‘Common Ground’ Exhibition Featuring Saudi, Yemeni Cultures to Conclude This Week

SPA
SPA
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‘Common Ground’ Exhibition Featuring Saudi, Yemeni Cultures to Conclude This Week

SPA
SPA

The Ministry of Culture continues to take visitors on a cultural journey exploring the similarities and differences between Saudi and Yemeni cultures through the “Common Ground” exhibition held in Riyadh.
The exhibition has only a few days left before it closes its doors on Wednesday, bringing down the curtain on a valuable opportunity for culture and art enthusiasts to experience a comprehensive artistic and cultural journey.
As they roam through the different sections of the exhibition covering all cultural aspects, visitors enjoy an immersive journey featuring the cultures of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, SPA reported.
The exhibition embraces the cultural aspects of the two countries, starting with art. It also features significant artefacts and heritage treasures that embody the history of the most important civilizations hosted by the two countries.
The Common Ground exhibition, which is being held for the first time, aims at building bridges of cultural communication between the Kingdom and various countries worldwide.
Through the exhibition, the ministry sheds light on the similarities and differences between Saudi culture and cultures of other countries.
The exhibition enables citizens and residents on Saudi soil to sense the cultural depth of the civilizations of the Kingdom and the hosted countries.
The ministry highlights through the exhibition its keenness to enhance international cultural exchange as one of its strategic objectives under the umbrella of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.



AlUla's Dream Comes True as Top Global Tourist Destination

AlUla includes the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra or Al-Hijr, registered as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom, and the Dadan archaeological site, which contributed to developing and enriching the Arabic language.(SPA)
AlUla includes the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra or Al-Hijr, registered as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom, and the Dadan archaeological site, which contributed to developing and enriching the Arabic language.(SPA)
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AlUla's Dream Comes True as Top Global Tourist Destination

AlUla includes the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra or Al-Hijr, registered as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom, and the Dadan archaeological site, which contributed to developing and enriching the Arabic language.(SPA)
AlUla includes the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra or Al-Hijr, registered as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom, and the Dadan archaeological site, which contributed to developing and enriching the Arabic language.(SPA)

The people of AlUla Governorate, located in the northwest of the Kingdom, have long dreamt of seeing the region as a global tourist hub for worldwide visitors. This dream came true thanks to the support provided by the wise leadership, transforming AlUla into one of the most prominent and important global tourism destinations, as it has witnessed a remarkable tourism boom, according to recent statistics.
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) aims to raise the number of tourists to 2 million visitors by 2035, SPA said.
Hundreds of young men and women work in various fields to promote tourism in this governorate, which still preserves its antiquities and history dating back thousands of years.
It offers outstanding archaeological sites and unique tourist attractions, being one of the largest living museums in the world due to its antiquities, cemeteries, sculptures, and rock formations. It also includes the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra or Al-Hijr, registered as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom, and the Dadan archaeological site, which contributed to developing and enriching the Arabic language.
The new identity of the 93rd National Day this year, under the slogan "We Dream, and We Achieve," was inspired by Saudi projects that were accomplished and turned from a dream into a reality, including AlUla projects empowered by the efforts of the RCU that aim to strengthen its position as one of the global archaeological, cultural, and natural tourist destinations.
The "AlUla Vision," launched by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman earlier, reflects AlUla's historical status embodied through the essential stages of achieving AlUla's vision, including the "Journey Through Time" plan.
This plan also aims to preserve AlUla as a unique natural and cultural environment that can develop cultural heritage for the world and achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Upon its completion, it will realize an economic return by attracting more tourists and providing multiple job opportunities for local community members, in addition to contributing to the Kingdom's GDP.


Dubai Culture, UAE Falcons Federation Join Hands to Preserve Emirati Heritage

The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
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Dubai Culture, UAE Falcons Federation Join Hands to Preserve Emirati Heritage

The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Falcons Federation to strengthen collaboration in promoting awareness of Emirati heritage among the public, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Thursday.

Both entities will work together to organize a series of initiatives and activities focused on preserving Emirati heritage and culture, WAM said. This partnership reflects the commitment of both parties to instill a deeper sense of national identity in society and contribute to the preservation and promotion of heritage sports, the news agency added.

