We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our grandchildren

The Syrian antiquities are part of the global human heritage as much as they are part of our collective memory as Syrians; It provides evidence for the diversity of Syrian society throughout history and to the essential contribution of each

Keep these monuments neutral, and the preservation of their integrity during conflicts is everyone’s responsibility. Our initiative aims to support these ideas, highlight our common bonds, and ultimately contribute to building peace. And where the UNESCO Charter says, “Since the idea of ​​war springs from the mind of man, it is from the same mind that a culture of peace must be built” (UNESCO Charter)

This project was created with the aim of highlighting the most important artifacts in the National Museum in Damascus. The Virtual Damascus National Museum project is one of the documentation projects in the Syrian Cultural Heritage Initiative. MIRATH is a non-profit, independent, non-governmental organization. We at MIRATH do not represent or express, through our projects or our opinions, any political or ideological entity.

To date, none of the Syrian museums has taken the chance to exist in the cyberspace. At MIRATH we have created this project to become a solid platform in order to pass and to exchange information and experiences about Syrian archaeological artifacts, as well as a tool to introduce this important part of the Syrian material heritage to those who did not know it before or for those who got to know it late.

The National Museum Of Damascus

As the country’s national museum as well as its largest, this museum covers the full scope of Syrian history over more than 11,000 years. It displays many important artifacts, antiquities and major discoveries, most notably from the sites of Mari, Ebla and Ugarit, three of the most important ancient archaeological sites in Syria.

The museum temporarily closed its doors in 2012, after the threat of the Syrian war swept through Damascus and threatened its rich cultural monuments. Soon, the museum authorities unloaded more than 300,000 artifacts and hid them in secret places to protect the Syrian cultural heritage from destruction and looting. Six years later, the museum reopened four of its five wings on October 29, 2018.