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BY JAY RAMKI

There are many facets to war. War’s impact is felt on all levels, from the devastating loss of lives to the collateral damage done to antiquities in war-torn countries. Case in point: the National Museum of Iraq, a.k.a. the Baghdad Museum, was plundered and virtually destroyed during the conflict in Iraq in April of 2003. The loss of history, cultural artifacts, and irreplaceable art objects is distressing for the world at large leaving a void, which cannot be filled.

The Baghdad Museum Project began on July 14, 2003 and was initiated by international scholars, historians, philanthropists, Information Technology specialists, businessmen and women, conservationists and architects with a goal to bring awareness and support to save the Baghdad Museum. In their efforts, they have developed a four-part plan, which involves:

1. Establishing a comprehensive online catalog of all cultural artifacts in the museum's collection
2. Creating a virtual Baghdad Museum that is accessible to the general public over the Internet
3. Building a 3-D collaborative workspace within the virtual Baghdad Museum for design and fundraising purposes
4. Establishing a resource center within the virtual Baghdad Museum for community cultural development.

Revised reports in July 2003 stated that the looting was not as damaging as first feared and reported. Of the 170,000 items originally and erroneously reported missing in April 2003, only 3,000 remained unaccounted for in July, according to a coalition spokesperson. Over 3,000 precious items have been returned during the “no questions asked” amnesty period, which began in May 2003. Among those items returned thus far, is the Warka vase - a 5ft-high alabaster vessel from 3000 BC and now back on display at the museum. Although it is on display in pieces, as it was smashed in the initial looting of the museum in April, at least it is back in the possession of the museum. Sadly, 32 of the most valuable major works from the museum are still missing. Included in the 32 irreplaceable, missing artifacts are:

·A lyre from the Sumerian cityof Ur, dated to 2400 B.C.
·A cast copper mask of Akkadian king from the Nineveh which is more than 4,000 years old
·A Sumerian marble head of a woman from Warka dated 3000 BC
·A white limestone votive bowl from Warka dated 3000 BC
·A life-size statue representing King Enternena from UR, dated 2430 BC
·A large ivory relief representing the Assyrian god Ashur
·The head of a marble statue of Apollo whish is a Roman copy of a fourth century BC Greek original.

There is great fear that these pieces, as well as, the other 25 missing pieces have made their way to underground dealers and collectors quite possibly not to emerge into public view again in our lifetime.