Hassan Al-Zaidi
Yemen Times
The Sirwah city, 50 km to the west of Mareb, is one of the most ancient Yemeni cities that dates back to the Sabaeen's regime. The glory of Sabaeen Kingdom is still seen in many of the ancient sites here. Despite the treasures the city of Sirwah possesses, many are still unearthed. The German expedition, which stopped working two months ago, tried to dismantle all new buildings that have crept on the historical city.
The 16-meter-height fence of Ilmaqah Temple is still piercing the sky in the middle of the city. The temple was built by the Sabean king Yada Aal Dureij who ruled Yemen in the first third of the 7th century. King Yada is considered the most famous in building temples. As mentioned in the inscriptions indicate that it was he who fenced the Awam Temple in the Al-Masajed area in the south of Mareb.

Sirwah Temple
This temple which is also called Ilmaqah (the moon) is the main god of the Sabaeens. There were many symbols to refer to this god, such as the bull's face. This shows how the moon was held in higher esteem than the sun, probably because the benefit caravans got from the moon.

The Victory Rock-Inscription
This is the oldest inscription in the peninsula and the oldest geographical reference to the political Yemen in the first half of the first century. The drawings are engraved in a couple of 10-meter rocks in the middle of the temple. This inscription records the battles of the Karb Aal Watar, the first Yemeni leader to unify the whole land of Yemen.
The city is gifted with many tourist potentials, which, once exploited properly, will attract many tourists and visitors.

Saleh Abdulbaki
Yemen Times
Anumber of literary studies indicate the possibility of the existence of a theater in old Yemen. Such studies were based on the ruins of a hall and a stage in Marib. However, there has been no confirmation of the fact that the stage was part of a theater except what Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Maqaleh mentions which is that rituals were preserved here in a dramatic mould. The politically and economically strong states that flourished in Yemen may suggest the possibility of the existence of at least a king's theater. This possibility will remain a potentially rich field of study for researcher to provide more evidence and proofs.
As far as the modern drama is concerned, Saeed Awlaqi, A Yemeni researcher, says in "70 years of the Yemeni theater" that the first dramatic work in Yemen appeared in 1904 when an Indian theatre team, directed by Jumlat Shah, arrived in Aden. The team included actors, actresses, musicians and singers. In 1908 another Indian theatre team arrived in Aden. This time it was accompanied by more modern equipment.
According to the author, Yemen drama appeared only in the beginning of the 20th century. There were plays such as these written be Abdullah Omar Bamakhramah which is mentioned in the "Yemeni emigration in the 16th century" by the imminent Yemeni historian Mohammed Abdulqader Bamatraf.
The first Yemeni troupe was formed in 1910, says Awlaqi. Members were students of a government school in Aden. Its first performance was the rendering of an Arabic version of Julius Caesar. The troupe presented some of the Shakespearean works such as Romeo and Juliet in translation. In 1914 it presented 'Victim of Love' by Dr. Najeeb Haddad. Through 1926-1940 many amateur troupes were formed. The outputs of these teams were occasional not with more than two plays in a year.
This phase of the Yemeni theater continued until 1967 when the first professional troupe was formed in Aden. However, this did not enrich the Yemeni theater substantially, which continued to be opened occasionally. Even the recent admirable dramatic works which were presented in the First and Second Drama Festivals have not so much helped lay solid foundations for a Yemeni theater owing to lack of encouragement from the authorities concerned. Recommendations and experiences gleaned from them these festivals were not followed up. Lack of any specialized school to mold talented people for augmenting a powerful theater movement makes the situation so dismal.
To make the matter still worse lack of political and social instability and the prevalence of tribal warfare have been detrimental for the dramatic art to flourish. Moreover, absence of awareness about importance of including such program in school curricula and school activities are added to the volume of the problem.

Saad Shareef Taher
Teacher of English
Yemeni proverbs, are the vital facet of the Yemeni culture because they are the spoken tongue of their daily public activities. They are the mirror that reflects simple people's thinking by which their daily life, habits and customs are truly expressed. They are the live records of politics, agriculture and wisdom throughout history. One can grasp through them minute details of the simple Yemeni society and have an actual picture of whatever is in their mind. From the large number of such proverbs extant I've chosen some glittering stars.

(Ma igdarat tassid taatharat ala il mihwash)

Mihwash: a small stick used for grueling.
Meaning: She couldn't gruel successfully. She excused herself saying that it was because of the stick (mihwash)
Implication: When one fails to do something perfectly blames it on others (as excuse)
Comment: Some people can't achieve something they search for excuses.

(Sarig mbahrir)

Meaning: Though he is a thief, he stares angrily to scare others pretending he is not a thief.
Comment: Some people know that they are wrong but they try to prove the opposite by shouting or giving fierce looks offense is the best defense.
Implication: Someone commits a mistake but doesn't confess or someone behaves impolitely.

