Sena, Yemen

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sena
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pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Yemen
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Yemen
subdivision_type1 = Governorate
subdivision_name1 = Hadhramaut Governorate
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population_as_of =2005
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population_blank1_title =Ethnicities
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population_blank2_title =Religions
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latd=17 |latm=49 |lats= 0|latNS=N
longd=51 |longm=04 |longs=0 |longEW=E
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footnotes = Sena (Sometimes spelled "Senna", "Sanaw" or "Sanāw") is an abandoned ancient town in Yemen located in the eastern Hadramaut valley. This village should not be confused with the capital of Yemen, San'a, or the town of "Sanāw" in Oman.

It was once a thriving Jewish city at the time of the Babylonian empire around 500 BC and is believed to have been dominated by Israelites which had fled Jerusalem during the Babylonian invasion. They crossed the Jordan into Yemen believing they were safe in the valley in the east. According to hydrologists, agriculture in the dry valley was only made possible by a dam, and when this broke leaving no water the inhabitants of the city were forced to move or face starvation.

According to British anthropologists who specialize in Jewish studies such as Tudor Parfitt, the Ark of the Covenant was kept in the town for some time before it was taken across to Africa where the Israelites in leaving Sena settled along the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe. Genetic studies of the Lemba tribe in the country has revealed they are indeed direct descendants of the Israelites and the town of Sena is frequently mentioned in their history.

Today the deserted town is only occupied five days a year by pilgrims, and the area is under the garrison of the Yemenian army.

External links

* [http://www.forumcityusa.com/viewtopic.php?p=613&sid=c56a0538e6e2642e70738fc2d3d33a15&mforum=africa A discussion of the role of the town in Jewish and African history]