Traditional weaponry

The Sayyid Faisal bin Ali Museum, established by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, was inaugurated under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tareq al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture in the presence of high-level government officials comprising of ministers, under-secretaries and other senior officials recently.

With the ministry’s approach to preserve the outstanding cultural character, the born of the museum comes in the context of the ministry’s plans to preserve Oman’s heritage. The museum is in memoriam of late Sayyid Faisal bin Ali al Said. The museum is a fitting tribute to Sayyid Faisal as he was not only a man who loved culture, but he will also be remembered for his love for the heritage of his country and his work hard to preserve it. Sayyid Faisal started it and sourced out everything around the country that pertained to heritage and culture and preserved the forts and antiques available.

The idea to open the museum won praises as it honours the distinguished personality who promoted Omani heritage and culture to the outside world. Sayyid Faisal was always keen to protect and preserve the Omani culture. Sayyid Faisal played a leading role in highlighting Omani culture and heritage in the international and regional arenas the late minister’s endeavours to preserve the Sultanate’s heritage and legacy is visible all over the Sultanate. The museum and its contents tell the story of the past years. It shows how life was lived from one generation to another. Importantly, the museum shows how Omanis developed their weapons in the past for the sake of self defence and the types used in different periods of time.

The museum includes a permanent exhibition of traditional weaponry in the Sultanate as well as spacious gallery with the panel exhibition on Oman’s fortified architecture. The exhibition gallery is designed in a way that it is able to host temporary exhibition from a wide range of fields, from history and archaeology to science and fine arts. On display are Oman’s fortified architecture depicting Omani landscape from the governorate of Muscat along the Batinah region to Musandam in the north and the interior regions to Dhofar down south depicting different types of towers, forts and castles of fortified settlements and residential strongholds.

As for fans of traditional weaponry, the exhibition shows the earliest known weapons in Oman’s prehistory to the rich archaeological finds from the bronze to iron ages. The display ends with the two icons of Omani armoury — the exquisite Omani khanjar and the straight and curved swords. On display also are the early hand-held firearms and many of later 19th and early 20th century guns, including the famous Martini Henry that, through theirs rich Omani silver decoration, were transformed into works of art.

The museum will be open every Saturday to Wednesday from 8.00am to 2.00pm. The museum is accommodated in the former stage building of the ministry built under late Sayyid Faisal when he was the Minister of Heritage and Culture. Originally used for theatrical and musical performances, the hall has now been architecturally modified and refurbished to suit its new purpose.