Ancient Syria, located at the intersections of Asia, Europe and Africa, and Tigris & Euphrates, is home to a unique blend of cultures. On June 25, the “Exhibition of Antiquities from Ancient Syria” was launched at the National Museum of Classic Books. The 193 artifacts from nine museums, including the National Museum of Damascus and the Aleppo Museum, and 3 artifacts from China’s Dunhuang Research Institute, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum and the Xi’an Beilin Museum, together tell the story of ancient Syria’s 500,000-year-long cultural journey, starting from the Stone Age and passing through the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Greek, Roman and Islamic eras. This is the first time that Syrian artifacts have been exhibited in Beijing on a large scale.
The area where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers historically originate in the Anatolian mountains is known as the ‘Mesopotamia’ as the ancient Greeks called it, meaning ‘the land between the two great rivers’. With a privileged environmental endowment, this ancient land attracted many peoples to settle and gave birth to many brilliant civilizations and dynasties. It was here that various cultures fused and influenced each other. It was against this backdrop that Syria, at the intersections of Asia, Europe and Africa, developed a unique culture. It is here that the light of human civilization shines and the prelude to world dialogue and exchange is played. The exhibition will capture 500,000 years of Syrian history, from household items to ritual objects, from human statues to architectural decorations, from Assyrian frescoes to Greek silver coins, presenting a impressing picture of Syrian history.
“Exhibition of Antiquities from Ancient Syria” is the third stop on the tour of the Syrian cultural heritage exhibition in China. The exhibition is divided into: Dawn of Human Civilization: The Stone Age; Era of Revolution: The Bronze Age; Striving for Dominance: the Iron Age; Civilization Integration: Greek, Roman and Islamic Eras.
The exhibition, co-organized by Art Exhibitions China, the Syrian General Authority for Cultural Heritages and Museums and the National Museum of China, showcases the traditional friendship between China and the countries along the “Belt and Road” through “Exhibition of Antiquities from Ancient Syria”. The organizers of the exhibition said that Syria has more than 3,500 monuments, is a huge natural museum on earth. Only a few of these treasures are on display in Beijing this time. This is an exhibition to learn the development of civilization in West Asia; an exhibition of Syrian cultural objects that covers a wide range of dimensions; an exhibition to get up close and personal with ancient civilizations; a historical tour that no one shall miss. Mysterious, ancient and splendid…and we look forward to meeting you at the National Museum of Classic Books!
“Exhibition of Antiquities from Ancient Syria” is the third stop on the tour of the Syrian cultural heritage exhibition in China. The exhibition is divided into: Dawn of Human Civilization: The Stone Age; Era of Revolution: The Bronze Age; Striving for Dominance: the Iron Age; Civilization Integration: Greek, Roman and Islamic Eras.
The exhibition, co-organized by Art Exhibitions China, the Syrian General Authority for Cultural Heritages and Museums and the National Museum of China, showcases the traditional friendship between China and the countries along the “Belt and Road” through “Exhibition of Antiquities from Ancient Syria”. The organizers of the exhibition said that Syria has more than 3,500 monuments, is a huge natural museum on earth. Only a few of these treasures are on display in Beijing this time. This is an exhibition to learn the development of civilization in West Asia; an exhibition of Syrian cultural objects that covers a wide range of dimensions; an exhibition to get up close and personal with ancient civilizations; a historical tour that no one shall miss. Mysterious, ancient and splendid…and we look forward to meeting you at the National Museum of Classic Books!
June 25th – October 8th, 2022
09:00 - 17:00 (doors close at 16:30)
Closed every Monday (except public holidays)
Hall 3, National Museum of China (National Museum of Classic Books)
No. 33 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing
