Dhu Jadan al-Himyari | |
Birth Date: | 6th century |
Birth Place: | Yemen |
Death Date: | 7th century |
Occupation: | Poet |
Language: | Arabic |
Nationality: | Yemeni |
Notableworks: | Poems about the fortresses of Yemen |
ÊżAlqama bin Dhi Jadan al-Himyari also Dhu Jadan al-Himyari (fl. 6th - 7th century) was an Arab poet from Yemen. He was noted in particular for his poems about the fortresses of Yemen and their destruction including Ghumdan Palace, Baynun Fortress and Silhin Fortress.[1]
Dhu Jadan's poetry has been compiled in the eighth volume of Al-Iklil of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Hamdani.[2]
An example of the poems he wrote is his eulogy to the Ghumdan Palace after its destruction:[3] [4]
You have heard of Ghumdan's towers:
From the mountain top it lowers
Well carpentered, with stones for stay,
Plastered with clean, damp, slippery clay;
Oil lamps within it show
At even like the lightening's glow.
This once-new castle is ashes today
The flames have eaten its beauty away.