Ghumdan Palace
Encyclopedia
Ghumdan Palace, also Qasir Ghumdan or Ghamdan Palace, is an ancient palace and fortress in Sana'a
, Yemen
. It is located just west of the Great Mosque of Sana'a
, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City of Sana'a.
It may date to pre-Islamic times, constructed by the Sabaeans
in the mid 3rd century by the last great Sabaean King Ilsharah Yahdub, although some historians date it to the beginning of the 2nd century or even the 1st century.The palace was destroyed by Caliph Uthman, or even earlier, by the Abyssinian conqueror Abrahah Al-Hubashi. Restored several times, the palace history is rich in legends and tales. It is mentioned in many pieces of Arabic poetry, the poets singing about its beauty.Ghumdan Palace tower, a 20-storey high rise building, is believed by some to have been the world's earliest skyscraper.
The palace was used by the last Himyarite kings who had ruled Yemen from Ghumdan and was once the residence of Abhalah.
It was reportedly destroyed by Caliph Uthman in the 7th century because he feared it could be used as a stronghold for a rebellion, and its materials were used to build the Great Mosque. The palace was rebuilt some time later. The ruins of the palace tower are now in the form of a mound that extends from the east of the Great Mosque to the north of Bab Al-Yemen.
, Mohammed Al-Qazwani and Dr. Adnan Tarsis as to the height of the original palace given that because of its grandeur, it was often exaggerated. Most claims are between six and ten storeys. In the early 9th century, it was reported to have been "seven stories tall with the highest room being of polychrome marble, and its roof a single slab of green marble." However, al-Hamadi claims it to have been 20 stories high with each floor being 13 metres (42.7 ft) in height, perhaps referring to the tower of the palace.
Built over a square layout, the four outer faces of the palace were of marble in white, black, green and red. The top floor of the tower contained the Bilqis Hall. This hall was described in the Al-Hamdanis (two volumes, preserved in the British Museum), as featuring a ceiling affixed with an eight-piece transparent marble. The four openings at the four corners of the hall provided a closer view of the moon, worshiped by kings in ancient Yemen. Bronze lion figures at each corner of the alabaster
ceilings were said to make a roaring sound when the wind passed through them. A gate, known as the “Qasr Al-Selah”, is said to be the last vestige of the palace tower.
Dhu Jadan al-Himyari
(fl. 6th - 7th century) wrote:
The poet Adiy b. Zayd al-Hiri
wrote:
Long after its destruction, 10th century geographer al Hamdani (c. 893-945) quoted verses reflecting the legend of the tower of Ghumdan:
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. It is located just west of the Great Mosque of Sana'a
Great Mosque of Sana'a
Great Mosque of Sana'a is an ancient mosque in Sana'a, Yemen, just east of the old Ghumdan Palace. It dates to the 7th century and was reportedly built in part from the materials of the initial Ghumdan palace which was destroyed by Caliph Uthman because he feared it could be used as a stronghold...
, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City of Sana'a.
It may date to pre-Islamic times, constructed by the Sabaeans
Sabaeans
The Sabaeans or Sabeans were an ancient people speaking an Old South Arabian language who lived in what is today Yemen, in the south west of the Arabian Peninsula.Some scholars suggest a link between the Sabaeans and the Biblical land of Sheba....
in the mid 3rd century by the last great Sabaean King Ilsharah Yahdub, although some historians date it to the beginning of the 2nd century or even the 1st century.The palace was destroyed by Caliph Uthman, or even earlier, by the Abyssinian conqueror Abrahah Al-Hubashi. Restored several times, the palace history is rich in legends and tales. It is mentioned in many pieces of Arabic poetry, the poets singing about its beauty.Ghumdan Palace tower, a 20-storey high rise building, is believed by some to have been the world's earliest skyscraper.
History
Though the old palace is now in ruins, its style, a towered, multi-floor structure, has provided the prototype for the tower type houses built in Sana’a. It is stated to project the "exquisite architecture of the old city".The palace was used by the last Himyarite kings who had ruled Yemen from Ghumdan and was once the residence of Abhalah.
It was reportedly destroyed by Caliph Uthman in the 7th century because he feared it could be used as a stronghold for a rebellion, and its materials were used to build the Great Mosque. The palace was rebuilt some time later. The ruins of the palace tower are now in the form of a mound that extends from the east of the Great Mosque to the north of Bab Al-Yemen.
Architecture
The palace tower was built at the top of a hill. There is dispute amongst historians such as Al-HamdaniAl-Hamdani
The name al-Hamdani may refer to:*Abū Muhammad al-Hasan al-Hamdānī , an Arab geographer, historian and astronomer*Abu Firas al-Hamdani , an Arab poet* Ibn al-Faqih al-Hamadani...
, Mohammed Al-Qazwani and Dr. Adnan Tarsis as to the height of the original palace given that because of its grandeur, it was often exaggerated. Most claims are between six and ten storeys. In the early 9th century, it was reported to have been "seven stories tall with the highest room being of polychrome marble, and its roof a single slab of green marble." However, al-Hamadi claims it to have been 20 stories high with each floor being 13 metres (42.7 ft) in height, perhaps referring to the tower of the palace.
Built over a square layout, the four outer faces of the palace were of marble in white, black, green and red. The top floor of the tower contained the Bilqis Hall. This hall was described in the Al-Hamdanis (two volumes, preserved in the British Museum), as featuring a ceiling affixed with an eight-piece transparent marble. The four openings at the four corners of the hall provided a closer view of the moon, worshiped by kings in ancient Yemen. Bronze lion figures at each corner of the alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
ceilings were said to make a roaring sound when the wind passed through them. A gate, known as the “Qasr Al-Selah”, is said to be the last vestige of the palace tower.
In literature
The history of the palace is rich in legends and tales and it is mentioned in many pieces of Arabic poetry with poets singing about its beauty. Legend states that when birds flew over the palace, their shadows could be seen on the ceiling.Dhu Jadan al-Himyari
Dhu Jadan al-Himyari
Dhu Jadan al-Himyari also Dhu Jadan the Himyari was an Arabic poet from Yemen. He was noted in particular for his poems about the fortresses of Yemen and their destruction including Ghumdan Palace, Baynun Fortress and Silhin Fortress .al-Himyari wrote of Ghumdan Palace:Dhu Jadan al-Himyari also...
(fl. 6th - 7th century) wrote:
- You have heard of Ghumdan's towers:
- From the mountain top it lowers
- Well carpentered, with stones for stay,
- Plastered with clean, damp, slippery clay;
- Oil lamps within it show
- At even like the lightening's glow.
- This once-new castle is ashes today
- The flames have eaten its beauty away.
The poet Adiy b. Zayd al-Hiri
Adi ibn Zayd
Adi ibn Zayd was a 6th century Arab Christian poet from a family in al-Hirah. He was married to the granddaughter of Nu'man ibn Mundhir , and is said to have helped Nu'man accede to power as ruler of al-Hirah.-External links:*...
wrote:
- What is there after San'a in which once lived
- Rulers of a kingdom whose gifts were lavish?
- Its builder raised it to the flying clouds,
- Its lofty chambers gave forth musk.
- Protected by mountains against the attacks of enemies,
- Its lofty heights unscalable.
- Pleasant was the voice of the night-owl there,
- Answered at even by a flute player.
Long after its destruction, 10th century geographer al Hamdani (c. 893-945) quoted verses reflecting the legend of the tower of Ghumdan:
- Twenty stories high the palace stood,
- Flirting with the stars and the clouds.
- If Paradise lies over the skies,
- Ghumdan borders on Paradise.