Treasures of the Baghdad National Museum of Iraq were first made available online to users. Grand opening of a new site called the Virtual Museum of Iraq ( the Virtual Museum of Iraq ) was held in Italy in the framework of cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Baghdad Museum which was looted in 2003 during a military invasion of the United States reopened its doors to visitors after six years in February this year. Now, thanks to a new site the most interesting items from this collection available to everyone. Anyone who speaks Arabic, English or Italian language, the Internet can walk for eight virtual rooms. He will be able to admire the exhibits, created in different historical periods (the oldest of them comprise more than one thousand years), as well as watch videos, narrates the history of the major cities in the country.

«This is not just a repository of objects stored in the museum. This is a virtual journey through the 6 thousand years of Mesopotamian history, intended for the general public, and for the scientific community », - said Roberto de Mattei (Roberto De Mattei), director of the National Research Council of Italy.

In the virtual room on the Sumerians, it is possible to see the famous mask of Warka - a marble sculpture of a woman's head, dating from 3400-3100 years BC. e. Like many other exhibits, you can rotate nearly 360 degrees and carefully considered from all sides.

In the Assyrian hall presented a statue of the limestone in the form of winged bulls with human heads, dating back to IX and VIII centuries BC. e. These creatures guarding ancient city of Nimrud on the Tigris River and Dur-Sharrukin, modern Horsabad.

At the presentation of the site, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy Franco Frattini (Franco Frattini) said that thanks to the virtual museum «culture has become a tool to help people affected by the war, on their feet and regain the unity of through its cultural and historical heritage ».

On the restoration of the National Museum of Iraq from Italy had been transferred one million euro. In addition, Baghdad has been a group of Italian experts who prepared the restoration laboratory, and also had a major overhaul of the Assyrian and Islamic galleries of the museum.

In February this year, Frattini said that Italy is planning to assist in the restoration of two more Iraqi museums in Najaf and Nasiriyah, located near the ancient city of Ur, mentioned in the Bible as the birthplace of Abraham.

He also pledged to assist Iraq in establishing a new police unit, whose activities will be aimed at halting the illegal exportation of stolen works. To this end, the team will be held Italian police involved in crimes in the sphere of art, which has already gained an excellent reputation throughout the world.

Modern Iraq is situated in the territory of ancient Mesopotamia between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, and the Baghdad National Museum can boast one of the world's best collections of ancient artifacts. However, in 2003 during the incursion into the territory of American troops was looted museum - lost about 15 thousand items. This event was called the most catastrophic theft of cultural property since the Second World War and sparked a wave of indignation throughout the world. Actions by the United States, which failed to prevent looting, received serious condemnation.

Thanks to diligent search, which was also attended by Italian police, about 6 thousand of stolen property, including the mask of Warka, was able to return. However, the many artifacts still remain unknown.

material produced Catherine Onuchin, AI

Sources: ansa.it , artinvestment.ru