Paris: The Sultanate of Oman has formally accepted the registration certificate for the manuscript "AlNūniyya AlKubrā" (The Great Ode), written by renowned Omani navigator Ahmed bin Majid, into UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.
The handover took place during a meeting between Amna Salim Al Balushi, Oman's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, and Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, at the organization's headquarters in Paris, France.
This accomplishment marks the culmination of joint efforts by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, in collaboration with the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, and the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, to emphasize the manuscript's historical and scientific importance. Al-Nūniyya AlKubrā is regarded as one of the most important contributions to navigation and maritime science.
The manuscript is notable for its innovative geographical vision, which divides the Earth into fourteen regions spanning both hemispheres—a departure from the conventional division of the Northern Hemisphere into seven regions. It also has detailed descriptions of the civilizations met by the author and his navigating company, as well as extensive information on maritime life, including marine animals and natural phenomena.
It is important to note that UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme, which was established in 1992, aims to protect humanity's documentary heritage from loss and oblivion. Its selection criteria focus on authenticity, uniqueness, historical significance, and cross-border cultural and societal effect.
