Muscat: President General Joseph Aoun of the Lebanese Republic, and his accompanying delegation visited the National Museum today as part of his official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.
The Lebanese President was received upon arrival by Jamal bin Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary General of the National Museum. The guest toured the museum's areas and halls, listened to a detailed explanation about it, and the halls that highlight important aspects of the history and civilization of the Sultanate of Oman.
At the beginning of the visit, the guest viewed the Maritime History Gallery, where he was introduced to a model of the armed “Muscat Baghlah”, regarded as the largest commercial and cargo vessel in the Arabian Gulf and one of the most ornately decorated traditional Arab ships.
In the Land of Frankincense Gallery, he examined the Omani incense burners, followed by the Armenian incense burners on loan from the History Museum of Armenia, which reflect the cultural significance and symbolism of frankincense in Armenian heritage. He also viewed, in the Prehistory and Ancient Times Gallery, the oldest known incense burner, dating back nearly two thousand years BC, and considered one of the masterpieces of the civilisation of Magan, the earliest known civilisation in Oman.
Within the section on Coexistence and Religious Tolerance in the Splendours of Islam Gallery, the Lebanese President viewed the second edition of the “Holy Bible”, printed in 1960 by the Paulist Printing Press in Harissa, Republic of Lebanon. The copy had been presented to the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said by His Beatitude Patriarch Gregory III, head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church worldwide at the time, on the occasion of his visit to the Sultanate of Oman in April 2006.
The President was also introduced to the historical dimensions of Omani–East African relations, with particular emphasis on the Sultanate of Zanzibar, in the Oman and the World Gallery. He viewed the book Qamoos al-Shari‘a, the largest encyclopaedia of Ibadi jurisprudence and the first work published by the Royal Press in Zanzibar.
The President then visited the Sultan Qaboos bin Said Corner in the Renaissance Gallery, where he viewed the original “Will Letter No. 1” addressed by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the members of the Royal Family Council through the Defense Council.
In the Land and the People Gallery, the guest viewed a collection of artefacts and documents that reflect the depth of historical relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Lebanese Republic.
These included letters of thanks and congratulations exchanged between Lebanese notables and the Sultans of Zanzibar concerning the gifting of books and the privilege to print the newspaper Al-Iqbāl. He also viewed a box of coins presented by General Émile Lahoud, former President of the Lebanese Republic (1998–2007), to the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, as well as a collection of Lebanese educational books from the 1960s.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Lebanese President wrote an entry in the VIP Guest Book, expressing the importance of the visit in enhancing cultural cooperation and strengthening the enduring friendly relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Lebanon.
President General Joseph Aoun also visited the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM). During the visit, he toured the house and listened to a briefing on its sections, facilities, the nature of the performances it offers, its seasons, and its year-round program, in addition to the equipment it contains, which is considered among the latest used in the field of global musical performances.
During his tour, he also observed the architectural richness of the house's design, which highlights the Omani architectural cultural heritage blended with architectural culture from different continents.
At the conclusion of his visit, the President signed the VIP guest book, expressing his happiness at visiting ROHM and commending its efforts and the cultural and architectural heritage it embodies.
The President of the Lebanese Republic also visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. During the visit, the esteemed guest and his accompanying delegation listened to a briefing on the history of the mosque's construction and were introduced to the various Omani and Islamic architectural designs used in its construction.
He viewed the facilities included in the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, such as the library and the lecture hall and other facilities.
At the end of his visit to the mosque, the esteemed guest signed the VIP guest book, expressing his admiration for the mosque's magnificent designs and architectural arts which serve as an outstanding model of Islamic architecture and its role in supporting and enhancing Islamic studies.
President General Joseph Aoun was accompanied during the visits by Dr. Mahad bin Said Ba'owain, Minister of Labour (Head of the Mission of Honor).
