Latest news with #TheGreatNuniyah
Observer
19-04-2025
- Science
- Observer
Ancient Omani manuscript enters UNESCO programme
MUSCAT: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) has included the Omani manuscript Al Nuniyah Al Kubra (The Great Nuniyah) written by Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid, to the UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme as the second Omani manuscript to be listed in the programme. Al Nuniyah Al Kubra is one of the most important Omani manuscripts in the field of navigation and oceanography. It documents valuable information about the movement of ships and international shipping lines in ancient times. Scholars before Ahmad ibn Majid divided the Earth into seven regions in the northern hemisphere before Ahmad ibn Majid's Al Nuniyah Al Kubra added seven more regions in the southern hemisphere. The manuscript was written by Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid. The manuscript constitutes a human heritage presenting realistic images of the communities encountered by the author and his crew during their voyages. It provides a detailed description of the marine environment and its creatures, including whales, coral reefs and ancient ship anchoring methods. The Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid al Saadi was born on the coast of Oman in 1421 CE and died in 1500 CE. He developed the compass and left a scientific legacy of more than 40 works including Al Nuniyah Al Kubra a copy of which is preserved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth. In 2021, UNESCO included the Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid to its programmes for the fiftieth and centenary commemorations of historical events and influential figures in the world. — ONA
Muscat Daily
19-04-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Omani navigator Ibn Majid's manuscript added to Unesco list
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – Unesco has inscribed Nuniyah al Kubra (The Great Nuniyah), a manuscript by the 15th century Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid ibn Muhammad al Sa'di, in its Memory of the World Programme marking the second such recognition for an Omani manuscript. Considered one of the most significant Omani contributions to navigation and marine science, the manuscript contains detailed information on ancient shipping routes and maritime geography. While earlier scholars limited their division of the Earth to seven regions in the northern hemisphere, Ibn Majid expanded the concept by adding seven regions in the southern hemisphere. The Great Nuniyah also documents societies encountered by Ibn Majid and his crew, along with observations of marine environments and life. The manuscript also features anchoring techniques used during voyages. Ibn Majid was born in 1421 and died in 1500. He based his maritime activities out of Ras al Hadd and is credited with advancements in navigational tools, including developments in the magnetic compass. In 2017, Oman's first manuscript to be inscribed was The Mine of Secrets in Oceanography by navigator Nasser bin Ali al Khadouri.
Observer
19-04-2025
- Science
- Observer
'Great Nuniya' by Ahmad ibn Majid in Memory of the World Programme
Muscat: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included the Omani manuscript "Al-Nuniyah Al-Kubra (The Great Nuniyah) by the Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid in its Memory of the World program. This is the second Omani manuscript to be included in this international program. Al-Nuniyah Al-Kubra is one of the most important Omani manuscripts in the field of navigation and marine sciences. It records valuable information about ship movements and international shipping routes. Its most significant feature is its scientific contribution to humanity, particularly its deviation from the work of earlier geographers. Scientists who preceded Ahmed bin Majid had divided the land into only seven regions, confining these regions to the northern hemisphere. The Al-Nuniyah Al-Kubra manuscript added seven more regions in the south. The manuscript is a human legacy, offering realistic depictions of the societies the author and his navigational crew encountered during their journeys. It also provides detailed descriptions of the marine environment, its creatures, including creatures such as whales, snakes, and coral reefs, as well as the methods used for docking ships. The Omani navigator Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Majid ibn Muhammad al-Sa'di was born on the coast of Oman in 1421 and died in 1500. He made Ras al-Hadd the base for his maritime activities. He developed the magnetic needle (the compass) and left a scientific legacy represented by more than 40 works, including the Nuniyyah al-Kubra. A copy of the original manuscript of manuscript is held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. In 2021, UNESCO included the Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid in UNESCO's program for the fiftieth and centenary commemorations of historical events and influential figures in the world. The Memory of the World Programme was established by UNESCO in 1992 and aims to preserve and protect documentary heritage from deterioration and loss resulting from social unrest, instability, looting, illicit trade, and other factors, or from natural factors such as heat and humidity that may affect this heritage over time. Documentary heritage includes stones, manuscripts, libraries, museums, national archives, audio and video discs, films, and photographs. In 2017, the Sultanate of Oman succeeded in including the first manuscript in the programme, which is the manuscript 'The Mine of Secrets in Oceanography' by the sailor Nasser bin Ali al Khadouri.
