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United States Returns ‘Earth Monster’ Olmec Sculpture to Mexico

Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, left, is shown a photograph of "Monument 9," an Olmec civilization statue that is believed to represent an "earth monster," before a part of the creation was repatriated Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP)
Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, left, is shown a photograph of "Monument 9," an Olmec civilization statue that is believed to represent an "earth monster," before a part of the creation was repatriated Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP)
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United States Returns ‘Earth Monster’ Olmec Sculpture to Mexico

Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, left, is shown a photograph of "Monument 9," an Olmec civilization statue that is believed to represent an "earth monster," before a part of the creation was repatriated Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP)
Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, left, is shown a photograph of "Monument 9," an Olmec civilization statue that is believed to represent an "earth monster," before a part of the creation was repatriated Friday, May 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP)

Mexico announced Friday that a huge 2,500-year-old Olmec stone sculpture has been returned from the United States.

The almost six-foot-tall (two-meter) “Monster of the Earth” sculpture appears to represent the gaping maw of a monster that is big enough to swallow people, and may represent a symbolic entrance to the underworld.

Experts say the sculpture is important because of the insights it provides on the cosmological vision of the Olmecs, considered a founding culture of Meso-America.

Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said the sculpture was handed over at the Mexican consulate in Denver, Colorado, on Friday.

Experts believe the sculpture was taken clandestinely in the 1960s from Chalcatzingo, a lesser-known ruin site south of Mexico City.

“It was like an open wound, not having this artifact,” Ebrard said.

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Chinese Cultural Event in Riyadh Highlights Heritage of Yunnan Province

This photo taken on March 30, 2025 shows farmers working in fields in a village where tobacco is commonly grown in Yuxi, in China's southwest Yunnan province. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)
This photo taken on March 30, 2025 shows farmers working in fields in a village where tobacco is commonly grown in Yuxi, in China's southwest Yunnan province. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)
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Chinese Cultural Event in Riyadh Highlights Heritage of Yunnan Province

This photo taken on March 30, 2025 shows farmers working in fields in a village where tobacco is commonly grown in Yuxi, in China's southwest Yunnan province. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)
This photo taken on March 30, 2025 shows farmers working in fields in a village where tobacco is commonly grown in Yuxi, in China's southwest Yunnan province. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)

A Chinese cultural event titled 'A Life Called Yunnan' was held in Riyadh, marking a significant occasion in the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025 initiative.

The event was attended by China’s Ambassador to the Kingdom, Chang Hua, along with several officials, diplomats, and cultural, tourism, and heritage enthusiasts from both Saudi Arabia and China.

It included captivating artistic performances that showcased the essence of Chinese culture, as well as a dedicated section offering tea and coffee experiences. This created an immersive atmosphere inspired by the daily life of Yunnan Province in southwest China.

The event also featured several Saudi artisans, who presented interactive displays of traditional handicrafts and calligraphy, offering a vibrant reflection of the Kingdom's rich cultural and artistic heritage.

This event marks a continuation of the expanding cultural and tourism cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China. It is part of a cultural initiative designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and deepen mutual understanding, fostering new opportunities for dialogue and exchange between the two nations.