224
Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s
Spouse
wall there rises high a big variegated, multicolored house
stretching over one whole district. Rising from its roof at
various levels are twenty minarets of different shapes and
colors, semi-circular friezes and balconies of ornamented
wood, precious stones and colored glass, all constituting
wonderful objets d’art. All in all,
it looks like a legendary
toy and reminds us of a legendary tower.
When we got inside, we were amazed to see its contents
that were no less wonderful than the outward appearance
of the mysterious museum. First, there were no people in
it. Not even one single visitor, although it was full of so
many interesting things. In fact, it was full of countless
items that are beyond one’s imagination, in addition to
exotic and unique things that were placed next to ordinary
everyday life objects that have no scientific significance.
An example is a glass vase that contains artificial flowers
made of glass. Another is a cheap decoration in the
bathrooms. Yes, in this museums there are exhibits of
bathrooms that are bright with shining lights with open
doors. They may be also operational!
There are also unique collections of fire arms, swords
and daggers that are engraved with precious stones, as well
precious collections of books, ancient coins, expensive
jewelry and a set of dresses, clothes and national dresses,
in good condition, from all over the world. There were
also furniture, receptacles and other items, that were
discovered in the processes of exploration, and ancient
manuscripts and tableaus painted by modern and ancient
artists, as well as statues and other items. We had the
impression that in this museum had been assembled,
225
Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Seen by a Diplomat’s Spouse
unsystematically and without any order, valuable and
precious items, and it turned out that this was the case in
fact. The secret of this mysterious place is that its history
is a totally romantic history, almost like things we hear in
the stories of a Thousand and One Night.
Once upon a time, there lived in the commercial city of
Jeddah a rich youth who decided to build a house in honor
of his beautiful wife. Such a house should be unique with
none to compare therewith.
Thus, he invited the best masters among masons from
various countries, who built for him an amazing exquisite
palace. The couple lived happily amidst the joy of the
relatives and acquaintances. Every morning the young
husband used to give his wife a present to make her
happy.
Years went by and the couple had children, and the
morning presents kept accumulating. So they made cabinets
with mirrors in which they exhibited the accumulated
presents. Guests would stop with their mouths open as
they watched such amazing items. For the couple, it was
difficult to stop, and the collection of things became for the
cute couple a deeply entrenched hobby. At this point, the
family, whose members had multiplied, decided to move
to a new house and to convert the old one into a museum
to be preserved as a symbol of matrimonial life.
May be this story is far-fetched. But this was what the
museum attendant told us. In reply to our question “why
are such treasures not properly guarded” he said, “First
of all, because no one would dare to steal them because
it is haram (religiously proscribed); secondly, there are