www.azzaman.com The treasure of Nimrud, Mesopotamia’s most prized find, will start a tour of world capitals that will continue for five years; but not before the Iraqis have a glimpse of it, according to Culture Minister Mufeed al-Jazaairi.
The tour is expected to earn the ministry millions of dollars, Jazaairi said, adding that $6 million have already been collected from the organizers.
The entire collection, weighing well over 100 pounds, includes 613 pieces of gold jewelry, precious stones and ornaments from the golden age of the Assyrian Empire which flourished in northern Iraq in 800 B.C.
Jazaairi said the collection will be displayed in the Iraq Museum in July for the Iraqis to have a glimpse of their ancient treasure before its journey to Europe, North America and Australia.
Only part of the priceless find of gem-studded jewelry was briefly exhibited at the Iraq Museum before the 1991 Gulf War and has since been kept in the vaults of the Central Bank to guard it against bombing and theft.
A Danish company, Jazaairi said, has agreed to undertake the transport and insurance of the priceless artifacts throughout its journey.
To guard against theft and smugglers the treasure will be monitored via satellites as it travels the world, the minister said.
The spectacular treasure was discovered by Iraqi archaeologists in four burial sites between 1988 and 1990 in ancient royal tombs of the Assyrian metropolis of Nimrud, near the biblical city of Nineveh whose ruins are scattered among the present day northern city of Mosul.
The pieces, among other things, include a queen’s crown of astounding beauty, eight winged girls, white marble jars, and gold plates and engraved silver pitches.
“The ministry will get one third of the ticket price visitors are going to pay to see the treasures,” Jazaairi said. |