“The exhibits were chosen carefully to reflect the effective contribution of the residents of this land in the making of history through the ages,” said Professor Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Ghabban, vice president for Antiquities and Museums at the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
Al-Ghabban is in a large part responsible for the exhibition “Routes d’Arabie — Archaeology and History from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and selected most of the items for it.
Although one or two items that will be on display have been seen abroad before, this is the first time that such a comprehensive collection of 350 rare pieces from diverse periods of history have been sent abroad. It is indeed the first time that all of the items have been brought together and will simply be the most important display of Saudi history seen anywhere.
The exhibition will also showcase the region’s role in the world economy through the centuries and its impact on civilizations, a key theme for peaceful cultural and economic relations between east and west. The exhibition includes relics from the pre-Islamic era until the Kingdom’s establishment in the last century under its founder King Abdul Aziz.
Al-Ghabban said the oldest artifact is a stone tool found in the north of the Kingdom dating back around one million years ago. All of the objects have been found in the Kingdom and have mostly been taken from Saudi museum, primarily the National Museum and the King Saud University Museum.
“The idea behind organizing this exhibition is to utilize it as a starting point for a series of cooperation efforts between the SCTA, represented by the National Museum, and the Louvre,” said Al-Ghabban, adding that the exhibition will lead to many other similar programs and projects.
“The exhibition is to be held at a time of the year when the Louvre usually receives some 10 million visitors,” said Al- Ghabban, adding that it also has the support of SCTA Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman, who eased the way for the exhibition to take place, met the Louvre’s director and president, Henri Loyrette, and visited the museum to inspect progress.
“The exhibition will be executed in a high-class way according to Louvre standards. This also comes in line with the SCTA’s efforts to hold exhibitions of archaeological items across the world,” said Al-Ghabban.
He added that the exhibition’s goal is not only to showcase items that are archaeologically significant but to “also present our culture and history to the world.” “The Kingdom is in the limelight with regards to its economic, religious and political dimensions, but its culture is not exhibited properly. I am sorry to say that this stereotype is not just international but also local,” said Al-Ghabban.
He added that exhibitions such as this can act as ambassadors to highlight these different aspects of Saudi Arabia.
Prince Sultan, said Al-Ghabban, previously said that the exhibition will highlight the Kingdom’s history, culture, rich heritage, humanitarian contributions through time, and its present importance under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The exhibition will be held in the museum’s Napoleon Hall. “The initial agreement was that the relics will be showcased in display pavilions, but after a specialist team from Louvre visited the Kingdom and after being acquainted with the importance of the relics they decided to hold the exhibition in the Napoleon Hall,” said Al-Ghabban.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events including a film about travelers to the Arabian Peninsula and folk dances, said Al-Ghabban.
Asked whether Saudis would get the opportunity to see their country’s heritage, he said that this was important. The exhibits were normally spread across the Kingdom in different museums. Here was a chance to see them together.
The exhibition is to go Barcelona after Paris before heading to the US. Al-Ghabban indicated it might also go to other European cities as well and might also tour the Kingdom itself.
The King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre will also hold an exhibition during the same period on the Kingdom through the eyes of French writers who visited it.
