Ancient South Arabia is a geographical label referring to a region occupied by six semitic kingdoms: Sabaʼ, Qatabān, Ma‘īn, Ḥaḍramawt, the Kingdom of Awsan, and the Himyarite Kingdom.
Large scale excavations of the region have only really commenced in the last 70 years, but have produced an extensive repertoire of small and large-scale bronze figures. The extensiveness of the finds shows that bronze figures were culturally significant to the South Arabian civilisation and this extended to the variety of figures found. Animals and their associated riders make up a large part of this repertoire, and given the semi-nomadic infrastructure of the society, it is easy to see the value such animals had. Horses, equestrians, camels and their riders were well used across the South Arabian caravan.
