{"id":140036,"date":"2026-08-09T10:22:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T10:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=140036"},"modified":"2026-08-09T11:59:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T11:59:09","slug":"syria-displays-antiquities-returned-from-france-after-15-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/140036\/","title":{"rendered":"Syria displays antiquities returned from France after 15 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) \u2013<\/strong> Syria\u2019s Museum Affairs Director Ammar Kanawi told North Press on Sunday that an exhibition featuring Syrian antiquities returned from France was opened as part of the Syria Summer Festival 2026, highlighting the importance of the artifacts, which had been outside Syria for 15 years since the start of the Syrian conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanawi said the exhibition was organized because of the significance of the return and the extensive media attention surrounding the process, allowing Syrians to learn about the artifacts and view them in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that the artifacts were transferred to France in 2011 under a loan agreement to be displayed as part of the permanent exhibition at the Arab World Institute Museum. They were originally expected to remain in France for two years before being returned to Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Kanawi said France did not return the artifacts as agreed following the severing of diplomatic relations between French authorities and the al-Assad regime. France cited concerns that Syria was unsafe and that the Syrian authorities were unable to protect the archaeological artifacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeveral archaeological sites were bombed and damaged, while others were looted. Therefore, the Syrian authorities under the al-Assad regime were unable to protect those artifacts, so they were not returned,\u201d Kanawi said, adding that the issue subsequently became a political dispute between Syria and France after France refused to return them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanawi said that following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian state resumed negotiations to secure the return of the artifacts and succeeded in resolving the issue in its favor. He added that the success was further highlighted when French President Emmanuel Macron personally returned the artifacts aboard the French presidential aircraft on July 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the significance of the artifacts, Kanawi said they were particularly important because they had served as \u201cambassadors of Syrian civilization\u201d at the Arab World Institute in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that the collection reflects major aspects of Syrian civilization, spanning from prehistoric periods and ancient Eastern civilizations to the Classical and Islamic eras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collection also covers a wide range of subjects, including religious, political and economic aspects related to trade, as well as spiritual and funerary traditions in Syrian archaeology. Among the pieces are sculptures from Palmyra, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Malin Mohammed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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