Mleiha: A southeast Arabian kingdom on the edge of the Hellenistic empires

Date: Tuesday, 16 December Time: 7 pm - Amricani Cultural Centre Language: English We invite you to attend the lecture, “Mleiha: A southeast Arabian kingdom on the edge of the Hellenistic empires,” presented by Dr Bruno Overlaet. Mleiha is believed to have been the inland capital of the Kingdom of Oman between the 3rd century BCE and 3rd century CE. The site includes fortified structures, residential and industrial zones, and an extensive necropolis with underground chamber tombs. Archaeological findings reveal a society connected to global influences yet retaining traditional Arab customs. Among the most distinctive discoveries are the unique bull-headed swords found only in Mleiha. Dr Bruno Overlaet recently retired as the Head of the Antiquity Department & Curator of the collections of the Ancient Near Eastern, Iran and the Islamic world at the Royal Museums of Art & History in Brussels. In that capacity, he was also the director of a field research project in Mleiha, Sharjah - UAE, a SE-Arabian settlement for 16 years. Overlaet’s primary research interests include the archaeology of Luristan, Iran and South-East Arabia in the Hellenistic and Roman era: The Kingdom of Oman.