Minister of Culture,Tourism visits historic city of Thula in Amran Governorate ?
Amran – Saba: Today, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Ali Al Yafei, toured the historic city of Thula in the Amran Governorate, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Minister Al-Yafei received an update on the state of the archaeological, historical, and tourist sites in the ancient city, including its wall that dates back to the Himyarite Kingdom era “110 BC – 525 – 527 AD”. He reviewed the damages inflicted upon some of these monuments due to the recent heavy rainfall experienced in the country.
Minister Al-Yafei visited the historic “Crow Fort,” renowned as a significant archaeological and historical site in Yemen and across the Arabian Peninsula, boasting fortifications and a legacy that spans approximately 2,500 years.
Explore the components of the historic fort, its distinctive architectural style, and the features at the summit, which stands approximately 2960 meters above sea level. These include formidable towers, granaries, water reserves, and outbuildings that showcase its exceptio
nal defense against enemies and invaders.
The summit of the fort has been commended for the aesthetic views it provides through the expansive windows of its towers, encompassing the adjacent villages, cities, and extensive agricultural plains. The significance of these sites and their potential in enhancing and advancing local tourism in the future has also been acknowledged.
Minister Al-Yafei was briefed by Abbas Al-Mutawakel, the Director of Improvement in the governorate, Sadiq Farwan, the Chairman of the Planning Committee in the district, and various stakeholders on the key phases of the fort’s history and its significance. Historically, it served as a crucial defensive line for the city of Thula, complementing its grand stone wall that spans 1162 meters and is punctuated by 26 towers, some round and others semi-circular.
He highlighted that the deliberate targeting of archaeological and historical sites across the nation signifies the depth of animosity and insolvency of the aggressor nations towards
Yemen’s historical treasures.
Minister Al-Yafei praised the role of the local authority and citizens in preserving the city and the archaeological, historical and tourist sites embraced by the governorate as a whole. He pointed out the extent to which the government pays attention to this aspect.
The preservation and preservation of historic cities and archaeological sites was a collective responsibility.
It is noteworthy that the city of Thula is one of five Yemeni cities registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, the city is 50 km from the capital, Sana’a, in the northwest direction, and the city is characterized by architectural facilities located within the walls of the old city, which includes mosques, markets, public baths, fences, watchtowers, tombs “grain silos”, military installations “forts, rock ditches”, houses and ponds “water installations” and others.
What distinguishes the city is the special building materials that combine “stone, burnt clay bricks (bricks) and wood in roofing, a
nd the city’s unique architectural style is the most prominent thing that attracts the visitor’s attention to it at first glance, a distinct Yemeni style derived from an architectural heritage inherited from generations for more than four thousand years.
Source: Yemen News Agency