The MoU defines the roles of both parties, allowing the UAE Falcons Federation to use facilities at Dubai Culture's museums to organize a range of events, workshops, and activities aimed at introducing visitors and local community members to heritage sports and falconry competitions.

Mansoor Lootah, CEO of the Operations Support Sector at Dubai Culture/Acting Director-General of Dubai Culture, affirmed the importance of partnerships formed with heritage entities in the country, strengthening the role of the authority in motivating the public to explore the elements of Emirati heritage and culture in all its beauty and authenticity.

Lootah said: "Heritage sports are an integral part of our culture and history; they are customs passed on through several generations and still maintain an important role in the Emirati society. Dubai Culture is keen to introduce them by highlighting their artistic aspects, history, and presence in the local scene, contributing to raising awareness of the importance of heritage sports that we cherish."

"Falconry, as a traditional and heritage sport, is closely tied to our culture, history, and national identity. This MoU represents an opportunity to continue introducing this sport, its details, and practices, especially in light of the increasing interest of the younger generation in various technological advancements,” said Secretary-General of the UAE Falcons Federation Rashid bin Markhan.

“This amplifies our responsibility to create innovative solutions and initiatives to instill the importance of heritage sports and their noble values in the hearts of future generations. It also aligns with our joint strategic goals to promote the culture of falconry and familiarize people with its principles."


Fears for Ancient Cyrene after Libya Floods

This picture released on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on September 17, 2023 shows a view of ruins at the site of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Cyrene (Shahhat) in eastern Libya, about 60 kilometers west of Derna and 226 kilometers east of Benghazi, in the aftermath of the devastation brought about the previous week by the Mediterranean Storm Daniel. (UGC / AFP)
This picture released on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on September 17, 2023 shows a view of ruins at the site of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Cyrene (Shahhat) in eastern Libya, about 60 kilometers west of Derna and 226 kilometers east of Benghazi, in the aftermath of the devastation brought about the previous week by the Mediterranean Storm Daniel. (UGC / AFP)
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Fears for Ancient Cyrene after Libya Floods

This picture released on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on September 17, 2023 shows a view of ruins at the site of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Cyrene (Shahhat) in eastern Libya, about 60 kilometers west of Derna and 226 kilometers east of Benghazi, in the aftermath of the devastation brought about the previous week by the Mediterranean Storm Daniel. (UGC / AFP)
This picture released on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on September 17, 2023 shows a view of ruins at the site of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Cyrene (Shahhat) in eastern Libya, about 60 kilometers west of Derna and 226 kilometers east of Benghazi, in the aftermath of the devastation brought about the previous week by the Mediterranean Storm Daniel. (UGC / AFP)

Floods that killed thousands in the Libyan city of Derna also inundated one of the country's premier ancient sites, threatening its UNESCO-listed monuments with collapse, a recent visitor and a leading archaeologist said.

The immediate damage to the monuments of Cyrene, which include the second century AD Temple of Zeus, bigger than the Parthenon in Athens, is relatively minor but the water circulating around their foundations threatens future collapses, the head of the French archaeological mission in Libya, Vincent Michel, told AFP.

Settled from the Greek island of Santorini around 600 BC, Cyrene was one of the leading centers of the Classical world for nearly a millennium before being largely abandoned following a major earthquake in 365 AD.

Its name lives on in Cyrenaica, the historical name for eastern Libya.

UNESCO declared its surviving monuments a World Heritage Site in 1982. When the overthrow of longtime ruler Moammar al-Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising ushered in years of conflict and neglect, UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage in Danger list in 2016.

According to Claudia Gazzini, Libya specialist at the International Crisis Group think tank, who recently visited the site, much of it remains waterlogged days after the torrential rains triggered by Storm Daniel on September 10 to 11.

In places, ancient walls have collapsed, blocking the water courses that would normally drain the sprawling site, which also boasts a necropolis outside its walls as large as the city itself.

"There's a street lined by ancient walls that connects the upper and lower levels down which rainwater would normally escape but large boulders have fallen in, blocking the flow," Gazzini told AFP by telephone from Libya's main eastern city of Benghazi.

"On the lower level, there's also dirty water continuously bubbling out of the ground in the middle of the ruins," she said, adding that neither residents of the adjacent village of Shahat nor an official from local antiquities division that she met there, could tell her where it was coming from.

"If water continues to flow in and remains trapped in the site, the retaining wall could collapse, taking with it a large chunk of the ruins," she said.

