Sana'a: The General Authority for Antiquities and Museums has released the 20th issue of the peer-reviewed Ridan Journal, featuring a collection of archaeological studies and research on historical inscriptions.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Authority's Chairman, Abbad Al-Hayal, explained in the editorial that the Authority continues to collect and study sources of ancient Yemeni history, with particular focus on inscriptions written in the Musnad and Zabur scripts. This issue includes the completion of two extensive files dedicated to specific regions: the first file focuses on Mahram Bilqis in Marib, while the second covers the archaeological cities of Al-Jawf (Al-Sawda, Al-Bayda, Kharbat Hamdan, Kamna, Ma'in, and Baraqish).
Al-Hayal highlighted that each file took an entire year to complete, involving the reading and study of Musnad and Zabur inscriptions to provide readers with valuable insights into the political history of ancient Yemenis, as well as their social life, beliefs, laws, and economy. He added that these files contain material useful to critical historians and scholarly researchers.
The Chairman also mentioned that this issue includes an extensive study by Dr. Suleiman Al-Dhaib and his colleague Al-Mas'ud (from Qira'at Journal, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, 1446 AH), focusing on Sabaean inscriptions in the city of Al-'Ula (ancient Dedan) in northern Hijaz-a city once governed by ancient Yemenis. The researchers listed numerous names, mostly of individuals and peoples, found in the inscriptions, claiming that many were recorded for the first time. Al-Hayal clarified, however, that some of these names had already appeared in previously published inscriptions from Mahram Bilqis and the cities of Al-Jawf.
The issue also discusses the story behind the old Arabic proverb 'Jannat 'ala nafsih Baraqish' ('Baraqish brought ruin upon itself'), which relates to the people of Hisn and their dog named Baraqish. When the town was besieged, they hid in an underground chamber, but the dog barked and revealed their location, leading to their destruction.
Al-Hayal continued: 'As for the city of Baraqish, the Arabs caused destruction there, as they did in the other cities of Al-Jawf centuries before the birth of Christ. Twenty-five years before Christ, the Romans invaded and destroyed it on their way to conquer Marib, though they were eventually repelled from its walls. Baraqish then remained silent for centuries until modern times, when Arab tribes invaded Yemen, causing destruction and killing. Even Baraqish did not escape-they bombed an ancient temple there, which archaeologists considered one of the oldest in the Near East.'
He added: 'I had hoped to find inscriptions in or around Baraqish mentioning what happened to its people during these invasions, but we found none. However, Baraqish did have inscriptions depicting the lives, beliefs, temples, and urban planning of its inhabitants. We studied these inscriptions and are presenting them to readers, allowing Baraqish to tell its own story.'