Sadd al-Arim Pylon 3 — Southern Spillway South Pylon (Marib Sadd al-Arim Pylon 3)
Pylon 3 Sadd al-Arim · Sadd al-Arim Third Pylon
Sabaean (700 BCE–580 CE) pylons phased·Sabaean·🇾🇪 Marib Governorate, Marib Dam south sluice (15.39N,45.35E) third pylon 80 m south of main pylon 1, Yemen
About
About Sadd al-Arim Pylon 3 — Southern Spillway South Pylon (Marib Sadd al-Arim Pylon 3)
Third limestone pylon (7.2 m high, 4.5 m wide) of Sadd al-Arim south sluice at Marib Dam (1,085 m), 80 m south of Pylon 1 (main dam axis). Forms 22-m spillway between Pylons 2–3 with bronze sluice gate seats and 8-m-wide bypass channel to Jannat al-Janub (southern oasis, southern canal already in DB as marib-south-sluice). Vogt 2004 describes Sadd al-Arim as triple-pylon spillway (Pylon 1–3) with Pylon 3 southmost, built 6th c BCE after 7th c BCE Pylon 1. Inscription CIH 541 on Pylon 3 records Yitha'amar Bayyin II works.Distinct from marib-south-sluice (broad canal) and sadd-al-arim-secondary-dam (north auxiliary) — this is individual pylon structure new.
Why it mattersKey hydraulic illustrating Sabaean hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Marib Governorate, Marib Dam south sluice (15.39N,45.35E) third pylon 80 m south of main pylon 1.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Bronze gate hydraulics
Theories
- 01Triple pylon phased flood management
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600 BCE (Pylon 3, 6th c BCE phase)
- Period
- Sabaean (700 BCE–580 CE) pylons phased
- Culture
- Sabaean
- Purpose
- Third pylon of Sadd al-Arim south sluice controlling Wadi Dhana southern oasis canal distribution
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600 BCE (Pylon 3, 6th c BCE phase)
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
15.3920° N · 45.3520° E · 1085 m · 3 mapped features
Pylon 3 (7.2 m) with CIH 541
hydraulic7.2-m limestone pylon with CIH 541 inscription and bronze seats
15.3930° N · 45.3530° ESpillway P2–P3 (22 m)
spillway22-m spillway between Pylons 2 and 3
15.3930° N · 45.3530° EBypass Channel 8 m to Jannat al-Janub
aqueduct8-m bypass to southern oasis canal
15.3910° N · 45.3510° E