Mosul (Iraq) (AFP)
Two copies of "lamassus", the winged male-headed lions of the Mesopotamians, discovered on the ancient site of Nimrod destroyed by the jihadists, were unveiled Thursday in Mosul, the former "capital" of the group Islamic State (EI) in Iraq.
The two original lions adorned the throne room of Assurnasirpal II, who reigned over the Assyrian empire in the 9th century BC. One of them was once exhibited at the museum of Mosul, the second of the country, whose treasures were also methodically destroyed by the IS.
In the wake of its meteoric breakthrough in mid-2014, the IS has engaged in "cultural cleansing" by cutting off some of the remains of ancient Mesopotamia, according to the UN, or by selling parts to the black market.
The site of Nimrod, jewel of the Assyrian empire founded in the 13th century BC, was devastated. Videos had shown IS fighters bulldozing, picking or blasting the site or ransacking pre-Islamic treasures of the Mosul Museum, still closed to the public.
These facsimiles were created from 3D reconstruction from fragments by the Spanish Factum Foundation. They are now exposed in the student library of the University of Mosul.
"This gift is a message of hope sent to say that life in Mosul and its inhabitants is returning to normal," said Spanish Ambassador Juan Jose Escobar, unveiling the huge statues of mythological animals.
"Their human heads symbolize wisdom, their wings speed, their bodies, which combine the attributes of the lion and the bull, represent the strength," says Ahmed al-Jamaa, professor of history at the AFP. University of Mosul.
For Adam Lowe, founder of Factum Foundation, today, they are also "a symbol, the proof of what is possible thanks to technology".
"Now that they keep the doors of the university, I hope they will protect everyone for all years to come," he told AFP.
Ilaf Mouhannad, a student, came to discover these legendary animals that "showcase the culture and heritage of Mosul".
Their return to the city, she told AFP, must be a start and "the government must work to bring back all that has been stolen from the culture and history of Mosul."
© 2019 AFP