(Illi ma bish ma'ah eid ygool aleid eid alafyah)

Meaning: He who is unable to buy new clothes to participate in the Eid says 'since I am well and healthy that is my Eid.'
Comment: Some people, especially the poor who are too poor to buy new clothes for the Eid, feel bad on that day, they try to console themselves or their kids, that good health is a big Eid because Eid has no meaning if one has new clothes but a sick body.
Implication: One mocks at things he lacks. Short people mock at the tall, or one who cannot buy grapes says it is sour.

(Khadhra bi yadi wala yana'a bi yad ghairi)

Meaning: An unripe fruit is better for me to have than let it be eaten by others after it becomes ripe.
Comment: To express their selfishness, selfish people wish to pick unripe fruit though it is tasteless. That is better they think, than leaving it till the time of gathering (when others might get it).
Implication: One should exploit opportunities before they go out of hand.

(Men kan abooh yadhlim annas, kan il qadha bi iyalah)

Meaning: Some whose father was unjust to people, his kids will pay for it.
Comment: Fate is just. Anyone who treats others unjustly will pay for it sooner or later.
Implication: Warning an unjust or a tyrant ruler.

(Ya taweel ma yinfa'ak taolek yiji al gaseer yamsik bhloolek)

Meaning: You that are tall, your height will never serve you. A short one may come and catch you by the throat.
Comment: Some powerful or rich people feel proud of their power or richness. Whoever people who are less than them can harm or hurt them. Like a mighty lion needs a rat to free him from a hunter's nest.
Implication: One is proud of doing something and another who is less than him, comes and spoils it.

(Belash gal ouzinu)

Meaning: When someone says something is free of charge, the other says 'give me more'.
Comment: Some people look for free things like public meals, charity etc. thinking those things are more delicious because they are free.
Implication: Refers to exaggerated greediness.

Gianfranco Mingozzi was born in Bologna where he graduated in Law. He later moved to Rome and studied film direction at the Centro Sperimentalc di Cinematografia Film School. His first experience in the field was as assistant director to Federico Fellini on "La Dolce Vita. Forconsiderable period of time he worked at Canada's "Office National du Film." He made his debut as a director with the documentary "La T aranta, which won the first prize at the Festival dei Popoli (People's Festival) in 1962.
Mr. Gianfranco is 68 now. He has been working for 40 years in the field of direction. He directed more than 53 films of which more than 40 are documentary and 13 for cinema and Italian TV.
He remained a confirmed bachelor thinking that marriage may impede his path to success.
He worked with the Italian director Fileen in directing two international films: Life is sweet and Pickatsho through which he got the Oscar in 1961 when the film's exhibitions were held in Florins in Italy.
His most famous film is "Saqaliah in the heart" which obtained many international awards in 1965. Most of its events took place in Venice.
In 1967, he directed another film Trio which gained many international prizes.
In 1968, he directed a film depicting the kidnapping incidents which had increased at the time.
In answer to a question about the objective of his visit to Yemen he said "My visit to Yemen is in connection with the film that I directed titled "Tobiaal Caffe" which was shown in the fifth European Exhibition.
Regarding his impressions on Yemen, he said "I have greatly admired the Old Sana'a and the villages near Sana'a." He added that Yemenis should preserve their heritage and historical cities. He indicated "We had demolished most of the historical monuments and cities our country in Italy. However, we regretted this later. I do advise all Yemenis to preserve this heritage and not to let anyone touch it.
Tobia Al Caffe' is based on a story by Marco Lodoli. Most of the story takes place in the Caffe' Quattro Palme, an elegant and cafe' whose patrons include middle-class regulars now in retirement, military officers, discreet nobles, impeccable in their uniforms.

Arrest of a gang of smugglers
Last week , the police arrested, in the district of Al -Mlahidh near the borders of Saudi Arabia a gang of smugglers who were trying to illegally smuggle out archeological materials. About 55 valuable archeological books found to be in their possession as they were travelling to Saudi. However, the process of illegal exports of archeological materials outside Yemen has increased recently across the borders of the neighboring countries.

The Public Library in Hudeidah
The general authority for books has achieved a breakthrough by establishing a public library in Hudeidah consisting about nine thousand books in various fields. There is an independent section for books for women and another for children. People in Hudeidah are highly gratified of this library.

A new publication of Ba Wazeer
Abadi center for studies and publication has recently published a new collection of stories by renowned story writer Abdullah Salem Ba Wazeer titled of Noah ark. It discusses social issues in the contemporary Yemeni society. This publication is a part of series for the establishment which is sponsored by the Yemeni story club (Ilmaqa).