I noted earlier this week that Saudi Arabia abounds in antiquities and historic locations—prehistoric archeological and paleological sites, too, though that’s a slightly different matter. Saudi Gazette continues the story, filling in some of the details.
Historic sites help link generations
Habib ShaikhJEDDAH – An exhibition of antiquities from GCC countries is being held at the National Museum in Riyadh, and it will continue till Feb. 23.
There is no doubt that this region is the cradle of civilizations and rich in heritage. Not only is there an abundance of antiquities in Saudi Arabia, but a lot of the nation’s historical treasure is in foreign lands – museums, and private, personal and corporate collections.
Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), was reported as saying recently that the Kingdom has prepared a comprehensive plan to retrieve national antiquities from abroad.
He said the new antiquities law would be very strict in dealing with the issue of smuggling historical artifacts.
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The article reports on the fear of some that sites historically related to the Prophet or early days of Islam might prove a temptation to idolatry and heresy, through shirk or bida’h (‘innovation’). It also tells of the Tomb of Eve which many early visitors to the region reported. When I first arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1981, I was shown a site in Jeddah that was said to have been where Eve’s Tomb had been located. If it had been that at one time, it was no longer. Instead, there was a highway. That may have been an urban legend of Jeddah, of course.
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February:06:2009 - 16:20
I think they showed you the wrong spot! Eve’s tomb is in the Eve (Huwwa) Graveyard near al balaad Jeddah. The specific traditional location inside is not marked (apparently it used to be). The graveyard is still used. The word “Jeddah” means grandmother- and the city is named for her.
It may be an urban legend- but it is at least as old as the city.
February:06:2009 - 17:35
While the site I was shown was in/near Al-Balad, it was not a cemetery. Legend had it that the tomb was several hundred meters in length, at least the legends I’ve read.
I do know the story about Jeddah being named in her honor. It’s certainly possible…
February:06:2009 - 17:52
The graveyard is enclosed by walls and it is usually closed- and you can’t see inside- not that there is much to see since the graves are all unmarked. So maybe they were pointing to the road next to it.
I went once when we had an out of country visiter. We set out- and halfway there I remembered that I never go to funerals and that women don’t usually go to graveyards, and ooops- I better put the camera back in the purse. Anyway, we arrived and the door was open, and I told my friend to just be quiet and follow me- and I marched up said, “Assalaamu alaikum” and just walked in like I knew where I was going.
I picked a spot to look at we sat there with heads bowed looking all around- not that there was much to see. We tried to walk around but they called us back. I think they recovered from the shock of two women on their own, one clearly a westerner, just marching in.