ZAGREB, 3 Nov (Hina) – President Zoran Milanović on Sunday donated Croatian books about Egypt to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina during the opening of the exhibition “Echoes of Egypt: Sphinxes in Croatia”, marking 33 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The rich cultural, political and demographic exchange between the two countries is not only continuing, but growing stronger, the president said as he opened the exhibition, which symbolises the friendly relations between Egypt and Croatia – two countries with rich cultural and intellectual traditions, his Office said in a statement.
Milanović donated works by Croatian authors dedicated to ancient and modern Egypt, whose heritage has throughout history regularly reached our shores. These echoes over the centuries were presented by curator Tomislav Kiš, who showcased Ancient Egyptian sphinxes from Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Renaissance manuscripts, Baroque and Classicist sphinxes in Croatian public spaces, and examples of architectural “Egyptomania” at the beginning of the 20th century, the statement said.
All of this underscores the sphinx as an enduring diplomatic symbol connecting the two cultures, civilisations and nations., the statement noted.
The president thanked the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Croatian Embassy for organising the exhibition, which was funded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
President Milanović and his wife are visiting Egypt, and in the capital Cairo on Saturday they attended the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the long-awaited largest global collection dedicated to that ancient civilisation.
It is obvious how deeply Ancient Egypt is rooted in the culture and perception of Egyptians. They are a Muslim, Islamic state, but place great importance on that identity, the president said, summing up his impression of the country.
The exhibition remains open until 13 November, with support from the Archaeological Museums in Zagreb, Split and Zadar, the Split City Museum and the State Archives in Osijek and Dubrovnik.
