Page 82 - Perished Nations

archaeologists to reach the remains of the city due to the deep sand dunes.
The finds obtained by the end of the excavations were astonishing;
because the uncovered ancient city was one of the most overwhelmingly
interesting found until then. The walled town that was revealed was of a
larger extent than of any other ancient Yemeni site and its palace was
remarked to be a truly magnificent building
Doubtless, it was very logical to suppose that the Hadramites had inher-
ited this architectural superiority from their forerunners, ‘Ad. Hud (as) said
to the people of ‘Ad while warning them:
Do ye build a landmark on every high place to amuse yourselves? And do
ye get for yourselves fine buildings in the hope of living therein (for ever)?
(Surat ash-Shu’ara: 128-129)
Another interesting characteristic of the buildings found at Shabwah
was the elaborate columns. The columns that were at Shabwah seemed to
be quite unique in being round and arranged in a circular portico, where-
as all other sites in Yemen so far had been found to have square mono-
lithic columns. The people of Shabwah must have inherited the architec-
tural style of their ancestors, ‘Ad. Photius, a Greek Byzantine Patriarch of
Constantinople in the ninth century AD, made vast research on the
Southern Arabs and their commercial activities because he had access to
the old Greek manuscripts no longer extant today, and particularly the
book of Agatharachides (132 BC), concerning the Erythraean (Red) Sea.
Photius said in one of his articles; "It is said that they (South Arabians) have
built many columns covered in gold or made of silver. Spaces between
these columns are remarkable to behold." 24
Although the above statement of Photius does not directly refer to the
Hadramites, it does give an idea of the affluence and building prowess of
the people living in the region. Greek classical writers Pliny and Strabo
describe these cities as "adorned with beautiful temples and palaces".
When we think that the owners of these cities were the descendants of
‘Ad, it is clearly understood why the home of ‘Ad is defined in the Qur’an
as "the city of Iram, with lofty pillars." (Surat al-Fajr: 7).

Harun Yahya
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