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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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Cultural Activities of King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Conclude with Over 320 Competitive Rounds

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
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Cultural Activities of King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Conclude with Over 320 Competitive Rounds

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival concluded on Thursday with the Al-Fahl Al-Muntij competitions for the “Shaal,” “Safar,” and “Wadah” categories, marking the end of an exceptional event held under the theme “Pride of Its People.”

The festival aimed to elevate camels as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and as a source of both local and global pride and interest.
Spanning more than 30 days, the festival featured over 320 competitive rounds, including Mazayen, Hajij, Tabaa, and camel races.

The event showcased a variety of camel types, such as Majahim, Wadah, Shaqah, Hamr, Safar, Shaal, Asayel, Sawahel, and hybrid camels, according to SPA.
Dedicated categories were organized for both individual and group competitions, drawing extensive participation from camel owners across the Gulf region, the Arab world, and beyond. Notably, the festival featured the Princess Nourah’s Round, exclusively for women, highlighting their contributions to camel heritage.
The final day was a cultural celebration, with diverse activities for attendees. The cultural tent hosted various programs, including Hanna Lahaa performances, camel owners’ celebrations, and vibrant camel processions entering the Rimat gates to be showcased before judging panels. Presentations on algorithm-based judging stages captivated audiences, culminating in the announcement of results, which drew enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.