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Under Saudi Heritage Authority’s Microscope: Exploring Historical Souq Thul-Majaz

The Saudi Heritage Authority sheds light on the historical site of Souq Thul-Majaz (Heritage Authority)
The Saudi Heritage Authority sheds light on the historical site of Souq Thul-Majaz (Heritage Authority)
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Under Saudi Heritage Authority’s Microscope: Exploring Historical Souq Thul-Majaz

The Saudi Heritage Authority sheds light on the historical site of Souq Thul-Majaz (Heritage Authority)
The Saudi Heritage Authority sheds light on the historical site of Souq Thul-Majaz (Heritage Authority)

The Saudi Heritage Authority has shed light on the historical site of Souq Thul-Majaz, one of the most renowned pre-Islamic Arab markets.

The Authority's survey and excavation team successfully completed their inaugural season, aimed at uncovering the site’s archaeological treasures, unearthing findings, and revealing architectural remnants that bear witness to the market’s historical and cultural significance.

This bustling market was once frequented by Arabs and Muslims during the early days of Islam before they embarked on the annual Hajj pilgrimage season.

The Authority, in collaboration with a group of Saudi experts, has successfully concluded the first season of archaeological survey and excavation at the site of the market in the holy city of Makkah.

The endeavor aimed to unearth scientific and historical evidence related to the location as part of the Authority's efforts to explore national heritage sites, preserve their historical significance, and promote awareness about them.

Additionally, the initiative seeks to utilize these sites as valuable cultural and economic resources, enriching the experiences of both citizens and visitors to the holy city.

Saudi Arabia, with its vast geographical expanse and pivotal role in the region’s history, is home to numerous historical sites that have embraced the heritage and epics of Arab communities, nationalities, and neighboring cultures over the ages.

Among these renowned sites are the ancient markets that have flourished since pre-Islamic times, through the early Islamic eras, where societies gathered in their shops and stalls.

Notably, the markets of Okaz, Majnah, and Thul-Majaz stand out, known as the pilgrimage markets since they took place during the pilgrimage months.

These markets served as hubs for trade and commerce and witnessed the exchange of poetry, literature, and diverse intellectual endeavors.

Located in Wadi Al-Mughmas, Souq Thul-Majaz lies about 20 kilometers to the east of the city of Makkah. This market holds historical, cultural, and archaeological significance, being one of the renowned Arabian markets in the Arabian Peninsula from pre-Islamic times until the early Islamic era.

Souq Thul-Majaz was linked to overland trade routes through which Arabs and merchants from various regions arrived in Makkah.

On the other hand, it was connected to the historic port of Al-Shuaiba on the Red Sea coast, south of Jeddah.

The prominence of Souq Thul-Majaz continued to endure even beyond the year 129 AH in the Islamic calendar year.

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Culture

Twice a Year, a Golden Sunbeam Illuminates a 3,000-Year-Old Pharaonic Temple

Tourists crowd to film the sun as it sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II's dark inner chamber in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP)
Tourists crowd to film the sun as it sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II's dark inner chamber in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP)
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Twice a Year, a Golden Sunbeam Illuminates a 3,000-Year-Old Pharaonic Temple

Tourists crowd to film the sun as it sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II's dark inner chamber in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP)
Tourists crowd to film the sun as it sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II's dark inner chamber in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP)

Hundreds of tourists from around the world and locals gathered at dawn Thursday at a temple in southern Egypt, with some sleeping outside it overnight to witness a solar phenomenon that has taken place here for millennia.

Twice a year, on Oct. 22 and Feb. 22 — dates believed to mark the ascension of Ramesses II to the throne and his birthday — the sun sends a beam of light into the Great Temple of Ramses II’s dark inner chamber to illuminate the statues of the pharaoh and two gods beside him.

The illumination, a result of the temple's alignment with the sun, lasts about 20 minutes.

“Today is a very special day, as you can see. It’s a celebration and a historic holiday," Hisham Khela, a local tour guide for Italian tourists, told The Associated Press.

Egyptology enthusiasts and other visitors stood in a messy single-file line with phone cameras in hand, some with selfie sticks and most with bags under their eyes from waking up so early. Although huge crowds turned up, they looked tiny beside the giant statues lining the temple, which overlooks the Nile.

