Saba and Himyar

Himyarite Kingdom (red) in the 3rd century CE.

The "Homerite Kingdom" is described in the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula in the 1st century Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.

Coin of the Himyarite Kingdom, southern coast of the Arabian peninsula, in which stopped ships between Egypt and India passed. This is an imitation of a coin of Augustus. 1st Century CE.

The Himyarite Kingdom or Himyar (in Arabic حِمير), anciently called Homerite Kingdom by the Greeks and the Romans, was a state in ancient South Arabia dating from 110 BCE. It conquered neighbouring Saba in 25 BCE, Qataban in c.200 CE and Hadramaut c.300 CE. Its political fortunes relative to Saba changed frequently until it finally conquered the Sabaean Kingdom around 280 CE.^[1]

History

It was the dominant state in Arabia until 525 CE. The economy was based on agriculture. Foreign trade was based on the export of frankincense and myrrh. For many years it was also the major intermediary linking East Africa and the Mediterranean world. This trade largely consisted of exporting ivory from Africa to be sold in the Roman Empire. Ships from Himyar regularly traveled the East African coast, and the state also exerted a considerable amount of political control of the trading cities of East Africa. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea describes the trading empire of Himyar and its ruler Charibael (Karab Il Watar Yuhan'em II), who is said to have been on friendly terms with Rome:

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Himyarite coin, influenced by coins of Augustus. 1st century CE.

The last sovereign Tubba Himyarite king, (Arabic: ذو نواس Dhu Nuwas) is often considered to have converted to Judaism. His war against the Ethiopian Aksumite Christians in his kingdom, resulted in a famous massacre in Najran. Other Ethiopian and Himyarite Christians at Zafar were massacred. Emperor Justinian informed King Kaleb of the Ethiopian Kingdom of Aksum about Dhu Nuwas's actions, encouraging him to intervene. Around 525, Kaleb invaded Himyar and defeated the Jewish King, but his first viceroy was later removed by Abraha, an Aksumite General. Abraha later recognized Aksum's dominion over him and continued to rule Himyar until 570 CE. A coalition of Yemenis and Persians later replaced Aksumite governance with a Persian one. In 632 CE Himyar was absorbed into the Islamic empire.

The Himyarite language was spoken in the south-western Arabian peninsula until the 10th century.

