The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum reviews a set of Bahraini artifacts discovered from the civilizations of Dilmun and Taylaus within the joint cooperation agreement between the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and the Museum. These accumulations of loan until June 2026 provide an opportunity for visitors to the museum to see an important part of the history and civilization of the region, and also sheds light on the cultural and civilizational contributions that formed the identity of the Arab Gulf region throughout the ages.
In this context, His Excellency Muhammad Khalifa Al -Mubarak, head of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, President of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities at the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, was accompanied by Manuel Rabatiya, Director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum.
They were briefed on the Bahraini artifacts shown in Mashhad, reflecting the common interest between the two institutions on promoting the history and civilizations of the region.
On this occasion, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said: “We are proud of our cooperation with the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, and that archaeological pieces of Bahraini reach this global civilizational platform.” To promote our history and civilizations. “
His Excellency affirmed that the pieces of the loan of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum are a unique opportunity for the local and global audience to inform this pioneering museum on an important part of the history of Bahrain and how social and commercial practices flourished during the Dilmun and Taylos periods, and the Kingdom’s pivotal role in the development of regional trade networks.
In turn, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, President of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, said: “Our cooperation with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is an essential pillar in promoting the history and present of our two countries, and enhances the importance of the Arab Gulf heritage. From the UAE, the Arab Gulf region and the world to explore our rich heritage and our ancient traditions. The highlight of this heritage is not only a celebration of our roots, but also a way to enhance the pride of young generations and ensure the continuity of our heritage as a vital part of our present and our future.
The Bahraini artifacts are loaned: Watch a grave from the Taylaus period, a jar with a refinery from the early Dilmun civilization period, and two Dilmuni, all carrying great cultural symbolism. The Dilmunian seals, for example, were an integral part of the commercial life of Dilmun, as it was used as ownership certificates and an expression of social status. These seals, which were made accurately of stone or marine snails, reflect the Dilmunian artistic traditions whose effects have reached distant areas east and west.
As for the jar of the refinery from Dilmun, it is an example of ancient creativity in the arts of pottery. Local craftsmen from Dilmun used the mud mixed with limestone to produce practical and beautiful tools that carry a distinctive character. The archaeological pieces are one of the most prominent outputs of the pottery craft in the Dilmun civilization, which continues to this day and is practiced within the Bahraini traditional crafts.
On the other hand, the art of sculptures in the Taylaus period developed remarkably thanks to the interaction with the Greek Hellenistic culture. This is reflected in the witness of the grave that is displayed in the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. It can be said that the grave evidence emphasizes the multiplicity and cultural diversity that Bahrain witnessed during that period.
The metaphor of the Louvre Abu Dhabi for the Bahraini artifacts embodies the common vision between the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, as this cooperation represents a distinctive model for cultural partnerships that enhance civilized exchange between peoples.
