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Minister of Media Launches 'Saudipedia Platform' at Saudi Media Forum

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
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Minister of Media Launches 'Saudipedia Platform' at Saudi Media Forum

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari launched in Riyadh on Monday the digital platform for the Saudi encyclopedia (saudipedia.com).

The launch was held at the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) during the Saudi Media Forum.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Alswaha and several other officials from Arab and international media outlets attended the event.

The Saudi encyclopedia is one of the initiatives of the Human Capability Development Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030.

Saudipedia will be a comprehensive platform that offers encyclopedic content covering various aspects of the Kingdom, including culture, society, economy, politics, geography, and history. It will serve as an authentic source of knowledge for regional, Arab, and international media, and as a knowledge platform with accurate information about Saudi affairs.

The platform is expected to become the primary reference on Saudi information and will be available in multiple languages.

Al-Dosari said work was started to create Saudipedia, an initiative that aligns with Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s vision to establish a thriving society that takes pride in its rich history, heritage, and distinctive cultural identity.

He said: “Saudipedia aims to become the primary source of information about the leadership, people, history, geography, and culture of Saudi Arabia. We will achieve this by providing a platform in multiple languages, starting with Arabic.”

The Saudi encyclopedia will combine multimedia elements to enhance its textual content and will undergo regular updates to reflect the cultural, civilizational, historical, and natural geographical wealth of the Kingdom.

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A Rare Peek at the Hidden Waterworks behind Rome’s Trevi Fountain

A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP)
A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP)
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A Rare Peek at the Hidden Waterworks behind Rome’s Trevi Fountain

A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP)
A view of Rome's Trevi fountain is seen through a window of its old water flow control room, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP)

The Trevi Fountain, arguably the world’s most famous, has graced screens for decades, from Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” to Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.” Each year, millions of visitors push through Rome's narrow streets to gaze at the towering Titan god flanked by falls cascading into a turquoise pool.

Yet, they never get to venture behind Oceanus’ back to see what produces the sublime play of water in the baroque masterpiece.

Wooden doors on an adjacent street lead to the maneuvering chambers that control the fountain's water supply, coming from the Aqua Virgo — an ancient Roman aqueduct 16 kilometers (10 miles) away. Two electric pumps recycle 126 liters (33 gallons) of water per second while Rome’s water management company, ACEA, carefully monitors the flow around the clock.

This precise amount is crucial for the movement of water through the statues; a little more or less, and it wouldn’t work, said Davide D’Alonzo, ACEA’s manager for the area.

The modern maneuvering chamber features metal tanks and lighted panels. In the original, arched chamber, water audibly rushes through a thick pipe and there is a functional, 18th-century hydrometer to gauge the fountain’s water level.

A large, rudimentary spreadsheet on the wall displays the names of rich Roman families whose homes received water from the chamber long ago; when they fell behind on their payments, their supply was cut off.

The chamber's grated windows grant views out over the fountain and its many visitors — all of whom are oblivious to its hidden waterworks. They toss coins over their shoulders into the water, a hopeful gesture based on a legend that it guarantees their return to the eternal city.