Sensational exploration in Yemen

Canadian archaeologists have found a temple and many interesting items which they take are from the Queen of Sabah`s empire. This excavation goes on in the northern Yemen. The archaeologists compare this temple with finds in Pompeii, the Pyramids in Giza and Acropolis in Athena (Aftenposten).

The temple is half buried under sand in the desert east for Yemen's capital Sanaa. The locals called the remains from the temple, Mahram Bilqis, which means the Temple of Moon God. The temple contains chambers with indispensable documents and items from the year 1200 before and 550-year after Christ. It was probably the remains from the epoch when the Queen of Sabah visited the old wise king Salomo in Jerusalem. This story is known through the Old Testament in the bible.

The excavation started first in 1951 after the temple was found. The avdead American archaeologist Wendell Phillips was in charge of the work this time, but the work stopped because of political instability. In 1998 the work started again. The expedition receives financial help from an American Organisation.

The person who is in charge of the excavation now is Professor Bill Glanzman. He hopes that this temple can be an "eight wonder of the world" and predicts that it will be a tourist magnet of international dimensions in the future. It depends on much of the local tribes there. They claim that everything in the area belongs to them. The Government in the country has at the moment no control over the tribes in this region, so it shall be interesting to see whether the temple remains will be available for others.

Archaeologists believe that the remains are from what they call the civilisation of Sabah. Sabah was a big empire in southern Arabia, which came under Persian control, and with the following extension of Islam this empire lost its own identity.

The exploration here has the same importance as the remains in Pompeii, the Pyramids in Giza in Egypt and Acropolis in Athens. It is impossible to say how valuable this exploration is before the excavation is finished in about 15 years, says the Canadian Bill Glanzman. As you can see; there are still exciting places and wonders to experience in the future.

Stein Morten Lund, 15 September 2000