The Damascus National Museum opened its doors, for the first time in almost seven years, after it had closed to protect antiquities from the repercussions of the conflict ravaging Syria since 2011.
Last year, the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums announced retrieving over 78 missing artifacts found in Lebanon, in addition to about 20 Maaloula mosaic plates that will be put on display at the museum.
Maaloula is known as one of three remaining villages where Western Neo-Aramaic is spoken and is home to two important monasteries: the Eastern Catholic Mar Sarkis and Greek Orthodox Mar Thecla.
Only a single wing of the museum was opened, but it displayed archaeological artifacts dating to several historical periods that were hidden during the past years.
The Damascus National Museum, which was founded in early 1920 and moved to its current building in 1936, consists of several sections, including prehistoric monuments, ancient Syrian monuments, classical monuments, Islamic monuments and modern art.
During the years of the war, the Syrian archaeological sites were subjected to vandalism and looting despite The International Council of Museums (ICOM) publishing an “Emergency Red List of Syrian Cultural Objects at Risk” that could turn up on the international art market.
For its part, the Directorate undertook emergency measures, including the transfer of valuable artifacts and rare pieces from Damascus and Aleppo museums to a safe area, and provided security insurance for the remaining pieces at warehouses.
Syria was inhabited by many civilizations from the Canaanites to the Ottomans, and has treasures of Roman, Mamluk and Byzantine ruins, with mosques, churches and Crusader castles.
Since the conflict in 2011, archeological sites have not escaped destruction, vandalism and robbery.
The most prominent of these is the Aleppo Citadel and the ruins of Palmyra, such as the Temple of Bell, the Arc de Triomphe and the Lion of Latt.
The number of stolen and smuggled artifacts was estimated at 25,000, which were listed by ICOM.
According to the information, most of these pieces are registered and known to the Directorate of Antiquities, and can be retrieved. But a challenge rises when dealing with unregistered artifacts stolen for depots. Most unlisted pieces were illegally excavated in untouched archaeological sites throughout Syria.