Foundations weakened

French archaeologist Michel, who knows the site well having worked 10 years in another part of the area, said he had been able to analyze pictures of the monuments taken after the floods.

"For the moment, there's no major destruction at Cyrene -- the monuments are still standing," he said.

"But the torrents of water, earth and rock have created gullies in the ancient streets, particularly the Royal Road, and the main damage is still to come as the water has spread over a wide area and has weakened the foundations of the monuments.

"Since the stone in the region is of poor quality, the monuments risk falling apart due to lack of good foundations," he added.

The adjacent necropolis has been inundated by "hundreds of cubic meters of water which has shifted and submerged some of the tombs," he added.

Michel said he was also concerned about the risks of looting in the aftermath of the floods, which killed more than 3,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless.

The site in the Jebel al-Ahkdar mountains, inland from the Mediterranean coast, is normally popular with visitors for its panoramic views. But Libyans have more pressing worries after the deadly floods.

Michel said his concerns had been partially allayed by the rapid mobilization of Libya's antiquities department, which had already sought help from the Italian archaeological mission in protecting Cyrene and from the French mission he heads in protecting two nearby sites.

The aim is to "join forces with the local authorities in coordination with UNESCO to raise the main points of weakness in the monuments and record any deterioration," Michel said.

Actions should then be taken to repair the drainage of the site and shore up the monuments' foundations.


UNESCO Puts Rwanda Genocide Memorials on World Heritage List

A picture taken on March 21, 2019 shows the entrance of the Nyamata Genocide Memorial. (AFP)
A picture taken on March 21, 2019 shows the entrance of the Nyamata Genocide Memorial. (AFP)
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UNESCO Puts Rwanda Genocide Memorials on World Heritage List

A picture taken on March 21, 2019 shows the entrance of the Nyamata Genocide Memorial. (AFP)
A picture taken on March 21, 2019 shows the entrance of the Nyamata Genocide Memorial. (AFP)

Four memorials to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda of more than 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi, were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list on Wednesday, the UN cultural body said.

The sites at Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero commemorating the mass killings were "just inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list", the organization posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The four sites commemorate the genocide that targeted the Tutsi minority in large part but also moderate Hutus who were shot, beaten or hacked to death by Hutu extremists between April and July 1994.

"This historic decision will help safeguard memory, counter denial and strengthen genocide prevention efforts globally. #NeverAgain," Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo posted on X.

The UNESCO move was also welcomed by Naphthali Ahishakiye, executive secretary of Ibuka, the association representing survivors of the genocide.

"This will make the genocide that was committed in Rwanda against the Tutsi more known across the world," he told AFP in Kigali.

Skulls, bone fragments, torn clothing and images of piled up corpses confront visitors to the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, the final resting place of around 250,000 victims.

Each year more are buried as new graves are uncovered around the country, with remains also housed at a former Catholic church at Nyamata, a school complex at Murambi and a memorial at Bisesero built in 1998.

In addition to human remains, the sites also feature material evidence of the 100-day killing spree by Hutu extremist forces -- spears, machetes, clubs and bladed weapons.

Three of the sites were themselves the scene of massacres.

At Nyamata, more than 45,000 people who had sought shelter in the church were slaughtered in one day, according to UNESCO.

Its chapel now houses the clothing and rosaries worn by the victims along with the weapons used by the perpetrators of the killings.

Mass graves are situated behind the church, with a vault that houses the skulls of victims and other human remains, according to the memorial's website.

At Murambi, tens of thousands of people who were encouraged to take refuge in the technical school on the pretext of ensuring their safety were executed in one of the genocide's bloodiest episodes.

At Bisesero, a "resistance memorial" pays tribute to Tutsis who fought back with spears and stones as Hutu extremists murdered hundreds of people in the surrounding hills.

The genocide was unleashed shortly after the ethnic Hutu president was killed when his plane was shot down in an attack blamed by the government on Tutsi rebels.

The killing ended only when the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took over in July 1994, having defeated the Hutu extremists.

Trials of genocide suspects have been held in Rwanda, at a UN tribunal in the Tanzanian city of Arusha, as well as in France, Belgium and the United States among others.


Saudi Arabia’s Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve Joins UNESCO World Heritage List

The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA
The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA
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Saudi Arabia’s Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve Joins UNESCO World Heritage List

The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA
The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25. SPA

The Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve in Saudi Arabia has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud said.

