Limestone
400-100 BCE
Yemen
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Arabia
Theme
Trade, Movement and Exchange
Subtheme
Across Deserts and Mountains – the ‘Incense’ and ‘Silk’ Roads
Case Title
Incense: scent of wealth
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Yemen
Measurements
26 x 16 x 14 cm
Accession Number
125111 / 1887,0629.9
Description
The ancient world needed incense, and the best came from Yemen. It was exported to India, Persia and the Mediterranean. Incense burners, made in cheap pottery, cast from metal, or carved from limestone like this, were used in temples, homes and tombs. The inscription in Yemen’s Minaic language tells us that two brothers dedicated this, and a matching incense-burner to a local god.
