Himyarite Kingdom: Map & History
Himyar was a South Arabian kingdom whose original heartland lay in the southern highlands of present-day Yemen.
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Himyar was a South Arabian kingdom whose original heartland lay in the southern highlands of present-day Yemen. From this core, Himyar expanded at the expense of the other South Arabian kingdoms and, by the late third century CE, had established its supremacy over most of South Arabia, its rulers subsequently extended their authority into parts of the Arabian interior. Until around 110 BCE, Himyar formed part of the Qatabanian kingdom, after which it emerged as an independent kingdom. Its capital was the ancient city of Ẓafār, in the Yemeni highlands. Political power later shifted toward Sanaa, which became the principal center of the kingdom by late antiquity. Himyarite rulers were associated with dhū-Raydān, and their royal titulature initially styled them as kings of Sabaʾ and dhū-Raydān.
Modern Countries Once Part of Himyarite Kingdom
At its mapped extent, Himyarite Kingdom covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Himyarite Kingdom's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Himyarite Kingdom in Depth
History
The Himyarite Kingdom was a confederation of tribes; several inscriptions and monumental buildings from this period survive and show evidence of a wealthy, sophisticated, relatively literate society with a rich variety of local gods and religions. Trade was already well established by the 3rd century AD, with Yemen supplying the Roman Empire with frankincense and myrrh. Furthermore, the late 1st century AD writer Pliny the Elder mentioned that the kingdom was one of "the richest nations in the world". It was a hub of international trade, linking the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India.
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Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Himyar (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Himyarite Kingdom: Key Facts
| Capital | Zafar |
|---|---|
| Religion | Judaism |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 110 BCE |
| Dissolved | 525 CE |
Preceded by
- Himyarite
Facts from Wikidata Q289577 (CC0).
Himyarite Kingdom Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Himyarite Kingdom appears, with the other states of the time.
Himyarite Kingdom Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 334,765 km² in 43 CE.
Himyarite Kingdom: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Himyarite Kingdom exist?
The Himyarite Kingdom is dated to 110 BCE – 601 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Himyarite Kingdom?
The capital of the Himyarite Kingdom was Zafar, Sanaa (from the beginning of the 4th century).
How large was the Himyarite Kingdom at its peak?
At its peak in 43 AD the Himyarite Kingdom covered about 334,765 km².
How did the map of the Himyarite Kingdom change over time?
The Himyarite Kingdom appears on 8 dated world maps in the atlas, from 100 BCE to 600 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.