Caravan Kingdoms: Yemen and the Ancient Incense Trade

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 2005

NUMEROUS PIECES OF extraordinary art take center stage in the exhibition "Caravan Kingdoms: Yemen and the Ancient Incense Trade." Located on the Gulf of Aden at the south of the Arabian Peninsula and bordering the Arabian and Red Seas, this region once played a central role in an ancient "global economy" that extended from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean.

During a 1,400-year period between the eighth century B.C. and the sixth century A.D., the southern Arabian kingdoms of Saba (biblical Sheba), Qataban, and Himyar were home to sophisticated civilizations that flourished through their control of the trade in frankincense and myrrh. Now best-known as the Gifts of the Magi, these valuable resins were harvested from bushes native to the region and were essential ingredients for court and temple ceremonies and in the spice markets and perfume industries of the Near East and Mediterranean worlds.

"Caravan Kingdoms" brings together for the first time in North America 129 archaeological objects to tell the story of these little-known, wealthy caravan kingdoms, examining the monumental structures, distinctive stone funerary sculptures, elaborately carved inscriptions, and sophisticated metalwork that have been unearthed there since the mid 20th century.

Dominated by the great interior desert known as the Ramlat as-Sabatyn, Yemen's four major valleys were occupied during this period by sophisticated states, which constructed complex irrigation systems and built imposing palaces and temples. These kingdoms competed for control over the lucrative overland caravan and later maritime trade routes to the Mediterranean coast and the western shores of the Persian Gulf.

During this time, multiple burials and cave tombs often contained miniature offerings; examples included in the exhibition are tiny vessels, incense burners, and altars. Bulls and ibex frequently appeared in temple decoration as capitals, on friezes, and gutter spouts, examples of which are on display.

A hallmark of Yemen's ancient cultural traditions is the creative use of a translucent, alabaster-like stone to carve funerary monuments and decorate temples and palaces. Statues of three generations of Awsan kings on view--each individualized by variations in dress, hairstyle, jewelry, and footwear--depict the typical funerary convention of a standing figure with arms extended in a gesture of offering.

During the first century B.C., maritime trade superseded caravan routes, and the Kingdom of Himyar in Yemen's southern highlands became dominant. During the fifth and early sixth centuries, the Himyarite kings ruled the entire southern Arabian Peninsula, Their sea trade introduced artistic styles, subjects, and craft traditions from the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds.

Bronze statues, like the large rearing horse with Himyaritic inscriptions on view, reflect Greco-Roman influence. A bull's head, bust of Athena, and a helmet fashioned as a male head with features of a Hellenistic ruler demonstrate the presence of Greek imports and the influence of foreign themes on domestically produced objects. Glass drinking vessels and perfume containers, and gold, silver, and bronze jewelry, belt ornaments, and buttons on view also were imported from or imitated the styles found in the Roman and Iranian worlds.

"Caravan Kingdoms" can be seen through Sept. 11 at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, D.C.