SABA. - Name of a state in ancient Yemen. References to S. are found in several passages of the Old Testament: besides some genealogical notes, there is an account of the homage rendered by a queen of S. to Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12). Other brief indirect information comes from Assyrian inscriptions of the 8th century B.C., which also report tributes from Sabaean chiefs: it is probable that these refer to colonies from northern Arabia. Finally, from the 3rd century B.C. onwards, classical writers also speak of the Sabaeans and the fabulous riches of their land ("Happy Arabia").
Since the middle of the last century, Yemen (v.), which has continued to the present day (very recent expeditions by Albright and Ryckmans), has brought to light a series of direct sources on the ancient Sabaean state: these include, in addition to monuments, numerous inscriptions in alphabetic characters and in Semitic language, containing in particular historical and architectural information or votive and funerary dedications. The oldest documents date back to the 8th century B.C.: they present a theocratic state, ruled by "priestly princes" (mhrb, generally vocalized as muharrib) and consisting of tribes gathered into religious communities under the patronage of their own deities; a popular assembly assists the muharrib in legislative functions. The capital of the state is Sirwāḥ, then Mārib. Around the 5th century B.C., a lay regime takes over, headed by kings; the assembly remains, and special hereditary magistrates (kabīr) are entrusted with overseeing the application of laws within the tribes. Around 50 B.C. (according to the "low" chronology recently established, albeit with varying degrees), S. absorbs the neighboring state of Qatabān, which in turn had annexed the kingdom of the Mineans; the kings assume the title of "S. and Dhū Raydān" and move the capital to Zafār. With the expansion of territory, the importance of the kabīr increases, as they become large landowners, while the popular assembly disappears. The predominance of the Himyarite tribe leads classical sources to often refer to the Sabaeans as "Homerites." In the 3rd century A.D., Hadramawt is also annexed by S., thus unifying Yemen under its rule. However, Ethiopian attacks from the opposite coast, combined with internal discord following the introduction of Judaism and Christianity, lead to the decline of the state: after a temporary occupation in the 4th century A.D., it falls definitively under Ethiopia in 525.
South Arabian inscriptions provide information on the religious life of the Sabaeans and, in particular, on their pantheon, which centers on a lunar god (Almaqah), a solar goddess (Sams), and a god of the planet Venus (Aftar). As for art, remains of religious and civil buildings have come to light (famous the dam of Mārib), generally rough and primitive sculptures, and good products of minor arts.
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