AWWAM TEMPLE

Known today as Mahram Bilkis was first excavated by the American Foundation for the Study of Man, led by Wendell Phillips, in 1951 and 1952. This temple was dedicated to the astrales deities. A pronaos with eight columns gave on a building whose inner part was surrounded by 32 monoliths columns, forming gallery. It was decorated with 64 false windows and numerous votive plates. The building opened on an oval courtyard protected by an enclosure about 300 metres.

Inscriptions were engraved on the walls. There are inscriptions in boustrophédon (primitive writing) not far from the remaining pillars. More than statues, including the famous representation of Mon'dîkarib, have been discovered. The temple, for the moment dated the th century BC, gave rise to pilgrimages, with renewed oaths of subservient to Saba.