Al Jowf Governorate
The Provincial center is called Hazm Al-Jowf 140km to the north-east of
Sana’a and situated within the geographical sphere historically known as
the East of Yemen Apart from Jabal Allaudah and a few other mountains on
the western side most of Al-Jowf is either desert semi-arid or fertile
plains which use the water of wadi for irrigation, the most important
being Wadi Al-Kharid approximately 60km long and 30 km wide with vast
fruit farms along the banks and it is historically known as Jowf Valley.
Maeen Stae “ ahistorical abstract”
It is one of the ancient Yemeni States which flourished during the first
era of ancient Yemen in AlJowf valley at the east of Yemen and was one
of the political entities near to the Sabaen mother State in Southern
Arabia rotating in its orbit or secluding itself and at times becomes an
ally of Hadhramawt and Qataban against it. It was able to get rid of
Sheba Hegemony to become an independent state in the 4th century A.
Under the leadership of Yathil City Al jowf Cities controlled the
Caravan Route of Ollibanum in alliance with Hadhramwat and Qataban. From
Qarnau the Capital of the Mainites and its biggest city the Mainites
moved to to the north and widened their influence and established
stations on the Ollbanum route and built settlements like Al Fao on one
of the Caravan routes between Najran and Bahrain and Didan between
Yathrib and Petra. The Mainites became famous all over the ancient world
and the Ollibanum was called after them.
The Mainite Civilization was not less than that of Sheba in its
puissance for it established temples in many towns of Al jowf and was
characterized for its special Mainite architecture style. The arts of
drawing and engraving developed to a great extent. Like other ancient
Yemenite states the Mainites Wrote in Musnad and spoke the same language
of southern Arabia. The Godess was referred two in symbols or animal
characters and their religion was like that of the
Sabneans,hazrramyitees and Qatabanites of astrological nature. The
temple was the house of the goddess and in its name the land is rented
like Mukarrib the mizawad joint the two authorities the religious and
the political and the political systems were identical between ancient
Yemenite states as well as the similarity of economic and social
circumstances for the Mainites had to take care of providing food and
thus they built dams, channel and took care of agriculture and organized
its affairs but they disregarded this aspect during the second and first
centuries B.C. depending on the returns of commerce and before the last
century B. C. the Ptolmains have discovered the secret of the Mainites
which they kept for centuries and their ships gradually started to sail
in the Indian Ocean and the red sea Carrying the Lazuli, Silk, Ivory,
Cardamom and Gold and thus the ancient Kingdoms capitals became
including those of the Mainites like the other caravan towns like Petra
and Palmyra in the north of the Arabian Peninsula incapable of resisting
the nomadic invasions after having lost their substance source and their
camels were secluded between land stations.
Thus the Mainite town surrounded to the Sabeans during the first century
B.C. and there are many historical signs left by the Mainites,
represented in relics of town , Dams and temples across Al Jowf Province
which is the richest Yemenite region in archaeology and most of them are
still covered of which are :
Qarnau (Capital of Ma’een Dynasty)
Qarnau was situated to the east of Al –Hazm district, by 7,5km over a
Sandy hill 15m in height. It was rectangular in shape, 350m long and
240m wide encircled by 15m of high stone wall with watch towers and
spear Shooting orifices built within.
The city used to have two gates in the west and east of wall. It was the
largest city in Ma’een. The most important surviving features are: parts
of the wall, towers, gates and the temple but today there is nothing
more than ruins most of which are buried underground Ma’een city
remained inhabited until the 12th century AD Remains of towns and the
trade route can still be found such as Nashin, Haram (presently Kharabet
Hamdan), Kharabet Al –Ali as well as many archaeological sites believed
to have been rest stations for caravans along the incense route.namly:
Zaghna, Qara, Jabal Allaudh. All these archaeological sites are waiting
to be excavated to reveal more the history of the Ma’aen Dynasty. The
most significant site where archaeological work has taken places it.
BANAT A’AD TEMPLE
Historically known as Athtar Temple or Ethtar (flower) and known to the
Arabs as the morning star’. This temple was uncovered by a joint French
–Yemeni archaeological expedition “1980. The temple is located
700kmeters to the east of the ruins of Nashn Al-Sawda’a city. The temple
was found in a much better condition than many other Yemeni temples and
is ornamented with the most precise forms of rt. The temple is 15.5m
long and 14.10m wide consisting of a fence, vault and courtyard with
halls built around. The temple has a grand gate, polished stone corridor
and two verandahs. It is partially roofed with its walls and pillars
decorated with grooved drawing s representing plants, snakes, ostriches
and female forms. It is because of these paintings that the residents of
Al- Jowf “Banat A’ad temple”- meaning the daughtrers of A’ad, named the
temple.
The Mainite Ruins are not in these areas only but there are many
archaeological site located at present within Marib Governorate like
Barakish, and the ruins in Wadi Allisan, Dorob Asssabi and Al ahqaf.
Nomadic life-style dominates some parts of Al- Jowf Governorate as well
as the Governorates in the east of Yemen such as Marib Shabwa,
Hadhramout and Mahara.
Barat and Souq Al-Anan
This area is accessible from Al-Harf area through a 65km long unpaved
road and is situated to the northeast of Booth it is mountainous and
hilly with a wadi, which connects with the plains. The lifestyle of the
inhabitants is predominantly nomadic. Some of the villages boast a
wonderful architectural style. Outstanding are the villages of Al-
Marashi, Rajouza and Souq Al-Anan. The houses of Souq Al- Anan are
colorfully decorated on the outside, with ornamental decorations around
the windows as well as white gypsum motifs.
The Most Prominent Mountains in “Al Jowf
Allaudh Mountain located to the east of Al Jowf and has ancient
archaeological sites and at its foot there is a temple and the path to
the top is still existent.
Beret Mountain:
It is a high mountain far flung on which there are valleys, where
fruits, figs and vineyards grow and from the north overlooks Najran
while to the east overlooks Khab and the Empty Quarter.
- Al Rayyan Mountain: It is a big mountain on the north East of Al Jowf.
- Al boras Mountain: located between Raghwan and Marib and is merely
consisting of plateaus known as “ Jabal Al Borqan.
Source: National Information Center, Sana'a
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