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The ancient kingdom of Saba ruled over the
lands of southern Arabia, centered in modern
day Yemen. Saba is perhaps better known as
Sheba, the Hebrew word for the kingdom, whose
famous Queen was recounted as having visited
Solomon in the pages of the Old Testament.
Biblical accounts speak of the wealth of this
ancient civilization of traders and merchants, and
modern archaeological excavations confirm these
reports. Ruins of fortresses and walled towns are
evident and remnants of their extensive irrigation
system that turned the desert into a paradise
still cover the land. Although gold and silver
deposits were present, the chief source of their
vast wealth was derived from their veritable
monopoly of two of the most coveted materials
in ancient times: frankincense and myrrh,
resinous gums obtained from certain trees that
only grow in Southern Arabia and were literally
worth their weight in gold. There was not a
temple or wealthy house in the ancient world,
from Babylon to Rome, where one would not
smell the fragrant scents of these incenses. In
addition, a trade route that connected India to
Egypt that passed through their capital of Marib
was another major source of wealth. Perhaps
their greatest accomplishment was the Great
Dam of Marib, a monumental construction that
brought water from the mountains both to the
city and to the crop fields. The dam was in
continual use (accounting for timely repairs) until
the 6th Century A.D. and its ultimate destruction
is detailed in the Koran as the end of the old
world and a turning point in history. However,
the civilization that created this wonder fell apart
long before the damn did. In the 1st Century
A.D., the Ptolemaic Greeks discovered a sea
route from India directly to the port of
Alexandria, eliminating Saba from this lucrative
trade and ushering in the decline of Sabean
prosperity.
The tradition of placing dedicatory plaques on
buildings is as old as history. With the birth of
writing came the ability to praise and
immortalize individuals through words. Such a
practice is still prevalent in our society as we
name our educational institutions and buildings
after wealthy donors and as corporate names and
logos grace our stadiums and arenas across the
nation. Throughout time, in order to embark
upon the great undertaking of erecting a
building, the funds and financing had to be
available. Whether provided by a wealthy
merchant, a religious leader, or a king or
emperor, we often associate buildings with
people. Just think of Versailles or Monticello.
This stunning bronze plaque is a testament to
this ancient phenomenon. While we may like to
believe patrons donate money out of the
goodness of their hearts, there is often the
motivation of fame and glory lurking beneath.
One can achieve immortality through building a
structure that lasts longer than us all. One such
wealthy donor had this drive when he paid for
this plaque, although in this case the dedication
outlasted the building. Originally, the plaque
would have been nailed or bolted to the wall of
an ancient temple. The large holes in the plaque
are not from the nails, as one might suspect, but
were covered with gems and jewels that have
since vanished. One can imagine the ancient
splendor of this piece, forged from precious
bronze and embellished with rare gems. Surely,
the patron, Bariqum, sought to demonstrate his
exorbitant wealth as much as his pious devotion
and philanthropic generosity. Today, we can
imagine viewing this plaque in a museum, a
museum that bear the name of its major donor
or that has a similar plaques placed near its
entrance celebrating the names of its
benefactors. Certain phenomenon that might
seem modern to our eyes, in turn prove to be
ancient traditions as old as history itself.
- (PF.5530)
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