Ma'rib
Encyclopedia
Ma'rib or Marib is the capital town of the Ma'rib Governorate
, Yemen
and was the capital of the Sabaean kingdom, which some scholars believe to be the ancient Sheba
of biblical fame.
. It has a current population of 16,794.
. The Sabaean kings made their capital at Ma'rib, and built great irrigation works such as the Ma'rib dams
, whose ruins are still visible. The Marib Dam supported a flourishing culture for more than a thousand years; its collapse in 575 C.E., a few years after the birth of Muhammad, may be one of the main reasons that Arabia did not become Christian. They also built castles and temples in the area, and were known for trading the valuable frankincense
and myrrh
. They were a seafaring people and known to have influence and a population in the Northeast African kingdom of Dʿmt, across the Red Sea
in Eritrea
and perhaps Ethiopia
, the only other source of both frankincense and myrrh.
In 25 B.C., Aelius Gallus
led "an expedition to Ma'rib (Yemen)."
The site of Ancient Ma'rib was largely abandoned during the 20th century. Although a small village remains, the multi-story mud-brick buildings of the historic city are largely in ruins. The modern city of Ma'rib is located about 3.5 kilometers north of the center of the ancient city.
in Ma'rib in 1986, which produces 10000 barrels (1,589.9 m³) of oil per day (2009). In November 2009, the company announced an agreement with Korea's Shinhan to expand and upgrade the refinery to produce 25000 barrels (3,974.7 m³)/day.
Ma'rib is the start of the 438 km (272.2 mi) Marib-Ra's Isa oil pipeline, with a capacity of 200000 barrels (31,797.5 m³) per day.
Ma'rib Governorate
Ma'rib is a governorate of Yemen. Its centre, Ma'rib, was established after the discovery of oil deposits in 1984. Ma'rib's population in 2004 was 241,619.-Districts:*Al Abdiyah District*Al Jubah District*Bidbadah District*Harib District...
, 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....
and was the capital of the Sabaean kingdom, which some scholars believe to be the ancient Sheba
Sheba
Sheba was a kingdom mentioned in the Jewish scriptures and the Qur'an...
of biblical fame.
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:...
. It has a current population of 16,794.
History
The Sabaean kingdom was located in what is now Marib in southwestern YemenYemen
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....
. The Sabaean kings made their capital at Ma'rib, and built great irrigation works such as the Ma'rib dams
Marib Dam
The Marib or Ma'rib or Ma'arib Dam blocks the Wadi Adhanah in the valley of Dhana in the Balaq Hills, Yemen. The current dam is close to the ruins of the Great Dam of Marib, dating from around the eighth century BC...
, whose ruins are still visible. The Marib Dam supported a flourishing culture for more than a thousand years; its collapse in 575 C.E., a few years after the birth of Muhammad, may be one of the main reasons that Arabia did not become Christian. They also built castles and temples in the area, and were known for trading the valuable frankincense
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
and myrrh
Myrrh
Myrrh is the aromatic oleoresin of a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora, which grow in dry, stony soil. An oleoresin is a natural blend of an essential oil and a resin. Myrrh resin is a natural gum....
. They were a seafaring people and known to have influence and a population in the Northeast African kingdom of Dʿmt, across the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and perhaps Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, the only other source of both frankincense and myrrh.
In 25 B.C., Aelius Gallus
Aelius Gallus
Gaius Aelius Gallus was a Roman prefect of Egypt from 26 - 24 BC. He is primarily known for a disastrous expedition he undertook to Arabia Felix under orders of Augustus.-Life:...
led "an expedition to Ma'rib (Yemen)."
The site of Ancient Ma'rib was largely abandoned during the 20th century. Although a small village remains, the multi-story mud-brick buildings of the historic city are largely in ruins. The modern city of Ma'rib is located about 3.5 kilometers north of the center of the ancient city.
Oil Refinery
The Yemen Oil Refining Company opened an oil refineryOil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
in Ma'rib in 1986, which produces 10000 barrels (1,589.9 m³) of oil per day (2009). In November 2009, the company announced an agreement with Korea's Shinhan to expand and upgrade the refinery to produce 25000 barrels (3,974.7 m³)/day.
Ma'rib is the start of the 438 km (272.2 mi) Marib-Ra's Isa oil pipeline, with a capacity of 200000 barrels (31,797.5 m³) per day.