Ma’rib Ancient Historical Old City, Archaeological site in Marib, Yemen
The ancient city ruins include stone structures, defensive walls, and architectural elements spread across a desert landscape near the Rub al-Khali desert.
The settlement functioned as the capital of the Sabaean kingdom from 950 BCE to 115 BCE, controlling major trade routes for frankincense and myrrh.
The remnants of temples, palaces, and the Great Dam demonstrate the engineering capabilities and technological advancements of the Sabaean civilization.
Visitors need special permits and guide arrangements to access the archaeological site, which contains multiple excavation areas and structural remains.
The site features numerous stone inscriptions in the ancient Sabaean language, providing direct documentation of the kingdom's administration and social practices.
Location: Marib
GPS coordinates: 15.42719,45.33626
Latest update: March 6, 2025 13:58
Yemen offers photographers subjects ranging from the ancient mud architecture of Sanaa to volcanic craters and the geological formations of Socotra. The Old City of Sanaa presents multi-story tower houses decorated with white gypsum patterns, while Shibam in Hadhramaut displays mud-brick high-rises dating from the 16th century. The fortress of Kawkaban sits atop a high plateau, the village of Hababah demonstrates traditional mountain architecture, and Shaharah Bridge connects two mountain peaks at an elevation exceeding 8,500 feet (2,600 meters). Socotra features Detwah Lagoon, dragon blood trees and limestone caves within its distinct ecosystem. The crater of Haradha Damt is an extinct volcano near Damt, the Marib Dam represents Sabaean engineering from antiquity, and the ruins of Arsh Balqis mark an ancient temple site. Wadi Dawan cuts through Hadhramaut with palm groves and mud villages, Jabal al-Nabi Shu'ayb reaches 12,028 feet (3,666 meters) as the highest peak on the Arabian Peninsula, and Zabid preserves its role as a historic center of Islamic scholarship. Sira Fortress in Aden occupies a volcanic rock above the harbor, Dar al-Hajar in Wadi Dhahr is an 18th-century palace built on a rock outcrop, and Al Saleh Mosque in Sanaa dates from 2008.
Marib Dam
10.5 km
Barran Temple
2.8 km
Ghumdan Palace
120.7 km
Dar al-Hajar
130 km
Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb
146.7 km
Al Saleh Mosque
121.7 km
Great Mosque of Sana'a
120.6 km
Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba
2.8 km
Shaharah Bridge
193.9 km
Yemen Gate
120.5 km
Queen Arwa Mosque
211 km
Sanctuary of the Queen of Sheba
3.3 km
Sirwah
34.2 km
National Museum of Yemen
121.6 km
Palace of Queen Arwa
210.7 km
Al-Bakiriyya Mosque
120.6 km
Shibam-Kawkaban
153.9 km
Al-Mahdi Mosque
121.2 km
Yemen Military Museum
121.7 km
Kaminahu
109.4 km
Talha Mosque
120.9 km
Salah al-Din Mosque
120.9 km
Ancient Dam of Ma’rib
8 km
Archaeological site of Marib
1.2 km
Almaqah Temple
34.2 km
Wādī Itima
188.6 km
Haradha
165 km
Bab Al-Yaman market
120.8 kmReviews
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