Iraq's National Museum reopens after three-year closure

"We've waited a long time to come here," said Tijen Kayralci, 65, part of a tour group from Turkey.
Visitors gather around the statue of the Lion of Babylon at the ancient city of the same name in Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)
Visitors gather around the statue of the Lion of Babylon at the ancient city of the same name in Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)

Iraq's National Museum reopened Monday to visitors after a three-year closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political unrest.

Treasures dating back 2,500 years to the neo-Assyrian empire alongside 9th century Islamic antiquities went back on display, including two winged bulls from the Nimrud site in the palace of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC).

"We've waited a long time to come here," said Tijen Kayralci, 65, part of a tour group from Turkey.

A foreign visitor walks on past ancient dragon figures in the ancient city of Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, in Hila province. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)
A foreign visitor walks on past ancient dragon figures in the ancient city of Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site in Hila province, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)

"It's beyond my expectations, these are priceless, very valuable pieces," she said. "It reflects the depth of Iraq's history."

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said Sunday at the official inauguration that the museum, founded in 1923 to display five millennia of history in Mesopotamia, or modern-day Iraq, has undergone extensive renovation.

 Ninmakh Temple, which was built during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar in 562 B.C. - known as the Great Temple - in the ancient city of Babylon in the province of Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)
Ninmakh Temple, which was built during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar in 562 B.C. - known as the Great Temple - in the ancient city of Babylon in the province of Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)

The Iraq Museum was closed three years ago "because of the demonstrations and for security reasons", said Laith Majid Hussein, the head of Iraq's antiquities authority, referring to anti-government protests which swept the country in 2019.

"And then there was the coronavirus pandemic," he said.

The museum, which has stood at its present site since 1966, was ransacked amid the chaos that followed the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein.

 an ancient dragon figure on the Ishtar Gate of the historic city of Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, in the province of Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Ruabye/AFP)
An ancient dragon figure on the Ishtar Gate of the historic city of Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, in the province of Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Ruabye/AFP)

The authorities have recovered around a third of some 15,000 artefacts that were looted at the time.

Islamic State group jihadists, who controlled swathes of Iraq between 2014 and 2017, carried out large-scale destruction of ancient sites, as well as trafficking in antiquities.

Iraq has recovered more than 18,000 artefacts in the past year, the vast majority of them from the United States.

In December, Iraqi authorities held a ceremony to celebrate the return of the prized Gilgamesh tablet, which is over 3,500 years old.

The ruins of the ancient city of Babylon at the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of the same name in the province of Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)
The ruins of the ancient city of Babylon at the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of the same name in the province of Hilla, March 7, 2022. (Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP)