'Amran

ʿAmrān (Arabic: عمران‎; Old South Arabian: 𐩲𐩣𐩧𐩬 ʿmrn) is a small city in western central Yemen. It is the capital of the 'Amran Governorate, and was formerly in the Sana'a Governorate. It is located 52.9 kilometres (32.9 mi) by road northwest of the Yemeni capital of Sana'a.[1] According to the 2004 census it had a population of 76,863, and an estimated population of 90,792 in 2012.[2]

This article is about the city. For the governorate, see 'Amran Governorate.
ʿAmrān

عمران
City
ʿAmrān
Location in Yemen
Coordinates: 15°40′N 43°57′E
Country Yemen
Governorate'Amran Governorate
DistrictAmran
Occupation Houthis (Ansar Allah)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total290,792
Time zoneUTC+3 (Yemen Standard Time)

History and architecture
Traditional mud-built house.

The founding of the town dates back to the era of the South Arabian Himyarite Kingdom. At the time of the Sabaean kingdom, the town blossomed into a fortress. A series of bronze plaques from that time were found in the town in the mid-nineteenth century and are now in the British Museum. In particular, in the seventh century it was the great city of valour during the clashes against the Sabeans, a plurality of regionally based tribes. Remains of carved stones that belonged to former temples and palaces bear witness today of past glory. A large stone inscription is found in the western city gate (Bab al-Kabir). The old souq is noted for its stone columns.[3] ʿAmram is completely surrounded by walls which date to 1720. The surrounding landscape is dominated by terraced landscapes with stone walls to counteract erosion of fertile arable land.

Economic development

The road through the city from Sana'a was modernized following Chinese investment and is over 200 km (120 mi) long, and the old medical centre has been transformed into a small public hospital.[4] The city is located in a fertile area in what was the centre of the area's coffee industry.[5]

References
  1. Maps (Map). Google Maps.
  2. "Amran". World Gazetteer. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  3. Hämäläinen, Pertti (1 August 1999). Yemen. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-0-86442-603-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  4. McLaughlin, Daniel (12 February 2008). Yemen: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-84162-212-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  5. McCulloch, John Ramsay; Haskel, Daniel (1845). M'Culloch's Universal gazetteer: Dictionary, geographical, statistical, and historical, of the various countries, places, and principal natural objects in the world (Public domain ed.). Harper & brothers. pp. 93–. Retrieved 15 April 2012.


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