Raydan is an ancient Himyarite site situated in Yemen, some 130 km south-south-east of today's capital, Sana'a. It was the capital of the Himyarites (110 BC-525 AD), which at its peak ruled most of the Arabia.
Individual finds belong to the Himyarite early period (110 BC - 270 AD). Rare earlier finds were probably brought to the site from elsewhere. Most of the ruins and finds, however, appear to belong to the empire period (270 - 525). A few post-war Ge'ez inscriptions have survived at the site. From the late/post period identifiable finds are few indeed at Raydan
The contemporary environment is vastly inferior to that which provided the resource base for the early Himyarite tribal confederation. Despite some 500 mm precipitation per year, Water is scarce, upland soils are chronically eroded; the tree cover was eliminated perhaps in the empire period. Given the exhaustion of natural resources, civil strife, epidemics and megadroughts the Himyarite period population declined especially in the 6th century. Today, some 450 farmers inhabit the former capital..
Individual finds belong to the Himyarite early period (110 BC - 270 AD). Rare earlier finds were probably brought to the site from elsewhere. Most of the ruins and finds, however, appear to belong to the empire period (270 - 525). A few post-war Ge'ez inscriptions have survived at the site. From the late/post period identifiable finds are few indeed at Raydan
The contemporary environment is vastly inferior to that which provided the resource base for the early Himyarite tribal confederation. Despite some 500 mm precipitation per year, Water is scarce, upland soils are chronically eroded; the tree cover was eliminated perhaps in the empire period. Given the exhaustion of natural resources, civil strife, epidemics and megadroughts the Himyarite period population declined especially in the 6th century. Today, some 450 farmers inhabit the former capital..
Modern location: Ruins
(1)
Amdan Bayyin
Obverse: Male head right, serpent torc around
Reverse: 'MDNIBYNI around, RYDN in exergue, small head right; sceptre symbol before
Diameter:
14.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.2 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.2 g
No notes for this coin
Munro-Hay 3.2ai; SNG ANS 1575
(2)
Amdan Bayyin
Obverse: Male head right; monogram to left.
Reverse: Small head right; ‘sceptre’ to right.
Diameter:
11 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.93 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.93 g
No notes for this coin
SNG ANS 1602-9.