National Museum of Iraq Tourism

The National Museum of Iraq, located in Baghdad, is a repository of ancient Mesopotamian history. It is one of the most important archaeological museums in the world due to the extensive collection of art and artifacts from the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria that once flourished in this region. With origins dating back to the British Mandate period of the 1920s, the museum officially opened its doors to the public in 1966. The collection spans over 5,000 years of history, including renowned treasures like the Warka Vase, the Mask of Warka, also known as the Lady of Uruk, and the Babylonian law code of Hammurabi. Throughout the years, the museum faced challenges, especially during the looting in 2003 following the U.S. invasion, when thousands of items were stolen, some of which have since been recovered. The museum's exhibits are designed to provide visitors with an understanding of the rich history of Iraq, tracing the evolution of human civilization in this fertile land.