Yemeni activists belonging to the Yemeni nationalist movement (Aqal) - A national movement concerned with the revival of Yemeni history- released the Yemeni Ibex Day corresponding 22nd of January every year to celebrate the Ibex as a national animal known throughout history to have been a companion of the Yemeni man in the past and it has many symbols for Yemenis, so why the Ibex
specifically and what secrets does this unique animal hold ?l
The Ibex is a wild animal of the goat family, it always living in the highlands and mountains and it is found in northeastern Africa, Europe, and Asia. Yemen is among the most prominent countries where the Ibex are located. The Ibex is distinguished by its long, curved back horns that form a semi-circle, and its long beard and cloven hooves that help it withstand the rugged environment
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As for the Yemenis, the ibex lived through the Yemeni civilizations in various countries and regions formed by the east, west, north, and south, and remained painted and carved on temples, houses, and monuments. The ibex has a place in the lives of the ancient Yemenis and their religions, and it has a mentioned in their inscriptions for three reasons, Firstly, since the early Shebaean era, a religious ritual was established, which is the sacred hunting, especially the hunting of( Athtar), for which seasonal rites were held, led by the mourner or the Shebaan king and the great people, and the Ibex was the basis of this ritual. Secondly, the ancient Yemenis took the caribou - especially the stallion, the leader of the herd, as a symbol that embodies the god Athtar "the planet of Venus" and the god of rain, fertility, and fertilization. Athtar was a general deity for all Yemenis and had no privacy, and for this, he had temples all over the country, and they approached him in these temples with many statues in the form of ibex. The Temple of Bran is an example. And thirdly: the great abundance of flocks of ibex in all parts of Yemen, especially in the east, and the first quarters of the ancient Yemeni civilization
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Arwa is the name of the female ibex, very similar to the character of the Yemeni female, tenderness, clear femininity, soft texture and hardship in life, and that is why the Yemenis named their daughters Arwa according to the female ibex name. And we have an example of the most famous queen who ruled large parts of Yemen, which is Queen Arwa Al-Sulayhi . The female ibex does not have a bear, and does not have long horns like the male and does not enter into wars and inter-conflicts
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| Ibex Female .. Arwa |
The characteristics that characterize the Ibex characterize the Yemeni personality. The Yemeni character is peaceful by nature. He does not harm anyone, and he loves to live in a rugged environment and the tops of the mountains.They built terraces and houses above the clouds, and when he attacked, that person turns into the fiercest fighters. Yemen has been known for its fighters throughout history . Yemen is the cemetery of the invaders.Unfortunately, the Ibex has become one of the endangered animals in Yemen, and according to the activists who launched a national day to celebrate the Ibex, they are calling for the protection of this animal, which means a lot to Yemenis
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