Prince Bader is also Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and Chairman of the Heritage Commission.

The decision to add the reserve to the list was taken during the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh between September 10 and 25.

This marks the Kingdom’s first UNESCO Natural Heritage Site on the list.

The minister congratulated Saudi Arabia’s leadership and emphasized commitment to the conservation of natural heritage and the sustainable development of natural heritage.

The commitment highlights the importance of natural heritage and its strategic importance to Saudi Vision 2030, he said.

“The inscription of the Reserve on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the first Natural Heritage Site in the Kingdom contributes to highlighting the importance of natural heritage on a global scale and reflects the outstanding value of the Reserve,” Prince Bader said.

Situated along the western edge of ar-Rub al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve occupies an area of over 12,750 km2 and is the only major sand desert in tropical Asia and the largest continuous sand sea on Earth.

With a world-class panorama of the sands of the Empty Quarter and some of the world’s largest complex linear dunes, Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve embodies outstanding universal value. It is an exceptional showcase of the environmental and biological evolution of flora and fauna in Saudi Arabia and provides vital natural habitats for the survival of more than 120 indigenous plant species, as well as endangered animals living in harsh environments, including gazelles and the only free-ranging herd of Arabian Oryx in the world.

Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve fulfills the World Heritage standards as a sand desert that embodies outstanding universal value and forms a unique and diverse landscape. The reserve contains a range of extensive natural habitats vital to the survival of key species and includes five sub-groups of the Kingdom's national ecosystems, which is vital to maintaining the site's biodiversity.

The inscription of the Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve adds to the six other Saudi UNESCO sites, which are Al-Ahsa Oasis, Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, Ḥimā Cultural Area, Historic Jeddah, and Rock Art in the Hail Region.


King Abdulaziz Public Library Celebrates 5th Anniversary at Peking University

FILE- A pedestrian walking through a footbridge is silhouetted as Chinese and Hong Kong flags are strung to mark the 26th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China in Hong Kong, on June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
FILE- A pedestrian walking through a footbridge is silhouetted as Chinese and Hong Kong flags are strung to mark the 26th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China in Hong Kong, on June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
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King Abdulaziz Public Library Celebrates 5th Anniversary at Peking University

FILE- A pedestrian walking through a footbridge is silhouetted as Chinese and Hong Kong flags are strung to mark the 26th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China in Hong Kong, on June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)
FILE- A pedestrian walking through a footbridge is silhouetted as Chinese and Hong Kong flags are strung to mark the 26th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China in Hong Kong, on June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)

The King Abdulaziz Public Library (KAPL) at Peking University (PU) in China, has launched its scientific and cultural activities on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of its inauguration.

The event was attended on Tuesday by guests from both Saudi Arabia and China, who learned about KAPL’s departments and the services it provides to academics, scholars, researchers, and students.

They also learned about the important cultural programs and events organized by KAPL to promote cultural exchange between Arab and Chinese cultures and enhance scientific and knowledge cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China.

The KAPL at PU made major achievements including the launch of the Arabic-Chinese digital library, the organization of various cultural exhibitions, and the translation of several books to the Chinese language.


UNESCO Adds Tunisia’s Djerba on World Heritage List

This photograph shows the logo of UNESCO during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the organization at its headquarters in Paris, Nov. 12, 2021. (AP Photo)
This photograph shows the logo of UNESCO during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the organization at its headquarters in Paris, Nov. 12, 2021. (AP Photo)
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UNESCO Adds Tunisia’s Djerba on World Heritage List

This photograph shows the logo of UNESCO during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the organization at its headquarters in Paris, Nov. 12, 2021. (AP Photo)
This photograph shows the logo of UNESCO during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the organization at its headquarters in Paris, Nov. 12, 2021. (AP Photo)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Tunisian island of Djerba on the list of World Heritage Sites, a move that was welcomed by the Tunisian people.

UNESCO took the decision at its 45th session in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Tunisian Culture Minister Hayat Guettat Guermazi said “the Island of Djerba is a witness on a culture that embraces the world at these historic moments, and sends the humanity inspirational messages hailing differences and diversity as a real revolution. With this decision, the dreams of Djerba, the centerpiece of the Mediterranean, have become true.”

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, Djerba is also known as the “Island of Dreams” and symbolizes coexistence among religions.

