Ghumdan Palace

The Ghumdan Palace, also known as Qasir Ghumdan or Ghamdan Palace is an ancient palace and fortress at the same time in Sana'a in Yemen. It is located west of the Great Mosque of Sana'a, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage area in the old city of Sana'a.

The palace could have come from pre-Islamic times and have been built by the Sabaeans in the middle of the 3rd century AD under the reign of the last great Sabaean king Ilsharah Yahdub; other historians date the beginning of construction on the 2nd or even the 1st century AD The palace was destroyed by Caliph Uthman, or perhaps earlier by the Abyssinian conquerors Abrahah Al- Hubashi. He has been renovated several times and found their way into Arabic folk tales. The palace is also mentioned in the Arabic poetry, the poet often describe its beauty. The Palace Tower is regarded by some as the first skyscraper in the world.

The history of the palace is rich in legends and stories.

History

Although the old palace lies in ruins today, he is the prototype for the typical tower-like houses in the old city of Sana'a.

In the palace residence of the last Himyarite kings who had ruled Yemen from Ghumdan from. According to reports, it was destroyed by Caliph Uthman in the 7th century, as he feared, the palace could serve any rebels retreat. Materials of the palace were used for the construction of the Great Mosque. The palace but was rebuilt shortly afterwards. The ruins of the palace today form a mound, which stretches as far east of the Great Mosque to the Bab Al- Yemen.

Architecture

The palace - tower was built on a hilltop. There is disagreement about the original height of the building. Most up to ten floors is assumed six. In the early 9th century, a report says, the building was " seven stories high " have been, " the highest space covered with polychrome marble and the roof of a single chunk of greenish marble. "

The palace had a square plan. The four outer walls of the palace were made ​​of white, black, green and red marble. The top floor of the tower contained the Bilqis hall. This hall has been described in the Al- Hamdani: The four holes on the four corners of the hall granted a good look at the moon, which was worshiped by the kings of ancient Yemen. Bronze lion at each corner of alabaster ceiling should have been a roaring noise, when wind through she stroked him. A gate, known as " Qasr Al- Selah " is intended to represent the last remnant of this tower.