Page 75 - Perished Nations
P. 75
THE PEOPLE OF 'AD
Iraq Iran
Saudi
Arabia Oman
'Ad
Yemen
The remains of the city of Ubar, where 'Ad lived, were found somewhere
near to the coasts of Oman
Felix was the Roman designation for the southern part of the Arabian
Peninsula which today includes Yemen and much of Oman. The Greeks
called this area "Eudaimon Arabia" and medieval Arab scholars called it "Al-
Yaman as-Saida". 20
All of these names mean "Happy Yemen", because the people living in
that region in ancient times were known to be the most prosperous peo-
ple of their time. Well, what was the reason for such a designation?
Their good fortune was in part due to their strategic location - serving
as middlemen in the spice trade between India and places north of the
Arabian Peninsula. Besides, the people living in this region produced and
distributed frankincense, an aromatic resin from rare trees. Being highly
favoured by the ancient communities, in those times, the resin was at least
as valuable as gold.
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