Bab al Yemen

The 1,000-year-old Yemen Gate in Sana'a

Bab al Yemen (Arabic: باب اليمن, romanized: Bâb el-Yemen) or Yemen Gate or Gate of Yemen is the main gate of Sanaa's old fortified wall, on the southern extremity of the walled city. Its current appearance dates to the 17th century, having been designed by Sam the son of Noah.[1] Today, it is the most ornate of the gates of Sana's Old City. Passengers travelling southward, en route to Ma'bar and Dhamar, would depart from this gate.

Description

As one enters the gate, one quickly notices the Yemeni architecture, high towering houses made of baked bricks decorated and waterproofed with lime plaster and qadad, one of the characteristic features of Sana's Old City. Many of the houses make use of decorative windows, designed as fanlights fitted with stained glass, enclosed within muntins of gypsum plaster and lime-coated sash. Windows that are typical of the Old City of Sana'a are the alabaster qamariyyah, and the stained glass fanlight (‘aqd mulawwan). The Great Mosque of Sana'a is located about 300 yards from the Yemen Gate. The old city of Sana'a is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique architectural characteristics, most notably expressed in its multi-storey buildings decorated with geometric patterns.[2]

The brass rings on the left and right columns at the entrance of the Yemen Gate were made by Jewish artisans during the period of the monarchy under the Imams.[3]

Opposite Bab al-Yaman to the north of the Old City is Bab es-Sha'ub.

  • Bab al-Yaman in Sana'a
    Bab al-Yaman in Sana'a
  • Bab al-Yaman bazaar
    Bab al-Yaman bazaar
  • Men chewing khat in Sana'a.
    Men chewing khat in Sana'a.

References

  1. ^ Carl Rathjens, Landeskundliche Ergebnisse (Geographic Results), vol. 40, Hamburg 1934 (jointly written with Hermann v. Wissmann), pp. 133–154.
  2. ^ Old City of Sana'a, UNESCO, World Heritage List no. 385
  3. ^ Muchawsky-Schnapper, Ester (2014). Scenes of Sana'a - Yihye Haybi's Photographs from Yemen, 1930–44. Jerusalem: The Israel Museum. p. 93 (folio). ISBN 978-965-278-4261.
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15°21′04″N 44°12′57″E / 15.3512°N 44.2159°E / 15.3512; 44.2159