We are familiarizing ourselves with a new exhibition project titled "From Sharjah to Rome along the Spice Route," featuring 110 rare artifacts discovered in ancient trading centers in Sharjah, including the regions of Malihah and Dibba-Al-Hisn. This project highlights the important role Sharjah played in the historical trade network between the East and the West during the era of Hellenism and the Roman Empire from the 3rd century B.C. to the 1st century A.D.
The exhibition was opened two days ago in Rome by His Excellency Sheikh Bodour bin Sultan al-Qasimi, following the international initiative "Cultural Heritage of Prehistoric Eras in Fayyah," chaired by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority Sharooq. This is the first Arab exhibition to be held in the building of the Roman Senate "Curia Julia" in the Historical Park of Colosseum.
The exhibition, organized by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, will continue until May 4 and presents historical and cultural connections between the Arab and Roman worlds dating back thousands of years. It allows for a deeper understanding of the cultural-economic exchange that defined the landscape of the ancient world.
Among the presented artifacts are Roman glass bottles, bronze statues of Venus, and coins from the Greco-Roman era. These artifacts reveal extensive trade routes linking Sharjah and Rome and demonstrate a rich cultural and economic exchange between them, considering that Malihah at that time was a thriving hub and economic center, reflecting its role in the global trade network.
Isa Youssef, the Director General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, expressed the significance of the exhibition, noting that it is part of the emirate's commitment to enriching the world's understanding of its rich historical heritage. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening research collaboration between archaeologists from Sharjah and their colleagues from Rome, which contributes to expanding academic research on ancient trading networks and cultural connections between civilizations.
The exhibition "From Sharjah to Rome along the Spice Route" underscores the close connections between the Arab and Roman civilizations and trade-cultural exchanges operating along the Spice Route, which served as a vital artery in ancient contacts between Asia and Europe. It also sheds light on the role of the Spice Route as a bridge for the exchange of goods, ideas, and remembrances between continents, reinforcing the foundations of global trade networks.
Isa Youssef stressed that efforts to uncover new finds continue, reaffirming Sharjah's status as a global center of heritage and culture. May 4 will mark the closing day of the exhibition.
