Excitement as Ancient Gilgamesh Tablet Returns Home to Iraq, Cheers from UNESCO!
The Gilgamesh Dream Tablet – one of the oldest surviving literary works in history – is to be returned to Iraq by the United States later this week, the UN agency for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), said on Monday.
Made of clay and priceless, the Gilgamesh Tablet features inscriptions in Sumerian, a civilisation of ancient Mesopotamia.
The 3,500-year-old treasure was taken from a museum in Iraq after the start of the Gulf War in August 1990.
In 2007, it was introduced fraudulently into the US art market. According to news reports, the artefact was acquired in 2014 by the craft retail chain, Hobby Lobby, for display at the Museum of the Bible, in Washington DC – which is funded by the family of Hobby Lobby’s owner.
The US Department of Justice announced in July, that it was ordering the official handing over of the tablet, as it had entered the US “contrary to federal law”, noting that federal agents had seized the tablet from the museum, in September 2019.
‘Major victory’
It will now be formally returned to Iraq at a ceremony at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC this Thursday.
“By returning these illegally acquired objects, the authorities here in the United States and in Iraq are allowing the Iraqi people to reconnect with a page in their history”, said UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, in a celebratory message. “This exceptional restitution is a major victory over those who mutilate heritage and then traffic it to finance violence and terrorism.”
ICE
The Gilgamesh Tablet, a 3,500-year-old tablet from what is now Iraq, is one of the world’s oldest works of literature.
First impressions
The tablet, with its distinctive wedge-like cuneiform impressions, contains sections of a Sumerian epic poem in which the hero, Gilgamesh, recounts his dreams to his mother.
Some of the stories are mirrored by the Old Testament – for instance the reference to the Great Flood – making it one of the world’s oldest known religious texts, UNESCO said.
The UN agency said that another 17,000 artefacts will be returned to Iraq from the US after Thursday’s ceremony.
Destructive approach
According to Interpol, there has been a considerable global increase in the destruction of cultural heritage owing to armed conflict in the past decade.
UNESCO noted that the authorities in the United States, which represents an estimated 44 per cent of the global art market, have made significant progress in tackling stolen artefacts in recent years.
With the help of improved legislation and the assistance of key cultural institutions, the US Antiquities Trafficking Unit has helped to return valuable items to the people of Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka already this year, the UN agency said.
“The United States deeply values the cultural heritage of Iraq,” said Stacy White, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State, who will speak at the Smithsonian event.
“We have worked for nearly 20 years with Iraqi counterparts and American academic and non-profit institutions to protect, preserve and honour the rich cultural heritage of Iraq.”
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It’s great news that the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet is finally going back to Iraq. Such artifacts should always be returned to their home countries. This is a positive step towards preserving our shared cultural heritage. Kudos to UNESCO for their efforts in making this happen.
It’s wonderful news to see the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet finally returning to Iraq. This significant artifact deserves to be back in its rightful place, and the efforts by UNESCO and the US authorities should be commended for ensuring its repatriation. Looking forward to the ceremony and the cultural significance it holds.
I am thrilled to hear that the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet is finally being returned to Iraq. It’s a significant piece of history that rightfully belongs to its home country. This act of restitution is crucial for preserving cultural heritage and promoting respect for international laws. Kudos to UNESCO for their efforts in making this happen!
It’s heartwarming to see the Gilgamesh Tablet finally making its way back to its rightful home in Iraq. This significant piece of history belongs to the people of Iraq, and its return marks a major victory in preserving cultural heritage. Kudos to UNESCO for their efforts in this important repatriation process!
As an avid supporter of cultural heritage preservation, I am thrilled by the news of the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet making its way back to Iraq. It is a significant step towards righting historical wrongs and restoring pride to the region. Kudos to UNESCO for their efforts in making this happen!
As a history enthusiast, I am thrilled to see the Gilgamesh Tablet finally being returned to Iraq. It’s a remarkable piece of ancient history that rightfully belongs to its home country. Cheers to UNESCO for their efforts in making this happen!
I believe it is a significant step in preserving and respecting the cultural heritage of Iraq. It is heartening to see the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet returning to its rightful home after being wrongfully removed for so many years. This restitution effort should serve as an example for other countries to prioritize the repatriation of stolen artifacts to their countries of origin.
What impact does the return of the Gilgamesh Tablet have on the cultural significance of Iraq?
Returning the Gilgamesh Tablet to Iraq is a significant step in preserving and honoring Iraq’s cultural heritage. Its homecoming restores a piece of history that belongs to the Iraqi people, enriching the country’s cultural identity and historical narrative.
As an art history enthusiast, I am thrilled to hear about the Gilgamesh Tablet’s return to Iraq! It’s crucial to respect the cultural heritage of nations and right historical wrongs. This initiative by UNESCO is truly commendable.
As an enthusiast of ancient history, I’m thrilled to hear that the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet is finally returning to Iraq. This significant artefact belongs to its homeland and should be celebrated for its historical value. I commend the actions taken by the US Department of Justice and UNESCO in ensuring the tablet’s rightful return.
As an archeology enthusiast, I believe it’s wonderful news that the Gilgamesh Tablet is being returned to Iraq. It’s a significant victory for cultural heritage preservation and justice.
Isn’t it amazing news to see cultural artifacts like the Gilgamesh Tablet being returned to their rightful home after so many years? How do you think this will impact international cooperation for safeguarding cultural heritage?