one thousands years ago.
Forts and Towers
The city of Aden is surrounded by
series of walls and towers dating back to more than one
thousand years. They were built by several dynasties
starting with Banni Zurai’ and ending with the British.
Aden gate was until recently the most important of those
fortification. It was demolished during the Sixties of
this century.
Aden Tanks (Cisterns or Reservoirs)
They are located at the head of
Attawila Wadi at the Southwest of Creater and is
considered one of the great historical engineering works
in Yemen. It was, first built in the ancient time and
was mentioned in Al- Musnad inscriptions.
The tanks system developed throughout
the successive stages of history from Bani Zurai
Resulides and Tahrides until they were buried and then
discovered by the British in the Mid 19th century .The
British’s need of water made them attempt to modify the
tanks original design, which witnessed several trails
and then the British failed and gave up the tanks were
designed both to collect the scarce rain water and
divert run off to protect the city of Aden, in case of
heavy rains and sweeping floods. They amounted to 53
tank only 13 remained. Today they are a tourist
attraction.
Al-Tawahi Port