- Title: 'Roads of Arabia' exhibition journeys to Riyadh
- Date: 10th December 2017
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 6, 2017) (REUTERS) VISITORS AND JOURNALISTS GATHERED AT ENTRANCE TO "ROADS OF ARABIA" EXHIBITION AT SAUDI NATIONAL MUSEUM BANNER READING (Arabic/English): "ROADS OF ARABIA" VARIOUS OF SANDSTONE CARVINGS FOUND NEAR "MADA'IN SALEH" FROM 4TH MILLENNIUM BC GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE SAUDI NATIONAL MUSEUM, JAMAL OMAR, EXPLAINING EXHIBITION TO JOURNALISTS AND VISITORS JOURNALISTS AND VISITORS LISTENING TO OMAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE SAUDI NATIONAL MUSEUM, JAMAL OMAR, SAYING: "The exhibition "Roads of Arabia" in the Arabian Peninsula ("Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia") is a selection of archaeological monuments found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are 466 archaeological pieces. The purpose of the formation of this exhibition is the definition of the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its cultural role among the societies of the world through the ages." GROUP OF VISITORS TAKING PICTURES OF STONES FOUND IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA TOMBSTONE WITH WRITING ON IT FROM EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA VARIOUS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPERT WORKING AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, ALI AL-HAMAD, EXPLAINING WRITING ON TOMBSTONES AND THEIR HISTORY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPERT WORKING AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, ALI AL-HAMAD, SAYING: "Engravings on tombstones written in the Musnad script [ancient writing system developed in the south of the Arabian Peninsula] and is called the al-Hasa Engravings [Al-Hasa is a traditional oasis region in eastern Saudi Arabia] because it starts with two words [Wajara wa Qabara] that spread in the eastern province, then the two words spread in the north of the Arabian peninsula with the same meaning -- Wajarwa Qabara -- which means 'He digs and buries'. They're all tombstones." VARIOUS OF CARVED SCULPTURE HEADS VARIOUS OF VISITORS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF HEADS AND TOMBSTONES VARIOUS OF VISITOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF SCULPTURE OF PART A HORSE'S BODY FOUND BEFORE 8810 BC IN SAUDI ARABIA SCULPTURE OF PART A HORSE'S BODY FOUND BEFORE 8810 BC IN SAUDI ARABIA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE SAUDI NATIONAL MUSEUM, JAMAL OMAR, SAYING: "It is known worldwide that the domestication of the horse happened in the fifth millennium BC in central Asia, and here we have evidence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the domestication of the horse before its domestication in central Asia. There was domestication of the horse for 9000 years, in particular the Arab horse." FIGURINE OF A CAMEL FROM 2ND CENTURY BC VISITOR TAKING PICTURES THAJ TREASURE ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF PIECES FROM THAJ TREASURE MAP OF SAUDI ARABIA READING (Arabic/English): "THE NATIONAL MUSEUM" VISITORS WALKING INSIDE MUSEUM
- Embargoed: 24th December 2017 12:47
- Keywords: exhibition antiquity classics Arabia horse archaeology
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0017BBYU6T
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: All the "Roads of Arabia" currently lead to Riyadh at an international exhibition welcoming visitors at the Saudi National Museum.
Subtitled "Archaeology and History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", the display is a homecoming for artifacts dating back thousands of years. Organisers say the collection shows a flourishing ancient civilisation and its transformation into modern Saudi Arabia.
As well as tombstones written in the antique 'Musnad' script, highlights include a fragment from a sculpture of a horse dating back to before 8810 BC - evidence, for museum director, Jamal Omar, of an early domestication of the horse in the region.
According to the Saudi National Museum website, 32,000 people have reportedly visited exhibition so far, which began on November 7 and is set to run until December 26.
Prior to reaching Riyadh, "Roads of Arabia" has journeyed from its opening in the Paris Louvre to Tokyo and the United States. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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