Maʾrib
مأرب
The second Sabaean capital after Sirwah, seat of the famous dam; its ruins lie about sixty miles east of Sanaa, and its flood is the Quranic Sayl al-Arim.
At a glance
- Era
- Pre-Islamic Arabia
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Overview
Ma'rib: Saba''s second capital after Sirwah, and centre of the dam whose bursting was the flood of al-Arim.
The place
Saba''s kings made Ma'rib their capital in place of Sirwah in the era from 650 BCE to 115 BCE; its ruins lie sixty miles from Sanaa on its eastern side 1.
The building of the Ma'rib dam began in the Mukarribs' time at Sirwah, and it has a great place in Yemen's history — until it burst in a mighty breach around 450 CE, which was the flood of al-Arim 1.
For young visitors
Ma'rib is Yemen's ancient city; beside it stood a famous dam that broke, the water flooded, and the people scattered.
Connections
- Site of
- The Flood of al-Arim (the Bursting of Maʾrib Dam)
- Contains
- The Maʾrib Dam
People and things also explored
The Maʾrib DamThe Flood of al-Arim (the Bursting of Maʾrib Dam)Pre-Islamic Arabia
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Maʾrib”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/place/marib/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.