SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi officials are working to preserve a castle in northern Saudi Arabia, home to a number of archaeological sites including Marid Castle and Omar In Al-Khattab mosque, believed to date back to 272 AD

Record ID: 189340

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi officials are working to preserve a castle in northern Saudi Arabia, home to a number of archaeological sites including Marid Castle and Omar In Al-Khattab mosque, believed to date back to 272 AD
  • Date: 9th March 2014
  • Summary: DUMAT AL-JANDAL, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MARID CASTLE VISITORS SEATED ON TOP OF MARID CASTLE VISITORS ENTERING HISTORICAL SITE VARIOUS OF VISITORS WALKING IN SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF HERITAGE EVENTS COMMITTEE IN DUMAT AL-JANDAL, SAYAH AL-SABELAH, SAYING: "The earliest mention of the Marid castle is in the diary of Queen Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, when she came to the north of the Arabian Peninsula and had intended to join together the cities of Taima and Jandal that were famous for agriculture. She wanted to start taking taxes from the people of this region but she wasn't successful in her mission. After that she said her famous statement: 'Marid is rebellion and the Al-Ablaq is dear', Marid is the palace where we are standing in now and Al- Ablaq is the Palace of Taima." VARIOUS OF MAN PRAYING AT SITE EXTERIOR OF OMAR IBN AL-KHATTAB MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR, MNAWEGH AL-SHRARI, SAYING: "Every Friday afternoon we come to pray here and to enjoy this scene and this heritage which is being preserved. This beautiful place and this mosque make me feel happy. We are from the outskirts of the desert, everyone knows that the desert people come every Friday to watch this beautiful landscape and ancient heritage." EXTERIOR OF OMAR IBN AL-KHATTAB MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF HERITAGE EVENTS COMMITTEE IN DUMAT AL-JANDAL, SAYAH AL-SABELAH, SAYING: "We are now in the Mosque of Omar Ibn al-Khattab, the mosque dates back to the early years of the reign of the Islamic state. It is said that the reason for building this mosque was due to Omar Ibn al-Khattab's visit to the site, he came from Jerusalem over Dumat Al- Jandal and couldn't find a mosque that is big enough to accommodate all the people, so he ordered the construction of this mosque." TRAVELLING SHOT OF SITE VISITORS BEING SHOWN THE OLD WAY OF PULLING WATER CAMELS WALKING VISITORS TOUCHING CAMELS AS THEY WALK BY VARIOUS OF WATER BEING PULLED OUT BY WHEEL VISITORS AT SITE MAN SINGING NEXT TO CAMELS TRAVELLING SHOT OF SITE TOP VIEW OF HISTORICAL CITY
  • Embargoed: 24th March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA1VAB9S9R3Q7OC64AL9DUMWA9B
  • Story Text: Saudi officials are stepping up their efforts to preserve the Kingdom's rich cultural heritage by reviving archaeological sites in various cities.
    The initiative aims to restore monuments and revive historic places that are under threat of collapse.
    One of the sites that is currently being preserved is the Marid castle, believed to be one of the most important historic castles in the Saudi Kingdom.
    Situated in the city of Dumat Al- Jandal, north of Saudi Arabia, the two-floor castle consists of a series of rooms and a deep well that still provides people with water in the traditional way.
    The castle is believed to date back to 272 AD. Despite it being built of stone and mud, it has managed to resist climate changes and still attracts visitors from all parts of the Kingdom.
    Chairman of the heritage events committee in Dumat al-Jandal Sayah Al-Sabelah explained the historical background of the castle.

    "The earliest mention of the Marid castle is in the diary of Queen Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, when she came to the north of the Arabian Peninsula and had intended to join together the cities of Taima and Jandal that were famous for agriculture. She wanted to start taking taxes from the people of this region but she wasn't successful in her mission. After that she said her famous statement: 'Marid is rebellion and the Al-Ablaq is dear', Marid is the palace where we are standing in now and Al- Ablaq is the Palace of Taima," he said.
    The initiative has so far succeeded in rehabilitating and restoring various locations at the site including five wells, one of which was abandoned for nearly 80 years.
    The site also includes a mosque named after the seventh century Muslim ruler, Omar Ibn al-Khattab, who is believed to have ordered the construction of the mosque.
    Visitors from all over the area and surrounding cities, as well as Bedouins, come to visit and pray at the mosque.

    "Every Friday afternoon we come to pray here and to enjoy this scene and this heritage which is being preserved. This beautiful place and this mosque make me feel happy. We are from the outskirts of the desert, everyone knows that the desert people come every Friday to watch this beautiful landscape and ancient heritage," said Mnawegh Al-Shrari, a visitor to the site.
    The mosque is believed to be one of the oldest ancient mosques that have not been reconstructed.

    "We are now in the Mosque of Omar Ibn al-Khattab, the mosque dates back to the early years of the reign of the Islamic state. It is said that the reason for building this mosque was due to Omar Ibn al-Khattab's visit to the site, he came from Jerusalem over Dumat Al- Jandal and couldn't find a mosque that is big enough to accommodate all the people, so he ordered the construction of this mosque," said Al-Sabelah.
    Officials and archaeologists at the site hope their initiative will help shed more light on the significance of its cultural heritage and boost tourism activity in the area.
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