SheBa

Sheba refers to the ancient kingdom of Sabaʾ in southern Arabia, traditionally centered in what is now Yemen. The term appears in biblical and Qurʾanic texts and is linked to the Sabaean culture and the broader South Arabian civilization. The heartland encompassed parts of the coastal plain and the interior highlands, with Maʾrib being a prominent center. The Sabaeans spoke a South Arabian language and left inscriptions in their script.

Historically, Sabaʾ thrived as a trading power along caravan routes that linked the Arabian interior with the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Its economy depended on frankincense, myrrh, gold, and agricultural products, facilitated by hydraulic engineering and urban development. A notable achievement is the Maʾrib Dam (circa 8th century BCE), which supported intensive farming in the Wādī Dayqah and sustained monumental architecture and urban life. Over time, Sabaʾ maintained influence through alliances and exchanges with neighboring polities, but it declined in late antiquity as trade networks shifted and local powers, including the Himyarite Kingdom, rose in its wake.

The Queen of Sheba is a prominent figure in religious and literary traditions. In the Bible and the Qurʾan, Sheba is described as a ruler who visited Solomon, a story that blends history, legend, and moralizing teachings. Ethiopian tradition expands on this, recounting a dynastic line descending from Sheba. In scholarly usage, Sheba often denotes the broader Sabaean cultural sphere rather than a single ruler.

Legacy of Sheba includes inscriptions in the South Arabian script, religious and architectural remains, and the site of the Maʾrib Dam, which illustrates the ingenuity of Sabaean hydraulic engineering and environmental adaptation in ancient Yemen.