Al Jowf Governorate

 

The Provincial center is called Hazm Al-Jowf 140km to the north-east of Sana’a and situated within the geographical sphere historically known as the East of Yemen Apart from Jabal Allaudah and a few other mountains on the western side most of Al-Jowf is either desert semi-arid or fertile plains which use the water of wadi for irrigation, the most important being Wadi Al-Kharid approximately 60km long and 30 km wide with vast fruit farms along the banks and it is historically known as Jowf Valley.

 

Maeen Stae “ ahistorical abstract”

It is one of the ancient Yemeni States which flourished during the first era of ancient Yemen in AlJowf valley at the east of Yemen and was one of the political entities near to the Sabaen mother State in Southern Arabia rotating in its orbit or secluding itself and at times becomes an ally of Hadhramawt and Qataban against it. It was able to get rid of Sheba Hegemony to become an independent state in the 4^th century A. Under the leadership of Yathil City Al jowf Cities controlled the Caravan Route of Ollibanum in alliance with Hadhramwat and Qataban. From Qarnau the Capital of the Mainites and its biggest city the Mainites moved to to the north and widened their influence and established stations on the Ollbanum route and built settlements like Al Fao on one of the Caravan routes between Najran and Bahrain and Didan between Yathrib and Petra. The Mainites became famous all over the ancient world and the Ollibanum was called after them.

The Mainite Civilization was not less than that of Sheba in its puissance for it established temples in many towns of Al jowf and was characterized for its special Mainite architecture style. The arts of drawing and engraving developed to a great extent. Like other ancient Yemenite states the Mainites Wrote in Musnad and spoke the same language of southern Arabia. The Godess was referred two in symbols or animal characters and their religion was like that of the Sabneans,hazrramyitees and Qatabanites of astrological nature. The temple was the house of the goddess and in its name the land is rented like Mukarrib the mizawad joint the two authorities the religious and the political and the political systems were identical between ancient Yemenite states as well as the similarity of economic and social circumstances for the Mainites had to take care of providing food and thus they built dams, channel and took care of agriculture and organized its affairs but they disregarded this aspect during the second and first centuries B.C. depending on the returns of commerce and before the last century B. C. the Ptolmains have discovered the secret of the Mainites which they kept for centuries and their ships gradually started to sail in the Indian Ocean and the red sea Carrying the Lazuli, Silk, Ivory, Cardamom and Gold and thus the ancient Kingdoms capitals became including those of the Mainites like the other caravan towns like Petra and Palmyra in the north of the Arabian Peninsula incapable of resisting the nomadic invasions after having lost their substance source and their camels were secluded between land stations.

Thus the Mainite town surrounded to the Sabeans during the first century B.C. and there are many historical signs left by the Mainites, represented in relics of town , Dams and temples across Al Jowf Province which is the richest Yemenite region in archaeology and most of them are still covered of which are :

 

Qarnau (Capital of Ma’een Dynasty)                         

Qarnau was situated to the east of Al –Hazm district, by 7,5km over a Sandy hill 15m in height. It was rectangular in shape, 350m long and 240m wide encircled by 15m of high stone wall with watch towers and spear Shooting orifices built within.

The city used to have two gates in the west and east of wall. It was the largest city in Ma’een. The most important surviving features are: parts of the wall, towers, gates and the temple but today there is nothing more than ruins most of which are buried underground Ma’een city remained inhabited until the 12th century AD Remains of towns and the trade route can still be found such as Nashin, Haram (presently Kharabet Hamdan), Kharabet Al –Ali as well as many archaeological sites believed to have been rest stations for caravans along the incense route.namly: Zaghna, Qara, Jabal Allaudh. All these archaeological sites are waiting to be excavated to reveal more the history of the Ma’aen Dynasty. The most significant site where archaeological work has taken places it.

 

BANAT A’AD TEMPLE

Historically known as Athtar Temple or Ethtar (flower) and known to the Arabs as the morning star’. This temple was uncovered by a joint French –Yemeni archaeological expedition “1980. The temple is located 700kmeters to the east of the ruins of Nashn Al-Sawda’a city. The temple was found in a much better condition than many other Yemeni temples and is ornamented with the most precise forms of rt. The temple is 15.5m long and 14.10m wide consisting of a fence, vault and courtyard with halls built around. The temple has a grand gate, polished stone corridor and two verandahs. It is partially roofed with its walls and pillars decorated with grooved drawing s representing plants, snakes, ostriches and female forms. It is because of these paintings that the residents of Al- Jowf “Banat A’ad temple”- meaning the daughtrers of A’ad, named the temple.

The Mainite Ruins are not in these areas only but there are many archaeological site located at present within Marib Governorate like Barakish, and the ruins in Wadi Allisan, Dorob Asssabi and Al ahqaf.

Nomadic life-style dominates some parts of Al- Jowf Governorate as well as the Governorates in the east of Yemen such as Marib Shabwa, Hadhramout and Mahara.

 

Barat and Souq Al-Anan

This area is accessible from Al-Harf area through a 65km long unpaved road and is situated to the northeast of Booth it is mountainous and hilly with a wadi, which connects with the plains. The lifestyle of the inhabitants is predominantly nomadic. Some of the villages boast a wonderful architectural style. Outstanding are the villages of Al- Marashi, Rajouza and Souq Al-Anan. The houses of Souq Al- Anan are colorfully decorated on the outside, with ornamental decorations around the windows as well as white gypsum motifs.

 

The Most Prominent Mountains in “Al Jowf

Allaudh Mountain located to the east of Al Jowf and has ancient archaeological sites and at its foot there is a temple and the path to the top is still existent.

 

Beret Mountain:

It is a high mountain far flung on which there are valleys, where fruits, figs and vineyards grow and from the north overlooks Najran while to the east overlooks Khab and the Empty Quarter.

-       Al Rayyan Mountain: It is a big mountain on the north East of Al Jowf.

-       Al boras Mountain: located between Raghwan and Marib and is merely consisting of plateaus known as “ Jabal Al Borqan.