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Kings, Queens and Courts: Ancient Arabia

A ten‑minute tour of the great South‑Arabian kingdoms and the Nabataean trade empire, revealing their rulers, palaces and royal symbols.

Chapters

• 0:07 Southern Kingdoms: Saba and Himyar
• 2:10 Northern Trade: Nabataea and Lihyan
• 4:13 Royal Regalia and Symbols
• 5:58 Queens and Courtly Power

On-screen text

• 0:07 Southern Kingdoms: Saba and Himyar
• 0:14 Southern Kingdoms: Saba and Himyar
• 0:31 King Karab El Watar I builds Marib Dam Historical record · Sabaean inscription, Marib Dam, National Museum of Yemen
• 0:49 Golden crown of the Sabaean king The Institute's interpretation · Awwam Temple inscription, National Museum of Yemen
• 1:07 Strabo’s account of the Marib palace Historical record · Strabo, Geographica, Book 16.2
• 1:25 Silver scepter of King Yatha'amar Historical record · Yatha'amar inscription, Marib, Yemen
• 1:43 Himyarite control of Aden Historical record · Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 7
• 2:01 Bronze‑door palace at Zafar Historical record · Zafar inscription, Himyarite Royal Palace, Yemen
• 2:10 Northern Trade: Nabataea and Lihyan
• 2:17 Northern Trade: Nabataea and Lihyan
• 2:34 Cassius Dio on Aretas IV Historical record · Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book 55.20
• 2:52 Royal motifs on Petra façade The Institute's interpretation · Petra Treasury façade, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 3:10 Bronze lion as royal emblem The Institute's interpretation · Petra Bronze Lion, Louvre Museum
• 3:28 King ʿAbd al‑Malik of Lihyan Historical record · Dedan inscription, Lihyanite Royal Stela, Saudi Arabia Antiquities Authority
• 3:46 Columned hall of Dedan palace Historical record · Excavation report, Dedan, Saudi Arabia, 1975, Al‑Ansari
• 4:04 Qedarite tribute to Assyria Historical record · Sennacherib's Annals, British Museum, BM 124539
• 4:13 Royal Regalia and Symbols
• 4:20 Royal Regalia and Symbols
• 4:37 Golden crown of the Sabaean king The Institute's interpretation · Awwam Temple inscription, National Museum of Yemen
• 4:55 Silver scepter of King Yatha'amar Historical record · Yatha'amar inscription, Marib, Yemen
• 5:13 Bronze lion as royal emblem The Institute's interpretation · Petra Bronze Lion, Louvre Museum
• 5:31 Queen Shams al‑Muluk of Qataban Historical record · Qatabanian inscription, Temple of Athtar, Shabwah, Yemen
• 5:49 Cassius Dio on Aretas IV Historical record · Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book 55.20
• 5:58 Queens and Courtly Power
• 6:05 Queens and Courtly Power
• 6:22 Queen Shams al‑Muluk of Qataban Historical record · Qatabanian inscription, Temple of Athtar, Shabwah, Yemen
• 6:40 Queen of Sheba’s legendary visit Tradition / scripture · 1 Kings 10; Qur'an 27
• 6:58 King ʿAbd al‑Malik of Lihyan Historical record · Dedan inscription, Lihyanite Royal Stela, Saudi Arabia Antiquities Authority
• 7:16 Qedarite tribute to Assyria Historical record · Sennacherib's Annals, British Museum, BM 124539

Sources

Historical record: Sabaean inscription, Marib Dam, National Museum of Yemen · Strabo, Geographica, Book 16.2 · Yatha'amar inscription, Marib, Yemen · Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, Chapter 7 · Zafar inscription, Himyarite Royal Palace, Yemen · Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book 55.20 · Dedan inscription, Lihyanite Royal Stela, Saudi Arabia Antiquities Authority · Excavation report, Dedan, Saudi Arabia, 1975, Al‑Ansari · Sennacherib's Annals, British Museum, BM 124539 · Qatabanian inscription, Temple of Athtar, Shabwah, Yemen

Tradition / scripture: 1 Kings 10; Qur'an 27

The Institute's interpretation: Awwam Temple inscription, National Museum of Yemen · Petra Treasury façade, UNESCO World Heritage Site · Petra Bronze Lion, Louvre Museum

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 258 s of CPU.