[[Image:Sabaeans.gif|right]]The '''Sabaeans''' (سبأيين) were an ancient people speaking a [[South Semitic]] language who lived in what is today [[Yemen]] and in northern [[Ethiopia]] and [[Eritrea]]. Their Ancient '''Sabaean Kingdom''' lasted from the early 1st millennium to the 1st century BC. In the 1st century BC it was conquered by the Himyarites, but after the disintegration of the 1st Himyarite empire of the Kings of Saba' and dhu-Raydan the Middle Sabaean Kingdom reappeared in the early 2nd century CE. It was finally conquered by the Himyarites in the late 3rd century CEas mentioned in the Quran 34:15. Its capital was [[Marib]] and was along the strip of [[desert]] that was called Sayhad by [[medieval]] [[Arab]] [[geographers]] and that is called now Ramlat al-Sab`atayn.

The [['''Sabaean]] ''' people were one of four ancient Yemeni groups (Greek ''ethnos'') classified by [[Eratosthenes]]. The others were the [[Minaean]], [[Himyarite]], [[Habesha people|Habashat]] and [[Qatabanian]] people. Each of these had regional kingdoms in ancient Yemen, though the Minaean Kingdom held dominance from approximately [[1200 BC]] until [[650 BC]], and the Sabaeans after them.

The Sabaeans, as were the other Arabian and Yemenite kingdoms of the same period, were involved in the extremely lucrative [[spice trade]], especially [[frankincense]] and [[myrrh]].[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108153.html]

Most archaeologists now believe them to be the same nation as the [[Bible|Biblical]] kingdom of [[Sheba]]. They left behind many inscriptions in the monumental [[Musnad]] (Old South Arabian) alphabet, as well as numerous documents in the cursive [[Zabur]] script.

They were [[polytheistic]], and should not be confused with Due to their hegemony of the [[Sabians]] mentioned Red Sea some Sabaeans lived in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea during the [[Qur'an]]Sabaean-influenced kingdom of D`mt. Most modern historians consider this civilization to be indigenous,<ref>Stuart Munro-Hay, whose name is written with the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] letter ''sadAksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity'' rather than . Edinburgh: University Press, 1991, pp.57. </ref>, but some still view, as in the past, D`mt as the result of a mixture of "culturally superior" Sabaeans and indigenous peoples;<ref>Taddesse Tamrat, ''sinChurch and State in Ethiopia: 1270-1527''(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972), pp.5-13.</ref> a very small minority even views the kingdom as wholly Sabaean and Ethiopians as the descendents of ancient Sabaean immigrants, but with little evidence.<ref>Megalommatis, Mohammed K.P. "[http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/8-4-2005-74197.asp Yemen’s Past and Perspectives are in Africa, not a fictitious 'Arab' world]"</ref>

Due to their [[hegemony]] of Sabaeans were an ancient polytheistic people who worshiped the [[Red Sea]] some Sabaeans lived heavenly host, living in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea during what is now Yemen. (Although they may have had a form of monotheism under the Queen of Sheba). The ancient Sabaean-influenced kingdom of [[D`mt]]Kingdom lasted from the early 1st millennium (ca. 9th century BC) to the 1st century BC. Most modern historians consider this civilization In the 1st century BC it was conquered by the Himyarites who claimed to be indigenous,<ref>Stuart Munro-Hay, ''Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity''. Edinburgh: University Press, 1991, pp.57. </ref>the true Sabaeans, but some still view, as in after the past, D`mt as disintegration of the result first Himyarite empire of a mixture the Kings of "culturally superior" Sabaeans and indigenous peoples;<ref>Taddesse Tamrat, 'Saba'Church and State in Ethiopia: 1270dhu-1527'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972), pp.5-13.</ref> a very small minority even views Raydan the kingdom as wholly Middle Sabaean and Ethiopians as Kingdom reappeared in the descendents of ancient Sabaean immigrants, but with little evidenceearly 2nd century.<ref>Megalommatis, Mohammed KIt was finally conquered by the Himyarites around 280 CE.P. "[[http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/8-4-2005-74197 The kingdom of Himyar was the dominant state in Arabia until 525 CE.asp Yemen’s Past and Perspectives are in Africa, not a fictitious 'Arab' world]"</ref>

Sabaeans may also refer to the monotheistic followers of Sheba are frequently but erroneously confused (by those who know little better) with [[Abdullah ibn Saba]]. A derogatory term for the Sabians whose etymology is completely unrelated being spelled with an initial Arabic letter "Sad" (hebrew Tzadi) instead of Shiah, reflecting the initial letter "Sin" (hebrew Shin). The issue claim that Shi'ite Islam was confused invented by Mohammed Marmeduke Pickthal Abdullah ibn Saba, a Yemenite or Persian Muslim-Jew who lived in his translation of the Quran because at least one tribe time of Sabaeans, the Ansar, are known Caliph Uthman. He may have been a true Quranic Sabian opposing reforms to have adopted islam made by the religion of the Saabi`ah Hunafa` under the influence of Jewish leaders like the Ethiopian Jew Heman ben ShalimCaliphate. Even so modern Shiah islam shares more in common with Sunni islam than with Seboghatullah.

*[[http://sebomenoi.org/index.php/Sabaeans sebomenoi.org] -- an UNC educational project.''* Yemen]]*[[Minaean Kingdom]]

*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-45966 Article] at [[Encyclopedia Britannica]]