Arabia Felix

Arabia Felix
/fee"liks/
an ancient division of Arabia, in the S part: sometimes restricted to Yemen.

* * *

▪ ancient region, Arabia
Latin“Happy, or Flourishing, Arabia”

      in ancient geography, the comparatively fertile region in southwestern and southern Arabia (in present-day Asir and Yemen), a region that contrasted with Arabia Deserta in barren central and northern Arabia and with Arabia Petraea (“Stony Arabia”) in northwestern Arabia, which came under the suzerainty of imperial Rome. The Greeks and Romans chose the name because of the area's pleasant climate and reputed riches in agricultural products and in spices. The emperor Augustus (reigned 27 BC–AD 14) sent an expedition under Gaius Aelius Gallus to Arabia Felix, with disastrous results. Partly because of a native guide's treachery, the troops traveled by a circuitous way through waterless regions, so that they reached southern Arabia weakened by disease, heat, and want of water, unable to accomplish much commercially or politically. But the expedition did bring back a considerable knowledge of the country and its products. See also Sabaʾ.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arabia Felix — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Arabia Felix (Arabia Feliz) es el nombre recibido en latín en la Antigüedad por una de las tres partes en que se dividía la Península Arábiga, junto a la Arabia Petrea y la Arabia Deserta, región de vagos contornos,… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Arabĭa felix — (a. Geogr.), so v.w. Aden …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Arabia Felix — Arabie heureuse L Arabie heureuse désignait pour les Grecs et Romains l Arabie du Sud (actuel Yémen), relativement humide grâce à ses montagnes et à un important système d irrigation, centre de la riche civilisation des Sabéens. L Arabie heureuse …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ARABIA FELIX —    the W. coast of Arabia, contains YEMEN and EL HEJAZ (q.v. HEJAZ, EL), and is subject to Turkey …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Arabia Felix — Fertile Arabia also known as Aden, the Hadhramaut, or Yemenite section …   Eponyms, nicknames, and geographical games

  • Arabia Felix — /fee liks/ an ancient division of Arabia, in the S part: sometimes restricted to Yemen …   Useful english dictionary

  • Arabia — • The cradle of Islam and, in all probability, the primitive home of the Semitic race Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Arabia     Arabia      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Arabia pre-islámica — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda La historia de la Arabia pre islámica, es decir, la de la Península Arábiga y el pueblo árabe antes del surgimiento del Islam en torno al año 630 no se conoce con gran detalle. La exploración arqueológica de la zona… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Arabia Deserta — ( Desert Arabia ) in Latin signified the desert interior of the Arabian peninsula. In ancient times, this land was populated by nomadic tribes who frequently invaded richer lands, such as Mesopotamia and Arabia Felix.Arabia Deserta was one of… …   Wikipedia

  • Arabia Pétrea — Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”