Shibam Kawkaban
Shibam Kawkaban
شبام كَوْكَبَان | |
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Town | |
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%22%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22middle%22%20fill%3D%22%2354595d%22%20font-size%3D%2216%22%20font-family%3D%22sans-serif%22%3EShibam%20Kawkaban%20is%20located%20in%20Yemen%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)  Shibam Kawkaban Location in Yemen | |
| Coordinates: 15°30′N 43°54′E / 15.500°N 43.900°E | |
| Country |  Yemen |
| Governorate | Al Mahwit Governorate |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (Yemen Standard Time) |
settlement_type. Replace with type.blank1_info. Replace with custom_data1_sec1.blank_name. Replace with custom_label_sec1.blank1_name. Replace with custom_label1_sec1.pushpin_map_caption. Replace with pushpin_caption.timezone. Replace with time_zone.blank_info. Replace with custom_data_sec1.image_caption. Replace with caption.mapsize. Replace with map_size.Shibam Kawkaban (Arabic: شبام كَوْكَبَان, romanized: Shibām Kawkabān) is a double town in Shibam Kawkaban District, Al Mahwit Governorate, Yemen, located 38 km west-northwest of Sanaa, the national capital. It consists of two distinct adjoining towns, Shibam (Arabic: شبام, romanized: Shibām) and Kawkaban (Arabic: كَوْكَبَان, romanized: Kawkabān). Shibam is sometimes also called "Shibam Kawkaban" in order to distinguish it from other towns called Shibam.
Shibam is a market town at the edge of a large agricultural plain; above it is the fortress-town of Kawkaban, at the summit of the cliffs to the southwest. Kawkaban, which means "two planets" in Arabic, is a sizeable town in its own right, and is known for its lavish tower-houses. Because of the fertile surrounding farmland, the defensive strength of the Kawkaban fortress, and the city's closeness to Sanaa, Shibam Kawkaban has been strategically important throughout Yemen's history.
It contains a fortified citadel about 2,931 m (9,616 ft) above sea level. It is built upon a precipitous hilltop, walled from the north and fortified naturally from the other directions. It was the capital of the Yuʿfirid dynasty (847-997), and was also home to a Jewish community until its demise in the mid-20th century. The city affords good views of the surrounding countryside.
The city features several old mosques: al Madrasa, al Mansoor, al Sharefa and Harabat. The old market is in the middle of the city. Old rainwater reservoirs can also be seen in the fortified town, named Meseda, Alasdad, and Sedalhamam.