Muscat – The National Museum, in cooperation with the History Museum of Armenia and the Embassy of Armenia in Oman, opened an exhibition on Sunday titled ‘On the Frankincense Trail: Armenia’. The opening was held under the patronage of Abdullah bin Hamad al Riyami, Head of the Cultural Cooperation Department at the Foreign Ministry, and attended by ambassadors and specialists in cultural and museum affairs.

The exhibition is the first in a new series, ‘On the Frankincense Trail’, which aims to revisit the routes of civilisational exchange from prehistoric times to the present through frankincense, a trade good long associated with cultural and economic interaction.

H E Hrachya Poladyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Oman, said the exhibition presents a collection of Armenian censers from the 13th to 18th centuries held by the History Museum of Armenia. He said the display underscores the symbolism of frankincense in Armenian culture and its historic links with peoples across the region, including Oman, known for producing and exporting high-quality frankincense.

He noted that the exhibition reflects growing cooperation between the two countries and supports cultural dialogue, strengthened further by the recent opening of the Armenian Embassy in Muscat. He added that such initiatives help build bridges, promote understanding and support efforts to advance peaceful relations.

Dr Davit Poghosyan, Director of the History Museum of Armenia, said, “This joint exhibition represents a meeting between two institutions rooted in regions that have long served as crossroads of civilisations.” He added that the collaboration highlights the ability of cultural heritage to connect peoples across time.

He said the exhibition reveals similarities between the two traditions and traces of historic contact that shaped both societies.

The exhibition examines the presence of frankincense in Armenian heritage and its role in linking the Indian Ocean and the Caucasus. It is displayed in the Land of Frankincense Gallery at the National Museum, a space dedicated to the material and intangible dimensions of frankincense heritage. The exhibition will remain open to the public until 30 May 2026.

The display also documents the use of frankincense in Armenia since ancient times, supported by the censers recovered from archaeological sites. Frankincense was historically used to purify sacred spaces and later retained a ritual role following Armenia’s adoption of Christianity. It was also used in community ceremonies, including weddings and milling rituals, and remains part of funeral rites today. The exhibition features several examples of intricately crafted censers dating from the 13th to 18th centuries CE.

The series launched by the National Museum seeks to broaden understanding of frankincense’s role in shaping shared human history and deepen cultural exchange between Oman and international partners.