Rulers of Sheba and Himyar

<tr> <td width="33">2<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Bayin I</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">3<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf I</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">4<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Watar I</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">5<td width="583" valign="top">Yakrib Malek Zarih</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">6<td width="583" valign="top">Yakrib Malek Watar I</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">7<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf II</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">8<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Bayin II</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">9<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Watar II</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">10<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Ab I</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">11<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Bayin III</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">12<td width="583" valign="top">Yakrib Malek Watar II</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">13<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Bayin II</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">14<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar I</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">15<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Ab II</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">16<td width="583" valign="top">Akh Karab</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">17<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Watar</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">18<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Zarih son of 17</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">19<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf III son of 18</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">20<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Watar III son of 18</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">21<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Bayin IV son of 20</td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">22<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Watar I son of 20 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">23<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Zarih I son of 21 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">24<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Watar IV son of Samah Ali Yanuf son of 20 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">25<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Bayin I son of 24 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">26<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf IV son of 24 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">27<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Watar son of 26 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">28<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf V son of 27 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">29<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Bayin III son of 28 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">30<td width="583" valign="top">Yakrib Malek Watar III </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">31<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Yanuf son of 30 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="33"> </td> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="583"> Kings of Saba'</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">32<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar II son of 31 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">33<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Zarih son of 32 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">34<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar III son of 33 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">35<td width="583" valign="top">Il Sharih I son of 33 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">36<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Bayin V son of 34 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">37<td width="583" valign="top">Yakrib Malek Watar IV son of 36 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">38<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Bayin IV son of 37 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">39<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar IV son of 38 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">40<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Bayin VI son of 39 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">41<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf VI son of 39 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">42<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Watar V son of 39 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">43<td width="583" valign="top">Il Sharih II son of 41 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">44<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Bayin I son of 41 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">45<td width="583" valign="top">Yada' Il Watar II son of 44 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">46<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Bayin II son of 45 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">47<td width="583" valign="top">Samah Ali Yanuf VII son of 46 </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">48<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar V son of 46? </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">49<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Yuhan'em son of Ham Athat </td></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">50<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar VI son of 49 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">51<td width="583" valign="top">Wahab Shamsam son of Halik Amar </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">52<td width="583" valign="top">Wahab Il Yahiz I son of Saraw </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">53<td width="583" valign="top">Anmar Yuha'man I son of 52 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">54<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Zarih II son of 53 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">55<td width="583" valign="top">Nasha Karab Yuha'man son of 54 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">56<td width="583" valign="top">Wahab Il Yahiz II </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">57<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Bayin III </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">58<td width="583" valign="top">Anmar Yuha'man II son of 56 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">59<td width="583" valign="top">Yasir Yuhan'em I </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">60<td width="583" valign="top">Shamir Yuhar'esh I son of 59 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">61<td width="583" valign="top">Yarim Aymin son of Awsalat Rafshan </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">62<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar Yuhan'em I son of 56 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">63<td width="583" valign="top">Alhan Nahfan son of 61 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">64<td width="583" valign="top">Far'am Yanhab </td></td> <tr> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="33"> </td> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="583"> Kings of Saba' & Ziridan [1st Himyarite Kingdom]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">65<td width="583" valign="top">Sha'ram Awtar son of 63 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">66<td width="583" valign="top">Il Sharih Yahzib son of 64 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">67<td width="583" valign="top">Yazil Bayin son of 64 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">68<td width="583" valign="top">Hayu Athtar Yazi' son of 65? </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">69<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar Yuhan'em II son of 57 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">70<td width="583" valign="top">Watar Yuha'min son of 66 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">71<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Zarih III son of 69 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">72<td width="583" valign="top">Nasha Karab Yuha'min Yuharhib son of 66 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">73<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Bayin II son of 71 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">74<td width="583" valign="top">Yasir Yuhasdiq </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">75<td width="583" valign="top">Sa'd Shams Asri' son of 66 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">76<td width="583" valign="top">Murthid Yuhahmid son of 75 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">77<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Yahbir I son of 74 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">78<td width="583" valign="top">Tharin Ya'ib Yuhan'im son of 77 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">79<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Yahbir II son of 78 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">80<td width="583" valign="top">Shamdar Yuhan'im </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">81<td width="583" valign="top">Amdan Bayin Yuhaqbiz </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">82<td width="583" valign="top">Hutar Athat Yafish </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">83<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Athat Yuhaqbiz </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">84<td width="583" valign="top">Shahar Aymin </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">85<td width="583" valign="top">Rab Shams Namran </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">86<td width="583" valign="top">Il Ez Nawfan Yuhasdiq </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">87<td width="583" valign="top">Sa'd Um Namran </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">88<td width="583" valign="top">Yasir Yuhan'em II </td></td> <tr> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="33"> </td> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="583"> Kings of Saba' & Ziridan & Hazarmut & Yamnit [2nd Himyarite Kingdom]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33">89<td width="583" valign="top">Shamir Yuhar'esh II son of 88 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">90<td width="583" valign="top">Yarim Yuharhib son of 89 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">91<td width="583" valign="top">Yasir Yuhan'im III son of 89 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">92<td width="583" valign="top">Tharin Ayfi' son of 91 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">93<td width="583" valign="top">Zari' Amar Aymin I son of 91 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">94<td width="583" valign="top">Karab Il Watar Yuhan'em III </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">95<td width="583" valign="top">Tharin Yakrib son of 89 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">96<td width="583" valign="top">Zamir Ali Yahbir III son of 95 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">97<td width="583" valign="top">Tharin Yuhan'im son of 96 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">98<td width="583" valign="top">Malki Karab Yuha'min son of 97 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">99<td width="583" valign="top">Zari' Amar Aymin II son of 98 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">100<td width="583" valign="top">Ab Karab As'id son of 98 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">101<td width="583" valign="top">Hasan Yuha'min son of 100 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">102<td width="583" valign="top">Sharhib Il Ya'fir son of 100 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">103<td width="583" valign="top">Sharhib Il Yakif </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">104<td width="583" valign="top">Mu'di Karab Yan'im son of 103 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">105<td width="583" valign="top">Luhay'ath Yanuf son of 103 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">106<td width="583" valign="top">Nawfim son of 103 </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">107<td width="583" valign="top">Murthid Alan Yanuf </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">108<td width="583" valign="top">Mu'di Karab Ya'fir </td></td> <tr> <td width="33">109<td width="583" valign="top">Yusif Asar </td></td> </tr> </table>

Notes

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References

Bafaqīh, M. ‛A., L'unification du Yémen antique. La lutte entre Saba’, Himyar et le Hadramawt de Ier au IIIème siècle de l'ère chrétienne. Paris, 1990 (Bibliothèque de Raydan, 1).

External links

[1]

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↑ See, e.g., Bafaqih 1990.

</td> <th style="background:#efefef;" width="583"> Mukribs of Saba'</td> <tr> <td width="33">1<td width="583" valign="top">Yatha' Amar Bayin I</td></td>

[1] See, e.g., Bafaqih 1990.

[1]