It is located 500 kilometers south of the capital, Tunis, and includes the Ghriba Synagogue, the oldest Jewish synagogue in North Africa, dating back to about 2,500 years, and hosting thousands of Jewish pilgrims every year.

The island is also famed for its unique architectural designs, such as the “Housh al-Jerbi” and underground mosques.


Network of Ancient American Indian Earthworks in Ohio Named to List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

A calendar marking mound at Fort Ancient Earthworks, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP)
A calendar marking mound at Fort Ancient Earthworks, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP)
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Network of Ancient American Indian Earthworks in Ohio Named to List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

A calendar marking mound at Fort Ancient Earthworks, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP)
A calendar marking mound at Fort Ancient Earthworks, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in Oregonia, Ohio. (AP)

A network of ancient American Indian ceremonial and burial mounds in Ohio described as "part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory" was added Tuesday to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Preservationists, led by the Ohio History Connection, and indigenous tribes, many with ancestral ties to the state, pushed to recognize the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks for their good condition, distinct style and cultural significance — describing them as "masterpieces of human genius."

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee approved the application during a meeting in Saudi Arabia. The massive earthworks join a list of famed sites that includes Greece’s Acropolis, Peru’s Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China.

"Pure excitement and exhilaration" were the immediate reactions of Chief Glenna Wallace, of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

"Tears came to my eyes, and exhilaration turned into reflection, knowing that the world will now see and recognize the commitment, spirituality, imaginative artistry and knowledge of complex architecture to produce magnificent earthworks," she said in a statement. "Our ancestors were true geniuses."

Constructed by American Indians between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago along central tributaries of the Ohio River, the earthworks were host to ceremonies that drew people from across the continent, based on archeological discoveries of raw materials brought from as far west as the Rocky Mountains.

Elaborate ceremonialism linked to "the order and rhythms of the cosmos" is evident in the "beautiful ritual objects, spectacular offerings of religious icons and regalia" found at the sites, the application said.

The eight sites comprising the earthworks are spread across 150 kilometers (90 miles) of what is present-day southern Ohio. They are noteworthy for their enormous scale, geometric precision and astronomical breadth and accuracy — such as encoding all eight lunar standstills over an 18.6-year cycle.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said the earthworks' inclusion on the heritage list "will make this important part of American history known around the world."

"Just three months after rejoining UNESCO, the United States has its twenty-fifth site inscribed on the World Heritage List, which illustrates the richness and diversity of the country’s cultural and natural heritage," she said. "This inscription on the World Heritage List highlights the important work of American archaeologists, who discovered here remains dating back 2000 years, constituting one of the largest earthwork constructions in the world."

The National Congress of American Indians, the Inter-Tribal Council representing tribes living in Northeast Oklahoma and the Seneca Nation of New York State were among tribes that supported the UNESCO designation.

The application process for the heritage designation was slowed by a protracted court battle to restore public access to a portion of the land that had been leased to Moundbuilders Country Club for a golf course. A ruling of the Ohio Supreme Court in December allowed Ohio History Connection, the state's historical society, to proceed with efforts to gain control of the Octagon Earthworks in Newark, one of eight sites recognized.

History Connection CEO and Executive Director Megan Wood said that Tuesday's inscription of the site was the culmination of more than a decade of work by her organization and its partners, including tribes and the National Park Service.

"We are beyond excited to share these sites with more and more Ohioans, Americans and world travelers," she said.

Other sites included under the new designation are: Fort Ancient Earthworks in Oregonia and Great Circle Earthworks in Heath; and five sites within the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe — Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Seip Earthworks, High Bank Earthworks and Hopeton Earthworks.

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he anticipates that Ohio's first World Heritage site will draw "even more visitors to see these amazing places" to "experience the awe-inspiring earthworks that are such a special part of Ohio's history."


