SAUDI ARABIA: A rock in the desert where the pre-Islamic poet Antara Bin Shadad is said to have met his love Abla, now attracts couples from the Gulf who hope a visit will bring luck to them and their loved-ones

Record ID: 189115

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: A rock in the desert where the pre-Islamic poet Antara Bin Shadad is said to have met his love Abla, now attracts couples from the Gulf who hope a visit will bring luck to them and their loved-ones
  • Date: 29th January 2013
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF GHAF AL-JAWA AREA AT SUNSET WITH AUDIO OF SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS SEVEN LONG ARABIC POEMS RIYADH
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVACHJ7207OPHPXEY6RZNAWO7EN7
  • Story Text: The ancient rock in Saudi Arabia's Ghaf al-Jawa desert, where the pre-Islamic poet Antara bin Shadad used to meet his beloved Abla, has become a symbolic attraction for visiting couples.
    Ghaf al-Jawa, in the town of Qusiba, is considered to be one of the largest open-air museums in the region.
    The ruins of Antara's palace in Qusiba overlook ancient pilgrimage routes and various water sources.
    The site was rehabilitated by the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities as part of a project to renew archaeological sites in the country.
    Tour guide Saleh al-Radi explained the historical importance of the area and told the story of how Antara became well-known.

    "The area of Qusiba was rich in water, and there are seven natural water springs including the spring of Abs which was named after the Abs tribe. During this time, the war of Dahis and Ghabra started (the war between the related tribes of Abs and Dhubyan). This made the tribe stay here for more than 40 years, and during this time the heroic role of Antara bin Shadad al-Absi appeared," said al-Radi.
    Antara was one of the most famous Arab poets in the pre-Islamic era. His poetry touches on themes such as ethical values, deserts, horses, courage and heroism in battle.
    Despite his deep involvement in battles and wars, Antara still found time for matters of the heart.

    "As Antara was famous for his battles and heroic war, he was also popular on another side, the love side. His great love story with his cousin Abla was passed on from one generation to another," said al-Radi.
    Antara's famous rock has now become a symbol of love for many Gulf visitors.

    "This rock represents the symbol of love in our region, because it is where the couple Abla and Antara met. Antara was so in love with Abla that he used to walk a distance of 50 kilometers a day to meet her. It is also known that most of the girls in this region carry the name of Abla," said Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, an expert in Saudi history.
    Some couples have even written their names on the rock, in the hope it will bring luck to them and their loved-ones.

    "The evidence that this rock is still a symbol of love is that it has some male and female names written close to each other, and this proves the continuous success of their love story," al-Subaihi added.
    Saudis still keep the ancient poetry of Antara alive, reciting it at annual cultural events, such as the 'Souk Okaz' festival in the city of Taif.
    At the annual al-Janadriyeh festival in Riyadh, an actor dresses up as Antara to perform the recitation, in a bid to pass on the work of the famous poet to future generations.
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