Incense burner with scene of man riding camel

myminifactory

Camel caravans transported frankincense and myrrh, fragrant resins harvested in Arabia, northward to the Mediterranean sea. These valuable commodities were used extensively throughout the Roman and Parthian Empires. Shabwa, capital of the ancient kingdom of Hadramawt in southwestern Arabia, accumulated its wealth from frankincense harvesting. Frankincense trees are hard to cultivate in large quantities, and incense was gathered from wild trees located in highlands where climate conditions were ideal for producing high-quality resin. This burner's inscription reveals Adhlal, son of Wahab'il, as its generous donor.