About us
About the museum
The Syriac Heritage Museum has a unique importance, being the first and only one, in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, specialized in preserving, maintaining and displaying everything related to the cultural, artistic and popular heritage of our people, tangible and intangible, with what it contains of popular costumes and heritage collectibles, in addition to the photos in the cultural hall. In addition to what the cultural exhibition hall contains of pictures and Life profiles about most of the prominent pioneers of the national and cultural renaissance of our people, in addition to its distinguished location overlooking the ancient Qasra hill in Ankawa, and its oldest church (st george’s church).
The establishment of the museum
Since the establishment of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in 2007, its late Director General, Dr. Saadi Al-Maleh, worked to lay the first building block for the establishment of a museum specialized in the Syriac heritage, in his homeland, influenced by what he saw and learned during his years as an immigrant, this museum would be specialized in preserving valuable heritage documents, books and pictures, and documenting the customs and traditions of our people.
Especially by presenting everything related to the daily life of a people whose primary profession is agriculture and who master the methods of making hand-made textiles and some traditional industries, as well as the popular and traditional costumes of the various villages and towns of our people.
Maintenance department
The moment a new piece is received to join the collections of the Syriac Heritage Museum, the process of examining it and determining the preservation and maintenance it needs begins. Where pictures are taken of it before and after the maintenance process, it is cleaned and sterilized using special materials and techniques that take into account the size of the piece, its historical age, condition and the ratio of damage.
After completing the maintenance process, complete information about the item is recorded in the museum’s records, including the name of the piece, its age, and the date of its maintenance, if it has been maintained. Then the name of the region or village in which this piece was used and the name of the employee who maintained it in the museum, then the piece is photographed and given a digital sequence, whether it will be displayed directly in the showroom, and on the contrary, it is wrapped with cork material and kept in special cases as the last step of the maintenance operations, and then stored. Where the maintenance department has records of all assets with their numbers, descriptions and pictures.
The staff of the maintenance department receive continuous training courses that make them experienced experts in the work of maintaining heritage pieces in specialized institutions dealing with archaeological and heritage affairs.
We look forward to our website being one of the most important tools that help students and researchers in their scientific research related to Syriac culture and everything related to our civilization and history.
Folk ornaments manufacturing
The ornaments and accessories that simulate the heritage are made using the old pictures that the museum owns and displays, or using the experiences and information of the local people, wherever they are. Based on these pictures and information, the employees of the museum’s folk ornaments manufacturing draw them first, then choose the appropriate materials required for their manufacture, and then engrave them with special tools.
The employees of the folk ornaments manufacturing department receive continuous training courses that make them experienced experts in their work, in specialized institutions dealing with archaeological and heritage affairs
Dashna (The Heritage Store)
Dashna, is a marketing corner inside the Syriac Heritage Museum that provides an opportunity for creative men and women among our people to display and promote their elaborate handcrafts that simulate and are inspired by the Mesopotamian civilization and the ancient Syriac heritage, especially the handicrafts of Syriac women, in an initiative of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts to support working Syriac women. And help them promote their products and empower women in general.
(Dashna) also offers a golden opportunity for tourists and visitors, local and foreign, to acquire souvenirs that simulate monuments, statues and archaeological evidence, or souvenirs for their friends and loved ones that bear the fragrance of the Mesopotamian civilization and were manufactured using classic methods and techniques similar to the methods of their manufacture in the past, bringing with them a whiff of our history, civilization and heritage.
The Syriac Heritage Museum is proud to provide full support to the creator the owners of these wonderful projects.
About the website
The website of the Syriac Heritage Museum seeks to develop the digitization and archiving of the museum’s assets using modern technical methods that make them available, with the best and most recent images, and put them in the hands of lovers of this heritage, and everyone who desires to discover and learn in all parts of the world, especially our people, most of whom have become immigrants. far from home,
And all of that with just a click of a button. This site will give them the opportunity to obtain the most accurate information about the heritage of their fathers and grandfathers, using modern digital means through: videos, documents, traditional costumes, and more. By taking advantage of these technologies, the museum will be able to expand virtually and add more information, documents and films, making it a specialized and unique cultural center. Considering the importance of the Syriac Heritage Museum, being the first and only one in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq specialized in preserving, maintaining and displaying everything related to the cultural, artistic and popular heritage of our people, tangible and intangible, and a clear mirror that reflects the achievements and civilization of this indigenous people, and sheds light on the tragedies and extermination campaigns they suffered that have become an integral part of their heritage. We look forward to our website being one of the most important tools that help students and researchers in their scientific researches that are related to Syriac culture and everything related to our civilization and history.