Abstract
Regarding the appearance of Himyarite cityscapes, written and archaeological sources are rare. Hamdānī’s 10th century AD citation of Abū Naṣr regarding the appearance of Ẓafār’s gates has been discussed by scholars, for example Faris, al‑Shamārī and Muḥammad al‑Akwa‘. Some contradictions lie in the rendering of the names in the three Arabic manuscripts which contain the text, because the pointing is erratic. Based on new large‑scale maps and archaeological investigation at Ẓafār, it is possible to reopen the question of where the gates were positioned around the ancient city. Although today none of the city gates are intact, remains of the fortification walls shed some light on where these once stood. The main entry complex to the city lay to the south and remained in service, although in a very much changed and reduced form, until recently. Although these textual and archaeological evidence do not concur at all points, bringing them together may lead us to new questions and new answers.
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