The Soul of the Middle East & South Asia

A Curated Digital Encyclopedia

Archives

The Met Collection

Explore the Archives
Lustreware Bowl with Calligraphy

Islamic Art Department

Lustreware Bowl with Calligraphy

Pectoral of Tutankhamun

Egyptian Art

Pectoral of Tutankhamun

Standing Bodhisattva

Asian Art

Standing Bodhisattva

Mughal Garden Miniature

South Asian Art

Mughal Garden Miniature

Living Traditions

UNESCO Intangible Heritage

Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi ritual
Representative List

Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi ritual

Semahs can be described as a set of mystical and aesthetic body movements in rhythmic harmony. They constitute one of the twelve main services found…

Explore
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei rituals
Representative List

Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei rituals

Pahlevani is an Iranian martial art that combines elements of Islam, Gnosticism and ancient Persian beliefs. It describes a ritual collection of…

Explore
Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India
Representative List

Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India

The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru constitutes the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab. The metals…

Explore
Historic Cairo
Archaeological Wonders

Ancient Cities of the Silk Road

Discover the architectural majesty of ancient cities that once stood as the beating hearts of global trade, science, and art.

Historic Cairo, Egypt

Inscribed 1979

Ajanta Caves, India

Inscribed 1983

Itchan Kala, Uzbekistan

Inscribed 1990

Curated Taxonomies

Period

Period

Antiquity to Modernity

Medium

Medium

Silk, Stone, & Clay

Culture

Culture

A Tapestry of Peoples

Journal

From the Blog

All articles
Colombia UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 15 Elements
Blog

Colombia UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 15 Elements

Colombia has 15 UNESCO ICH elements as of 2025 — 11 on the Representative List, 3 on the Urgent Safeguarding List, and…

Ukraine UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 7 Elements
Blog

Ukraine UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 7 Elements

Ukraine has 7 UNESCO ICH elements as of 2025 — 4 on the Representative List, 2 on the Urgent Safeguarding List, and 1…

Peru UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 15 Elements
Blog

Peru UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 15 Elements

Peru has 15 UNESCO ICH elements as of 2025 — 13 on the Representative List, 1 on the Urgent Safeguarding List, and 1 on…

Morocco UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 16 Elements
Blog

Morocco UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 16 Elements

Morocco has 16 UNESCO ICH elements as of 2025 — 15 on the Representative List and 1 on the Urgent Safeguarding List…

Bulgaria UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 9 Elements
Blog

Bulgaria UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 9 Elements

Bulgaria’s UNESCO intangible cultural heritage comprises 9 elements — 7 on the Representative List of the…

Malaysia UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 9 Elements
Blog

Malaysia UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Complete List of 9 Elements

Malaysia’s UNESCO intangible cultural heritage comprises 9 elements — 8 on the Representative List of the…