By Bernhard Kirschner
Youssef Kanjou had not imagined the state of the National Museum of Aleppo to be quite so bad. Twelve years after fleeing the civil war in Syria, the former director has returned to his former workplace for a two-week visit. He now wants to seek help from Germany.
“I was in constant contact with my team. My colleagues sent me photos. But I didn’t think the museum would be in such a state. The sight of it was the worst thing for me.” Kanjou appeared visibly shocked when he reported on his experiences at an editorial meeting of tuenews INTERNATIONAL in Tübingen. Only the main entrance of the National Museum (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalmuseum_Aleppo) and the front part of the ground floor are in good condition. They have since been restored with funds from the UNDP development programme. Unique objects from the Stone and Bronze Ages as well as from ancient times are on display there. Such as the statue of a goddess giving water or the bronze figure of a lion from Mari from around 2150 BC.
Rooms of the museum in Aleppo badly damaged
The rooms on the upper floor of the museum look horrendous. Large parts of the suspended ceiling have fallen down, the glass windows are smashed, plaster and parts of the wall have broken off, the lamps are broken. The most valuable exhibits from the Bronze Age and Iron Age, the ancient world and Islamic culture, for which the museum is world-famous, were brought to Damascus in 2015 during the civil war. The large statues, which are difficult to transport, remained behind. And lots of ceramics, pots, cups, jugs and other vessels. Many objects are stored in the basement. But the basement is often under water. These are not good conditions for the country’s cultural treasures. The museum is closed, and it is not expected to reopen anytime soon.
No money for cultural treasures
In long meetings, Kanjou and his team have considered how they can tackle the reconstruction. There are initial plans, but no money. Not even for boxes to pack the objects safely. First of all, the water in the cellar would have to be pumped out. The pumps are there, but there is no electricity and no diesel for the generators. Then new windows would have to be installed, ceilings and walls repaired and lamps replaced. The fire alarms and surveillance cameras are also out of order. The list of work is long. The transitional government is waiting and hoping for help from abroad.
Archaeological heritage under threat
Archaeological buildings in Aleppo have been hit even harder. Like the citadel from the Middle Ages, which was mainly built by the Ayyubids in the Middle Ages (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zitadelle_von_Aleppo). Parts of the world heritage site, which rises imposingly above the city, have been completely destroyed. The popular café is a pile of rubble, as Kanjou discovered during a visit with colleagues. The museum and parts of the fortress wall are also badly damaged. A minaret is being temporarily supported by scaffolding to prevent it from collapsing.
Temple complex in poor condition
The remains of a Bronze Age temple (https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/die-zitadelle-von-aleppo-und-der-tempel-des-wettergottes?page_id=75709) on the site, which dates back to the third millennium BC, are overgrown. Remains of walls are covered by sand that has been blown there and is literally baked on. Actually, no one is allowed on the fortress. It is extremely dangerous. His team has a special permit. A security guard from the transitional government is constantly accompanying the archaeologists.
In the surrounding area, the situation at the excavation sites is said to be even worse. There could be unexploded ordnance and other munitions lying around everywhere. Excavations are currently prohibited anyway. That’s why Kanjou’s team wants to launch a project in which a drone is used to record and document the archaeological sites. This will help ensure that the dangerous legacies of war can be eliminated.
German museums as sponsors for Aleppo
But it takes money, lots of it. That’s why Kanjou has been meeting with key people such as the director-general of the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) in Damascus. The authority is responsible for the country’s cultural heritage and makes the decisions. The transitional government has not yet appointed a minister of culture. Kanjou had a good impression after the conversation: “It was very helpful.” His team is to draw up a list of the necessary work and hand it over to the director-general.
There are many ideas. Perhaps mobile exhibitions of Syrian art treasures abroad would be a way of bringing money into the country. Now, a frantic search is on for supporters. Kanjou is hoping for help from the Gerda Henkel Foundation, which has already funded excavations on the citadel site. Perhaps the founding of an association would help, or partnerships with German museums. The former director of the National Museum of Aleppo has a great deal of work ahead of him.
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