A page from the past The Himyaric reservoirs [Archives:2003/02/Last Page]

BY ISMAIL AL-GHABIRI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
No nation in this world is rootless. That’s why better knowledge of this country’s rich historical civilization undoubtedly gives a better understanding of Yemen’s people.
On the road between Digishub and the city of Dhamar there are sets of old Himyaric reservoirs, cut in the solid rock.
Although resembling the reservoirs of Aden, there are here none of the natural advantages to be found at that place.
Water pours by aqueducts and natural channels into the reservoirs, which are built tier above tier in the wall of rocks and between precipices.
Those between Digishub and Dhamar, however, lie in the level plain, and are excavated. They are dependent entirely upon the rainfall for supply and as far as possible, the water has been drained toward them.
This is owing to the dead level of the country. These reservoirs are circular in form, and of considerable size and depth.
At one spot a flight of steps descends to the water’s edge, while a smaller reservoirs above the steps can be filled from buckets for the animals to drink from.
The entire reservoirs are lined with intensely hard cement, which takes a peculiar polish, and on some are visible rough designs of men on horseback, and gazelle, scratched into the plaster evidently at the time it was originally applied.
The extraordinarily prefect condition in which these reservoirs remain today speaks to the excellence of the workmanship of those who excavated and built them.
Caravans are still mainly dependent upon these very old reservoirs for water for men and their beasts of burden.

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