Sailing Around Erythraean Sea: Twenty Three

In the previous Section, we had a glimpse of the port city of Mocha (modern day Al Mukha) and then of  Sa'da on the northwest of Yemen.

After nine days more there is Saphar, the metropolis, in which lives Charibael lawful king of two tribes, the Homerites and those living next to them, called Sabaites; through continual embassies and gifts he is a friend of the Emperors.

My Search:-

1. Saphar is identified as Zafar or Dhafar, located in the Abyan valley, Southwestern partn of Yemen. It is northwest of Aden and south of Sana'a.

Excavations at Zafar have uncovered ancient coins and inscriptions, ancient city ruins, artefacts indicating trade connections...

2. Charibael: He is a contemporary of the author of Periplus Maris Erythraea. He was an important chief of Sabaeans or Sabeans, one among the various tribes of South Arabia. Sabaic or Sabaean was the language spoken by them. The language belongs to south Arabian Semitic branch of  Afroasiatic language family.

3. Homerite tribes were nomadic, and lived on the southern highlands of Yemen. There were many other tribes living peacefully within their own territories. These tribes were governed by chiefs. All these tribes later integrated to reap the benefits of the trading activities of that area. Charibael must have been a regnal  name used by the Chieftain when different tribes were integrated.

End of the section 

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