Al-Okhdood
| Al-Okhdood | |
|---|---|
الأخدود | |
 Al-Okhdood in 2014 | |
  Shown within Saudi Arabia | |
| General information | |
| Status | Free access to the public |
| Location | AlUkhdud Archaeological Site |
| Address | 1002 66293, Saudi Arabia |
| Town or city | Najran Province |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 17°28′38″N 44°10′45″E / 17.4773446°N 44.1793054°E |
| Completed | c. 500 BCE |
Al-Okhdood (Arabic: الأخدود) or Al-Okhdood Archaeological Site, is an ancient and historic town located in Najran Province in Saudi Arabia. Currently in ruins, the town dates back to at least 500 BCE and was formerly a hub for trading and commercial purposes. It is also famous for being the location where the Himyarite king Dhu Nuwas massacred the majority of the population of the city which had converted to Christianity from South Arabian polytheism.
Etymology[edit]
The name Al-Okhdood is also spelt as al-Ukhdud, which means trench, ditch or pit in the Arabic language. This name was given in reference to how the inhabitants of Najran were massacred in the 520s by being thrown alive into burning trenches.
Location[edit]
Al-Okhdood is located in Najran Province, near the region of Bir Hima, and is about 1300 kilometres south of Riyadh.[1] The site is known as AlUkhdud Archaeological Site on Google Maps.
History[edit]
Ancient history[edit]
During ancient times, Al-Okhdood was a large centre for trading and other commercial activities. The entire town generally dates back to at least 500 BCE.[2] The largest of these structures is a fort, which dates back to the 1st century BCE and is built out of bricks made from stone and mud.[3][4]
Late Antiquitiy[edit]
During the time period of Late Antiquitiy, the inhabitants of Najran adhered to South Arabian polytheism and venerated a large tree which they had deified. It was during this time that a Christian preacher, Phemion, had entered Najran and begun to spread his religion, something which the people accepted.[5] Other sources report his apprentice Abdullah ibn Thamir as being the one to actually solidify the Christian religion in Najran.[6] Either way, the town was home to the Christian community of Najran in Late Antiquitiy.[7]
In the 470s, the Himyarite king Sharhabil Yakkuf ordered the execution of a Christian priest named Azqir, who had erected a chapel or church in the ancient town.[8][9] Two governors, Dhu Tha'laban and Dhu Qaifan, were also sent to destroy this religious structure.[10] These actions done by King Sharhabil were likely not religiously motivated and were probably just to prevent the Byzantine influence from spreading, as Christianity was most likely seen as something affiliated with Byzantium.[11] Almost a century later, in the 520s, the last Himyarite king Dhu Nuwas invaded Najran after the city had refused to pledge allegiance to him, although other sources including the Tarikh al-Tabari report that it was because Dhu Nuwas, who had a hatred for Christianity, had found out that the inhabitants of Najran were now Christians.[12] All of the people of Najran whom had refused to accept Judaism or leave Christianity were brutally massacred, and their churches and chapels burnt to the ground.[13]
The incident of the persecutions was alluded to in the Qur'an, which states in the chapter al-Burooj regarding the People of the Ditch:
Condemned are the makers of the ditch, the fire ˹pit˺, filled with fuel, when they sat around it, watching what they had ˹ordered to be˺ done to the believers, who they resented for no reason other than belief in Allah—the Almighty, the Praiseworthy–˹the One˺ to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and earth. And Allah is a Witness over all things. (Translated by Mustafa Khattab)
After 530 CE, Dhu Nuwas had been defeated by the Kingdom of Aksum, and Christianity returned to flourish in Najran.[14][15]
Islamic period[edit]
During the early Islamic period, a mosque was built at Najran; it is the oldest mosque throughout Najran Province.[3][4][16] In the 620s, the people of Najran migrated to another location, which is now the present city of Najran. Artifacts from the Umayyad and Abbasid periods have also been discovered in the ancient town.[3][4][16]
Modern history[edit]
Since 1979, the Ministry of Culture has been conducting archaeological excavations at the site.[3][4] Excavations in 1997 also revealed several ancient tombs, as well as graves which dated to the Islamic period.[17] In 2016, the French National Centre for Scientific Research collaborated with the Saudi government to conduct more excavations and research, with fruitful discoveries.[18] In 2023, a new initiative was announced to make the site more tourist-friendly and informative about the site's history.[19]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Arabian Rock Art Heritage - Bi'r Hima". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ Heritage sites in the Najran region (PDF). Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Heritage Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-01-20.
- ^ a b c d "Unveiling The Past: The Rich History Of Al-Okhdood Archaeological Site In Najran". OneArabia. 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Unearthing History: A Journey Through Al-Okhdood Archaeological Site in Southern Saudi Arabia". Saudi Press Agency. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Mubarakpuri, Saifur Rahman (2008). The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet. Dar-us-Salam Publications. ISBN 978-9960899558.
- ^ Tabari; ?abar? (1999-11-04). The History of Al-Tabari: The Sasanids, the Lakhmids, and Yemen. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791443569.
- ^ Jonathan Porter Berkey, The Formation of Islam: Religion and Society in the Near East, 600-1800, Cambridge University Press, 2003 p.46.
- ^ Beeston, A.F.L. (2005). "The Martyrdom of Azqir". Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies: 113–118. ISSN 0308-8421. JSTOR 41223858.
- ^ "Historical Timelines | الجداول الزمنية | سيرة نجران". shuhada-najran.com. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ Winckler, Hugo (1893). Altorientalische Forschungen (in German). Eduard Pfeiffer.
- ^ Mitchell, Robbie (2022-08-26). "The Himyarite Kingdom's Bloody Conversion to Judaism: Passion or Ploy?". Ancient Origins Reconstructing the story of humanity's past. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ Abrahamson, Ben. "Yosef Dhu Nuwas: A Sadducean King with Sidelocks". Studies in History and Jurisprudence.
- ^ "Najran Christians – The Pen Magazine". 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ Bowersock, Glen W. (2013). The Throne of Adulis: Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Lee, Ralph (2011). "The Conversion of King Caleb and the Religious and Political Dynamics of Sixth-Century Ethiopia and Southern Arabia". In Peter Sarris; Matthew Dal Santo; Phil Booth (eds.). An Age of Saints? Power, Conflict and Dissent in Early Medieval Christianity. Brill. pp. 77–88.
- ^ a b عياد, إعداد-مونيكا (2019-02-13). ""الأخدود" تعود إلى ألفي عام.. وتحكي قصتها سورة "البروج"". alyaum (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ Al-Jaber, Maryam (21 June 2018). "Saudi 'Al-Okhdood' a historical treasure dating more than 2,000 years". Alarabiya.
- ^ "Najran, the land of "Al Ukhdud" –A mine of antiquities of ancient civilizations".
- ^ "Najran's Visitors Center: A multi-season trip to introduce the historical and cultural heritage of the region". Saudi Press Agency. 6 June 2023.