Ghumdan Palace, Ancient palace ruins in Old Sana'a, Yemen
Ghumdan Palace was a twenty-story building made of granite, marble, and local stone erected in the Himyarite Kingdom. The remains of the palace complex now lie beneath the Military Museum in the Old City of Sanaa.
The building arose in the third century after Christ as a royal residence and administrative center of the Himyar realm. Later it was destroyed, and parts of its gates ended up in the Great Mosque.
The old gates now visible in the Great Mosque of Sanaa carry inscriptions in the Musnad script of South Arabia. These characters offer a glimpse into the pre-Islamic era of the region.
The archaeological traces lie beneath the Military Museum in the Old City, so direct access to the excavation site is not always possible. Those wishing to see relics from this period can view the reused gates at the nearby Great Mosque.
Each floor of the original structure measured ten cubits in height, with the king's council chamber positioned at the very top. This arrangement allowed rulers a wide view over the city and its surroundings.
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