Treasures like the beautiful carvedivory mona lisa of nimrud survived ten centuries, only to fall victim to chaos and looters, some sent by. Edt 24 gmt baghdad, iraq cnn at the national museum in baghdad, iraq has reopened. Iraniraq war, 198088, protracted military conflict between iran and iraq. Behind the looting of the iraq museum by lawrence rothfield. The museums numismatic staff has published extensively. Antiquities return to iraq antiquities that had been smuggled into the u. As the full extent of the looting of iraqs national museum in baghdad emerges, it becomes clear that there was nothing accidental about it. Meanwhile, many of iraqs 12,500 archaeological sites continue to be vulnerable to looting, and the iraq museum remains closed, its treasures bricked up within interior storage rooms. The 2003 looting of the iraq national museum in baghdad was widely reported, but the ongoing and largescale looting of archaeological sites throughout iraq is an even greater threat to iraqs cultural. The iraq museums huge collection tells the epic story of human civilization, from the earliest settlements to the rise and fall of vast empires. The thendirector of antiquities of iraq, donny george, also attempted to defend the iraq museum in baghdad.
Projected onto the wall above george was an image of what has become a symbol of the museum looting. National museum of iraq museum, baghdad, iraq britannica. A team of archaeologists said wednesday that some historical sites in iraq suffered serious damage during and after the u. These artifacts, some of them more than 10,000 years old, show. The jacket is rubbed on edges, but intact, the book itself is in perfect condition. Baghdad plunder is an addictive, pageturning, actionpacked, thoroughly researched historical fiction novel that weaves fictional characters into the factual fabric of what actually happened to the vast treasures of the iraq national museum. List of books and articles about iraniraq war online. Pillagers strip iraqi museum of its treasure the new. Meanwhile, many of iraq s 12,500 archaeological sites continue to be vulnerable to looting, and the iraq museum remains closed, its treasures bricked up within interior storage rooms. He has also participated in international group exhibitions such as word into art, british museum, london, 2006. Aina the royal tombs of nimrud were first discovered in april of 1989 by an expedition. The average newspaper reader may recall that the iraq national museum was badly looted in the aftermath of initial hostilities, but very few realize how entirely predictable the looting was, how negligible the bush administrations efforts were to prevent it and how far beyond the museum the thefts extended, and still continue.
Treasures of the iraq museum treasures of the iraq museum, treasures of the iraq museum. Wide exterior of iraqi national museum cars driving by 2. A man walks past an artifact displayed during the official reopening of iraqs national museum on feb. The library of ashurbanipal also spelled assurbanipal is a set of at least 30,000 cuneiform documents written in the akkadian and sumerian languages, which was found in the ruins.
Quotes tagged as nationalmuseumofiraq showing 11 of 1 i resolutely refuse to believe that the state of edwards health had anything to do with this, and i dont say this only because i was once later. The iraq museum s huge collection tells the epic story of human civilization, from the earliest settlements to the rise and fall of vast empires. Top 10 books about the iraq war ranging from forensic intelligence reports to biting reportage and searing fiction and memoir, these books lay bare the mistakes that drove the war, and. The national museum reopened after 12 years of painstaking efforts. Closed since gulf war iraq reopens national museum. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Saving iraqs treasures history smithsonian magazine. When looking back on the iraq war, many american policy decisions stand out for their shortcomings, such. Protecting iraqs ancient heritage archaeology magazine. A firsthand account of the effort to recover iraqs museum treasures. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
Shuttered for a decade, iraqs national museum reopens its. Iraq updates may 5, 2008 five years after the ransacking of the national museum of iraq in baghdad in. The iraq museum of baghdad is to display 40 ancient artefacts at the venice biennale this year, including several that were recently returned after its looting in 2003. This article relates to a disappearance in damascus. An awesome archeology collection despite the 2003 looting, the museum which reopened in 2015 is very interesting to visit. Three iraqi summers of change and conflict by nathan webster, soldier girls.
The looting of iraqs national museum was one of the greatest scandals of the u. Persian gulf wars, two conflicts involving iraq and u. These artifacts, some of them more than 10,000 years old, show the development of everything from hunting and writing implements to mathematics, art, law, religion, and industry and ultimately. Iraq museum 2008 a fter the early phases of the establishment of the modern iraqi state, the iraq museum was founded and housed in a small room in the alserai building the old ottomanperiod. The great tempel hall of the national museum in leiden, the netherlands. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. That 4,000yearold lament sounded all too contemporary in april as baghdad mobs stormed iraqs national museum, broke heads off ancient statues, ransacked files and made off with an unknown. Ministry of information, directorate general for antiquities, baghdad, 19756. Candlelight vigil for the iraq museum in leiden, the netherlands. At once heartbreaking and inspiring, this remarkable art book seeks to document what was lost when 15,000 objects at baghdads iraq museum were lost in the 2003 war and the ongoing art destruction. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
The story of what really happened inside the iraq museum when thousands of valuable antiquities were stolen in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 us invasion has been revealed in a new book. National museum of iraq is destroyed only 48 hours after american troops enter baghdad in sufficient force to topple saddam husseins government, and at least 170,000 artifacts of ancient. The first persian gulf war, also known as the gulf war, jan. The hidden treasures of the iraqi national museum youtube. National museum of iraq, museum of antiquities located in baghdad, iraq, featuring iraqi art and artifacts dating from the stone age civilization of the fertile crescent to the middle ages following world war. Top 10 books about the iraq war books the guardian.
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