Editing Sheba (section)

=== Conquests of Karib'il Watar ===
The major conquests in Saba were driven by the exploits of [[Karib'il Watar]]. Karib'il conquered all surrounding neighbours, including the [[Awsan]], [[Qataban]], and [[Hadhramaut]]. Karib'il's exploits largely unified Yemen.{{Sfn|Robin|2002|p=58}}[[File:Karib'il Watar map1.svg|thumb|[[Karib'il Watar]]'s campaign against [[Awsan]]]]The conquests of Karib'il are documented in two lengthy inscriptions (RES 3945–3946) discovered at the Temple of Almaqah at Sirwah. These inscriptions describe a series of eight campaigns to show how Karib'il ultimately brought South Arabia under the control of Saba. The first campaign took place in the highlands west of Marib, where Karib'il declares that he had captured 8,000 and killed 3,000 enemies.{{Sfn|Magee|2014|pp=242–243}} The second campaign concerned the [[Kingdom of Awsan]], which flourished in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Up until the reign of Karib'il, it was a significant regional competitor with the Kingdom of Saba. However, Karib'il's campaign brought about the obliteration of the Kingdom of Awsan. The tribal elite leading Awsan were slaughtered, and the palace of Murattaʿ was destroyed, as well as their temples and inscriptions. The wadi was depopulated, which is reflected in the abandonment of the wadi. Sabaean inscriptions claim that 16,000 were killed and 40,000 prisoners were taken. This may not have been a significant exaggeration, as the Awsan kingdom disappeared as a political entity from the historical record for five or six centuries.{{Sfn|Nebes|2023|pp=342–343}} The third and fourth campaigns involve attacks against tribes living in low-lying hills that geographically face the [[Gulf of Aden]]. The fifth and sixth campaigns were against [[Nashshan]]. Nashshan was, like Awsan, one of Saba's most powerful competitors. However, against Karib'il, combined with the destruction of several towns and buildings and the imposition of a tribute on its people. Any dissidents were killed and the cult of [[Almaqah]] was imposed onto Nashshan, with Nashshan's leaders being required to build a temple for him. The final two campaigns were against the [[Tihamah]] coastal region and the [[Najran]] region.{{Sfn|Magee|2014|pp=242–243}}