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Kingdom of Awsan مملكة أوسان (Arabic) | |||||||
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8th century BC–7th century BC | |||||||
Capital | Ḥajar Yaḥirr | ||||||
Common languages | Old South Arabian | ||||||
Religion | Arabian paganism | ||||||
History | |||||||
• Established | 8th century BC | ||||||
• Disestablished | 7th century BC | ||||||
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Today part of | Yemen |
The ancient Kingdom of Awsān (Arabic: مملكة أوسان) in South Arabia, modern-day Yemen, with a capital at Ḥajar Yaḥirr in Wādī Markhah, to the south of Wādī Bayḥān, is now marked by a tell or artificial mound, which is locally named Ḥajar Asfal. Once it was one of the most important small kingdoms of South Arabia. The city seems to have been destroyed in the 7th century BCE by the king and Mukarrib of Saba' Karab El Watar, according to a Sabaean text that reports the victory in terms that attest to its significance for the Sabaeans.