Oman’s history from the earliest to present time
Lakshmi Kothaneth – MUSCAT – July 30: The National Museum is set to open its doors to the public on July 30 in the first phase. It will be open until September 30. The opening of the museum coincides with summer. “It is meant for tourists who visit Oman to enjoy the monsoon in Salalah and make a stopover in Muscat. It is also meant for citizens and residents who are in the country and didn’t go abroad for the summer holidays,” said Jammal al Moosawi, Acting Director-General of the museum. In a presentation to the media, the official said: “The National Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the treasures of Oman’s cultural heritage. It houses more than 7,000 pieces showcasing Oman’s history from the earliest human settlement to the present time.” The museum’s galleries include the land and the people, maritime history, arms and armour, civilisation in the making, Aflaj, currency, prehistory and ancient history, splendours of Islam, Oman and the world, the Renaissance and intangible heritage. An additional feature introduced after its official opening in December is the select pieces from a ship-wreck near Al Halaniya Island off Dhofar coast, which has been proved to be a part of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama’s fleet – Esmeralda, which is dated around 1502.
