Ẓafār

Ẓafār - Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Ẓafār (), also called Dhafar or Dhofar, is an ancient Himyarite site situated in Yemen, some 130 km south-south-east of today's capital, Sana'a, and c. southeast of Yarim. Given mention in several ancient texts, there is little doubt about the pronunciation of the name.Walter W. Müller, Encyclopedia of Islam 11 fasc. 185-186 (2001) 379-380 s.v. Zafar Despite the opinion of local patriots in Oman, this site in Yemen is far older than its namesake there.G. Rex Smith, Ẓafār, Encyclopedia of Islam 11 fasc. 185-186 (2001) 380-381 s.v. Zafar It lies in the Yemeni highlands at some 2800 m. Zafar was the capital of the Himyarites (110 BCE – 525 CE), which at its peak ruled most of the Arabian Peninsula.Paul Yule, Himyar-Spätantike im Jemen/Late Antique Yemen (Aichwald 2007) For 250 years the tribal confederacy and allies' combined territory extended past Riyadh to the north and the Euphrates to the north-east. Read more on Wikipedia

type: ancient site
date from: 2nd? century BCE

Source: en.wikipedia.org