Ghumdan Palace, also Qasir Ghumdan or Ghamdan Palace, is an ancient palace and fortress in Sana'a, Yemen. It is the earliest known castle in the world.[1] All that remains of the ancient site (Ar. khadd) of Ghumdan is a field of tangled ruins opposite the first and second of the eastern doors of the Jami‘ Al Kabeer Mosque (Great Mosque of Sana'a). This part of Sana'a forms an eminence which is known to contain the debris of ancient times. The place is located on the extreme southeastern end of Sana'a's old walled city, al-Qaṣr, just west of where the Great Mosque of Sana'a was later built,[2][3] and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City of Sana'a. It is sometimes referred to as Ghumdan Tower.
According to Arab geographer and historian, Al-Hamdani (c. 893-945), the foundation stones of Ghumdan Palace were laid by Shem, the son of Noah, and finished by the Sabaean monarch Ilī-Sharḥa Yaḥḍib (ca. 8th century BCE), the father of Bilqis.[4] Others say that it was built by Sha'r Awtar who walled the city of Sana'a,[5] while yet others suggest that it may date to pre-Islamic times, constructed by the Sabaeans during the reign of the last great Sabaean King El Sharih Yahdhib (ca. 60-20 BCE). Some historians date it to the beginning of the 2nd century or the 1st century.[6][7] The palace was destroyed by Caliph Uthman, or even earlier, by Kaleb. Restored several times, the palace history is represented in numerous legends and tales. It is mentioned in many pieces of Arabic poetry, the poets singing about its beauty.[8] Ghumdan Palace tower, a 20-storey high-rise building, is believed by some to have been the world's earliest skyscraper.[9]
^"First castle". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
^McLaughlin, Daniel (12 February 2008). Yemen: the Bradt travel guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-84162-212-5. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
^R. Serjeant & R. Lewcock, San'a'; An Arabian Islamic City, London 1983
^Al-Hamdāni, al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad, The Antiquities of South Arabia - The Eighth Book of Al-Iklīl, Oxford University Press 1938, pp. 8-9; 18–21
^Aithe, p.30.
^Aithie, Charles; Aithie, Patricia (2001). Yemen: jewel of Arabia. Stacey International. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-900988-15-5. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
^Han, Carolyn (2005). From the land of Sheba: Yemení folk tales. Interlink Books. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-56656-571-4. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
^Al-Alaya, Zaid (1 October 2005). "The Ancient & Mysterious Palace of Ghamdan". Culture & Society. Yemen Observer. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
^Encyclopedia Americana. Americana Corp. 1966. p. 119. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
GhumdanPalace, also Qasir Ghumdan or Ghamdan Palace, is an ancient palace and fortress in Sana'a, Yemen. It is the earliest known castle in the world...
Sabaeans under their ruler Sha'r Awtar, who also arguably built the GhumdanPalace in the city. Because of its location, Sanaa has served as an urban hub...
mosque was reportedly built in part from spolia from the Himyarite-era GhumdanPalace and from the Axumite Christian Church of al-Qalis that formerly occupied...
although this is uncertain and may have been construction work at Ghumdanpalace. It is dated to 559/60, making it the last known dated Himyarite text...
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Museum Palaces Castles Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi GhumdanPalacePalace of Queen...
city reached its apogee during this period and had a larger number of palaces, gardens, and religious institutions than any other city in Yemen. Al-Khazraji...
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evidence indicate that large and richly-decorated palaces existed in several cities, such as the GhumdanPalace in Sanaa. Most of these structures have not...
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Museum Palaces Castles Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi GhumdanPalacePalace of Queen...
pieces. Sana'a came into prominence during his reign, as he built the GhumdanPalace as his place of residence. The Himyarite annexed Sana'a from Hamdan...
century AD. Within the walls of the city are the remains of: the royal palace named Shugair the temple of goddess Sian Dhu Aleen Middle East Shabwa Museum...
Museum Palaces Castles Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi GhumdanPalacePalace of Queen...
The Palace of Queen Arwa (Arabic: قَصْر ٱلْمَلِكَة ٱلْحُرَّة, lit. 'Palace of the Noble Queen') was the residence of the Yemeni Queen Arwa al-Sulayhi,...
Museum Palaces Castles Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi GhumdanPalacePalace of Queen...
Museum Palaces Castles Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi GhumdanPalacePalace of Queen...
Museum Palaces Castles Aljabowbi Castle Cairo Castle Dar al-Bashair Dar al-Hajar Dar al-Shukr Dar as-Sa'd Fort Al-Ghwayzi GhumdanPalacePalace of Queen...
Tower (popularly known as Big Ben), the famous clock tower attached to the Palace of Westminster in London. The clock was shut down for renovation about a...
According to written historical accounts by al-Hamadani and Yaqut, the GhumdanPalace in San'a' also had large brass statues of lions that emitted the sound...
services in the building's construction. Situated close the presidential palace, the mosque is set within Al-Sabeen Square, which is the country's largest...
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