مكانة الجمل في الحضارة اليمنية القديمة

Abstract EN

This study has proved that the first home of the mono-hump camel is the Arab Peninsula (the ancient Yemen), and that the ancient Yemenis are the first to domesticize and use it for several purposes in their lives.

Only then was it known to North Africa, as well as the Lavent.

The camel was one of the reasons of flourishing Yemeni Civilization at the beginning of the first millennium BC, specifically economically, for being the only means of transportation in those places days.

All these economic factors gave the camel the first status in Ancient Yemen.

The study has also proved that camel enjoyed no religious status since it was not used as an animal symbol of any idol.

Strong evidence is that camel was not an element of ancient temple decorations, compared to other animals like ox and ibex.

Camel was not also engraved in the ancient coins as a religious symbol.

Ancient Yemeni paid much attention to camel alive or dead.

This is clear through the different ways of burial and the variation of the graveyards, as well as the religious rituals that accompanied the burial process.

These religious burials made for camel resemble those made for human.

Camel enjoyed a very important status in the ancient Yemen Art, beginning with prehistoric eras walking through, and ending in historic era, when idols were engraved from raw several materials like clay, stones, marble, and alabaster, casted in bronze, as well as dedicated paintings and thuribles.

The statues made for camel was small, thus, distinguished in the ancient Yemen art, whether made from clay, stones or bronze, because they were immolations given to goddess, in addition to being kept as mascots for the safety of this animal.

The study concludes that up to writing this study, statues of actual size of camel are not found in the above-mentioned places.