Arabia Felix From The Time Of The Queen Of Sheba
Eighth Century B.C. to First Century A.D.
228 pages, 6.00 x 9.00
Paperback | 9780268020040 | February 2000
Hardcover | 9780268020026 | February 2000
eBook (Web PDF) | 9780268201739 | December 2020
- Press Kit
- Author Bio
Sheba, or Saba, is a region of high mountains and vast deserts situated in the southwest of the Arabian peninsula, in what is known today as Yemen. The mysteries and riches of Sheba and its people enticed the likes of Alexander the Great, the Emperor Augustus, and the kings of Ethiopia and Byzantium. From the 8th century to the 1st century BC, the kingdom of Sheba dominated other realms in Southern Arabia, imposing its language, institutions and artistic forms throughout the region. This book provides a detailed synthesis of this remote civilization, the uniqueness of the region's geography and climate, and the major events that shaped its history. It offers valuable insights into the Sabeans' daily life, their customs and religion, their relations with neighbouring civilizations, and their modes of commerce.
Jean-François Breton is a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and has led many important archeological expeditions in Yemen.
“[A] much needed contribution to the ancient Near East for the English-speaking world. What Jean-François Breton has produced is an impressive introductory account of our current state of knowledge of Yemen's history in the first millennium B.C. that is complementary to studies of the ancient Orient, and that will provide a more complete picture. . . . [H]is account is fresh, lively, and lucid. Breton is readable and reliable, and as fine an introduction to South Arabia as is now available in English.” —The Historian