Versailles Palace Celebrates 400th Anniversary, Hosts King Charles III for State Dinner 

People visit the Hall of Mirrors inside the Palace of Versailles during a press visit on the occasion of the opening of the space dedicated to the history of the construction of the Chateau of Versailles, in Versailles, near Paris, France, 14 September 2023. (EPA)
People visit the Hall of Mirrors inside the Palace of Versailles during a press visit on the occasion of the opening of the space dedicated to the history of the construction of the Chateau of Versailles, in Versailles, near Paris, France, 14 September 2023. (EPA)
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Versailles Palace Celebrates 400th Anniversary, Hosts King Charles III for State Dinner 

People visit the Hall of Mirrors inside the Palace of Versailles during a press visit on the occasion of the opening of the space dedicated to the history of the construction of the Chateau of Versailles, in Versailles, near Paris, France, 14 September 2023. (EPA)
People visit the Hall of Mirrors inside the Palace of Versailles during a press visit on the occasion of the opening of the space dedicated to the history of the construction of the Chateau of Versailles, in Versailles, near Paris, France, 14 September 2023. (EPA)

France is rolling out the red carpet for King Charles III's state visit at one of its most magnificent and emblematic monuments: the Palace of Versailles, which celebrates its 400th anniversary.

Charles and Queen Camilla's three-day trip to Paris and Bordeaux, starting Wednesday, includes a grand dinner at Versailles in the presence of over 150 guests in the Hall of Mirrors.

It comes as the Palace of Versailles just opened to the public the gallery that retraces its history, from its creation as a modest hunting lodge in 1623 to last century's key diplomatic events — including the visits of Charles’ predecessors.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said Wednesday's dinner echoes the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1972, when she was greeted at the Palace by President Georges Pompidou. King Charles liked the idea of following in his mother’s footsteps, according to Macron's office.

Elizabeth II also visited the palace in 1958 and 10 years before, when she was not yet a Queen.

Catherine Pégard, president of the Palace of Versailles, praised the "never-ending story" of the palace that "includes visits from French children who come to Versailles with their classes, as well as visits from His Majesty the King of England or tourists who arrive from Asia and are less familiar with the history."

"And we have a story to tell each one of them," she told the Associated Press.

Usually filled with a chaotic crowd of photo-snapping tourists from across the world, the Hall of Mirrors will be closed to visitors Wednesday to get prepared for the royal banquet. No details have been provided about the menu yet, but the French presidency said it will be an opportunity to showcase France's cultural and gastronomical excellence.

Charles' visit will make one more date in the Palace's long history starting from King Louis XIII, to the French revolution and all the way to modern times that is being presented on its ground floor into the newly opened Gallery of the History of the Palace.

The gallery has 11 rooms, each thematic and largely chronological, presenting over 120 works aimed at providing visitors from across the world an immediate understanding of the complex history of the palace.

It brings together recently acquired works alongside paintings and art pieces that for many years had gone unseen as they’d been in reserve and others that are now repositioned and better enhanced.

Laurent Salomé, director of the National Museum of the Palace of Versailles and Trianon, said the exhibit features a number of masterpieces.

"Our intention was to create a first great moment of pleasure for visitors. First of all, because they’ve traveled a lot. For a long time, they’ve dreamed of Versailles. We didn’t want to give them a boring lesson to start their visit," he said.

Some pieces of work come from the original version of the palace and its gardens under its great builder Louis XIV, who decided to expand his father’s hunting lodge.

It's "a history made by not just one monarch, it’s also an enormous team of artists — and the greatest artists. A good thing about absolute monarchy is to be able to gather all the best people at the same place," Salomé stressed.

Today the Palace contains 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 square meters (679,784 square feet).

The gallery of history also provides an occasion to discover anecdotes about the Palace’s life — like some panels of the "Chinese chamber" of Queen Marie Leszczynska, Louis XV's wife, that she in part painted herself.

In the last rooms, visitors can see the famous desk where the 1919 Treaty of Versailles was signed that formally ended World War I, as well as photos and video archives of heads of states and royalties honored at the Palace during the 20th century.

"The idea is also to show that there is a gradual transformation of the Chateau de Versailles, which has always remained alive through the centuries, from its creation to the present day," Salomé said.


US Ambassador to the Kingdom Visits Saudi National Museum

SPA
SPA
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US Ambassador to the Kingdom Visits Saudi National Museum

SPA
SPA

The National Museum of Saudi Arabia received today, at its headquarters in the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh, the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom, Michael Ratney.
During his visit, the US Ambassador toured the National Museum and was briefed on the rich information it offers in a museum display style and in a creative form that deals with the development witnessed by the Arabian Peninsula in its various natural, humanitarian, cultural, political and religious aspects, and the development stages of the Saudi state in its three phases.

The ambassador also viewed the most prominent collections displayed in the museum.