ST PETERSBURG: The National Museum of Oman, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Sultanate of Oman, on Friday launched a book titled ‘Common Proverbs and Idioms in Oman and Russia’ by author Sergei Romanov at St Petersburg State University, on the sidelines of the inauguration of ‘Gallery of Oman’ at the State Hermitage Museum.
The inauguration ceremony of the book was attended by Her Highness Sayyida Dr Muna bint Fahd al Said, Assistant President of Sultan Qaboos University for International Cooperation, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, Jamal bin Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, Hamood bin Salim al Towaiya, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Russian Federation, Prof Dr Mikhail Petrovsky, Director General of the State Hermitage Museum and member of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, number of officials and interested in the cultural field, and academics of St Petersburg State University.
At the forefront of the reception was Her Highness Sayyida Dr Muna bint Fahd al Said, Assistant President of Sultan Qaboos University for International Cooperation, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum and the delegation of the Sultanate of Oman, and Prof Nikolay Krobachev, Rector of St Petersburg State University.
Author Romanov aims to introduce readers to the treasures of life philosophy among the two friendly peoples, as proverbs and sayings in the Sultanate of Oman formed the basis of this book, while the second section of the book contains proverbs and sayings of the Russian people.
As part of the cultural collaboration between the Sultanate of Oman and Saint Petersburg State University in the Russian Federation, facilitated through the National Museum, a dedicated corner for Omani publications was inaugurated in 2022 at the university's Institute of Oriental Studies.
This initiative aims to empower Arabized students in Omani studies, fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural and intellectual landscape of the Sultanate of Oman. The endeavour serves as a bridge for mutual acquaintance and closer ties between the two friendly nations. In the same vein, Omani studies commenced at the College of Oriental Studies in 2022, with scholarships offered at the Sultan Qaboos Institute for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers in 2024.
Sergei Valentinovich Romanov, born in Moscow in 1958, holds a degree from the Moscow Institute of International Relations (1980) and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Russian Federation (1995). Specialising in Middle Eastern affairs, Romanov's book serves as a testament to his dedication to fostering cultural understanding and appreciation between Oman and Russia.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
