Saudi Ministry of Culture Maps Locations of Arab Poets
The Saudi Ministry of Culture has embarked on a groundbreaking project to map and document significant locations associated with prominent Arab poets from the pre-Islamic era, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
In the wake of the Year of Arabic Poetry in 2023, this initiative involves a collaboration with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, along with the municipalities of the designated areas.
Already, this project has identified numerous sites in Riyadh where renowned poets resided, including Laila Al-Akhiliya, Qays Ibn Al-Mulawwah, Imru’ Al-Qays, and Labid Ibn Rabi’ah.
In the Qassim region, landmarks such as the Al-Shanana Tower in Al-Rass, associated with the poet Zuhair bin Abi Salma, have been meticulously documented.
The project’s scope extends to various provinces like Al-Baha, Al-Ahsa, Taif, Ha’il, Madinah, Asir, and Najran, with the goal of comprehensively covering the Kingdom, as stated by the SPA.
Through the installation of guiding signs to make these sites more accessible, the ministry aims to showcase the Kingdom’s significant role in shaping and preserving Arab cultural heritage.