Riyadh International Book Fair Activities Draw Growing Number of Visitors

Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)
Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)
TT

Riyadh International Book Fair Activities Draw Growing Number of Visitors

Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)
Riyadh International Book Fair activities draw growing number of visitors. (SPA)

The Riyadh International Book Fair continues to attract a large audience, solidifying its status as a key cultural event.
Its diverse activities cater to various segments of society and age groups, ensuring a distinctive and enjoyable cultural experience for all, said the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
Some 2,000 publishing houses from 30 countries are taking part in this year's fair, showcasing a diverse array of literary works and cultural offerings.
The fair, organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, is held at King Saud University from September 26 to October 5 under the theme "Riyadh Reads". It is a premier cultural event in the Kingdom and beyond that brings together local and international writers, publishers, translators, and readers, promoting cultural exchange and knowledge sharing.
It features a dedicated area for children that offers cultural and recreational activities, a special area that showcases the works of Saudi authors, and an area for book signings, enabling attendees to meet their favorite authors and obtain signed copies of their latest releases.



US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
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US Returns to Iran Latest Batch of Ancient Clay Tablets

Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP
Achaemenid-era clay tablets returned from the United States and on display at Iran's National Museum in Tehran on October 2, 2019 - AFP

The United States has returned to Iran more than 1,000 clay tablets dating from the Achaemenid-era, official media said, reporting the sixth such handover of its kind.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Thursday evening that the tablets, 1,100 in all, were returned with President Masoud Pezeshkian who had attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Found at the ruins of Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire which ruled from the 6th to 4th centuries BC in southern Iran, the repatriated tablets reflect how the ancient society was organised and its economy managed.

According to AFP, the tablets constitute records of "the rituals and the way of life of our ancestors", said Ali Darabi, vice-minister of cultural heritage, cited by IRNA.

The tablets were returned to Iran by the University of Chicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa, formerly known as the Oriental Institute.

A large portion of the tablets were returned in three batches between 1948 and 2004 before the rest were blocked by legal action until 2018.

More than 3,500 tablets were repatriated in September, 2023.

"The American side undertook to return the rest," Darabi said, cited by Iran's ISNA news agency.