Yeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite
Pre-Aksumite Sabaean (800–400 BCE)·Damot–Sabaean (Sabean immigrants)·🇪🇹 Tigray Region, Ethiopia
About
About Yeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite
Yeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite in Tigray Region, Ethiopia is a Pre-Aksumite Sabaean (800–400 BCE) temple-complex attributed to Damot–Sabaean (Sabean immigrants). South Arabian-style ashlar temple 14 × 18 m preserved 12 m high with Sabaean inscription and altar. Yeha: largest pre-Aksumite temple, dedication to Almaqah moon god with Sabaean inscription, adjacent Grat Beal Gebri elite enclosure.
Why it mattersImportant Damot–Sabaean (Sabean immigrants) site of coastal/hinterland Tigray Region
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network evidence
- 02Construction chronology
Theories
- 01Long-distance exchange
- 02Kayas sacred landscape
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. 700 BCE
- Period
- Pre-Aksumite Sabaean (800–400 BCE)
- Culture
- Damot–Sabaean (Sabean immigrants)
- Purpose
- South Arabian-style ashlar temple 14 × 18 m preserved 12 m high with Sabaean inscription and altar
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 700 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1920 CE
Antiquarian survey
On the ground
Structures & features
14.2800° N · 38.9700° E · 2100 m · 4 mapped features
Yeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite — Temple Court
courtColumned court
14.2802° N · 38.9701° EYeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite — Sanctuary
sanctuaryInner sanctuary
14.2798° N · 38.9702° EYeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite — Pylon
pylonStone pylon
14.2804° N · 38.9698° EYeha Great Temple — Pre-Aksumite — Water Source
waterSpring or reservoir
14.2796° N · 38.9699° E