Sirwah

(1) An ancient city (c. eighth to second centuries B.C.), the most important center of the kingdom of Saba. The ruins of Sirwah (modern name, el Harib) are located 30 km west of Marib in the Yeman Arab Republic. The remains of a stone city wall with towers have been preserved as well as the ruins of a large temple (c. eighth century B.C.) to Al-Makhah, god of the moon. The remains of four smaller temples have also been found. Extremely important Sabaean inscriptions dating from the fifth to third centuries B.C. have been found in Sirwah.

(2) The modern name of one of the most ancient cities of Saba. The ancient name was probably Madar. The ruins of Sirwah are located 50 km north of the city of Sana in the Yemen Arab Republic. The ruins of a large temple to Ta’lab, god of the moon, are in the city. Sirwah existed from the early first millennium B.C. to the fourth or third centuries B.C. It was partially reconstructed in the second to fourth centuries A.D. [23–1331–]