Ancient Babylonian bricks stolen in Iraq
Baku, February 27 (AZERTAC).Four hundred fragments of bricks from Babylon`s Ishtar Gate and Processional Way have been stolen. The local Iraqi press reported the loss of 33 pieces last October, but in February the minister of tourism and antiquities, Liwa Sumaism, gave the much higher figure. These came from the Nebuchadnezzar Museum, at the entrance to the city founded in 575BC. The blue-glazed bricks have golden images of bulls, lions and dragons. Excavated from 1900 onwards by German archaeologists, many of the bricks with images were taken to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Part of the structure was reconstructed by Saddam Hussein with modern replicas.
The Nebuchadnezzar Museum was closed and sealed for protection just before the 2003 invasion and some of the displayed items were taken to the National Museum in Baghdad. The stolen glazed bricks most likely came from a storeroom of the Nebuchadnezzar Museum. A criminal investigation is underway. Speaking to Baghdad`s Al-Bayan newspaper, Sumaism said that archaeological sites and museums need another 1,000 extra guards to ensure security.
Iraq`s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Liwa Sumaism has said the number of Babylonian brick fragments stolen from the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way at the Nebuchadnezzar Museum is close to 400.
According to ArtInfo, the new number is much higher than the original estimate, which was thought to be 33. Many of the missing fragments, however, are thought to have been stolen from a storage space at their original home.
The stolen bricks were glazed blue and have golden images of bulls, lions and dragons on them, reported The Art Newspaper. They were excavated starting in 1900 by Germanarchaeologists, meaning many were taken to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Parts of the city entrance that the bricks made up were reconstructed with modern replicas by Saddam Hussein.
A criminal investigation into the bricks` disappearance is now underway. Sumaism noted that archaeological sites and museums in Iraq need at least 1,000 more guards to ensure security.
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