To mark the phenomenon, colorfully dressed performers scattered in front of the temple smiled and danced in unison to meditative chimes, the percussion of the tabla and the distinct sound of mizmars, an ancient Egyptian trumpet.

Inside the temple, visitors huddled tightly in near-total darkness in front of the statues of Ramesses II and the gods Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, lit by a beam of sunlight that traveled about 60 meters (200 feet) into the temple, according to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.

For first-timers, ancient history created modern memories.

Janice Souudi, who traveled from Atlanta, Georgia, said it was her first time in Egypt, and she said it won’t be her last.

“I came here today for the huge temple statues and how well preserved they are. But I was most impressed with the colors of the carvings and hieroglyphics and imagery," she said. "Beautiful, stunning, worth it!”

In the 1960s, archaeologists carried out a massive project to dismantle and relocate the temple, moving it out of the path of rising waters created by the Aswan High Dam.

Engineers took care to preserve the temple’s alignment with the sun, so that more than 3,000 years after it was built, the light still finds its way inside.

Culture

AlUla's Dadan Excavations Explore Ancient Civilizations in 2026–2027 Archaeology Season

The work aims to study historical sites and uncover evidence that sheds light on the development of ancient civilizations in northwestern Arabia. (SPA)
The work aims to study historical sites and uncover evidence that sheds light on the development of ancient civilizations in northwestern Arabia. (SPA)
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AlUla's Dadan Excavations Explore Ancient Civilizations in 2026–2027 Archaeology Season

The work aims to study historical sites and uncover evidence that sheds light on the development of ancient civilizations in northwestern Arabia. (SPA)
The work aims to study historical sites and uncover evidence that sheds light on the development of ancient civilizations in northwestern Arabia. (SPA)

Archaeological excavations and research are continuing at Dadan in AlUla as part of the 2026–2027 archaeology season, launched by the Royal Commission for AlUla in AlUla and Khaybar.

The work aims to study historical sites and uncover evidence that sheds light on the development of ancient civilizations in northwestern Arabia.

Photographs taken by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) have documented ongoing excavations at Dadan, focusing on funerary and residential areas as part of the second phase of the archaeological project. Building on five years of research, the work aims to trace the development of the ancient city and provide further insights into patterns of human settlement and daily life.

This season's work includes specialized archaeological studies and digital documentation of historical sites and findings.

Saudi specialists and university students are also participating in fieldwork and research, gaining practical experience and developing their skills in excavation, documentation, and archaeological analysis.

In Khaybar, research projects are exploring the relationship between people and the ancient oasis across different historical periods.

The projects involve studying ancient environments, sediment records, and natural resources, while other studies trace human activity in Khaybar from the Neolithic period through the Islamic eras.

The work is part of the Royal Commission for AlUla's efforts to support scientific research, preserve cultural heritage, and develop national expertise in archaeology and documentation. Together, these efforts aim to expand knowledge of the region's history and successive civilizations.

Culture

Saudi Visual Arts Commission Signs MoU with Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris to Strengthen Collaboration in Visual Arts

Saudi Visual Arts Commission Signs MoU with Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris to Strengthen Collaboration in Visual Arts
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Saudi Visual Arts Commission Signs MoU with Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris to Strengthen Collaboration in Visual Arts

Saudi Visual Arts Commission Signs MoU with Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris to Strengthen Collaboration in Visual Arts

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cité Internationale des arts in Paris to strengthen collaboration, exchange expertise in the visual arts, and explore areas of cooperation that support artists and practitioners and broaden their access to artistic, cultural, and professional exchange.

Areas of collaboration include developing visual arts-related initiatives and residency programs, exploring opportunities to involve local and international artists and talent in programs organized by both parties, and supporting Saudi artists and expanding their opportunities to connect with the global art scene, SPA reported.

The two parties will also collaborate on organizing joint initiatives and exhibitions, exchanging expertise and knowledge, and engaging experts and professionals in mentorship, professional guidance, and talent development initiatives.

The MoU forms part of the commission’s efforts to support the visual arts ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, strengthen international cultural exchange and collaboration, and expand opportunities for artists and cultural practitioners to engage and develop professionally, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to support the growth of the cultural sector, empower practitioners, and enhance the Kingdom’s cultural presence internationally.