Iraq opens new antiquities museum in Basra

Iraq opened a new antiquities museum in the southern city of Basra on Tuesday with pottery, coins and other artifacts dating back more than 2,000 years.
Only one hall was opened due to a shortage of funds, Qahtan Al-Obaid, the museum director, said by telephone. It will showcase artifacts dating back to 400 B.C. that tell the history of the oil-rich city on the Arabian Gulf.
He said there are plans to open other wings that would exhibit Babylonian, Assyrian and Sumerian artifacts from across Iraq dating back to 3,300 B.C. Iraq is currently in the grip of an economic crisis linked to the plunge in global oil prices and the war against the Daesh group. The museum is housed in one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces, which had briefly served as a mess hall for British troops after the 2003 US-led invasion that overthrew him. Al-Obaid said the location was chosen in order to “replace the themes of dictatorship and tyranny with civilianization and humanity.”

Source: Arab News