It is as if the spirit of the past has reached out to the present.
In an awe-inspiring development, a joint Iraqi-German excavation team has brought pieces of history back to life in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul.
Two lamassus – mythical creatures with the body of a bull, the wings of an eagle and the head of a human being – were found at the site of a seventh-century BC Assyrian palace.
For centuries, the palace of the Assyrian king, Esarhaddon, who ruled for 12 years, was concealed despite evidence of its existence.
In the early 13th century, a mosque was built at the site believed to be the grave of the Prophet Jonah, known locally as the Prophet Yunis, mentioned in the Quran and the Hebrew Bible.
In 1924, a grand minaret was added by a Turkish architect, and in the 1980s and 1990s, Saddam Hussein renovated and expanded it, shrugging off calls to excavate the palace.
In July 2014 when ISIS overran the city, the mosque was blown up as part of a campaign to destroy archaeological and heritage sites, which the terrorist group considered pagan, and Islamic sites considered idolatrous.
After US-backed Iraqi security forces recaptured Mosul in July 2017, experts found a network of tunnels dug by the terrorists. Then, the artefacts became visible in photographs from the dark, crumbling labyrinth.
That paved the way for excavation in 2018 by German researchers from Heidelberg University.
“We removed the concrete surface from the bulls and they are now visible,” Khair Al Din Ahmed Nassir, head of the antiquities department in Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital, told The National.
They are among at least six others at the site, mainly at the Throne Hall, he said. Both bulls are headless.
“As a result for the expansion for Yunis mosques during the 1980s, parts of these bulls were removed when they prepared the ground [of the mosque],” Mr Nassir added.
“All the bulls are incomplete, mainly losing the heads. We hope we can find bulls with less damage. The rest will be visible soon."
The most important discovery at the site, he said, was a slab showing Assyrian girls. “This is the first time to have sculptures showing Assyrian girls clearly," he said.
The Assyrians first came to prominence about 2500BC and at one point ruled over a realm stretching from the Mediterranean coast to what is present-day Iran.
Their ancient buried cities, palaces and temples, laden with monumental art, are scattered across what is now northern Iraq and parts of neighbouring countries.
Thousands of Assyrian artefacts are on display at the Iraqi National Museum and elsewhere around the world. Others often appear at auction houses.
One of the Assyrians’ major artefacts is the lamassu. It dominated the headlines in 2015 when ISIS released a video showing the extremists blowing them up, using sledgehammers and drills to smash them into pieces.
ISIS also profited from them, stealing relics from palace walls or digging them out to sell on the international black market to finance their activities.
Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, was the crown jewel of the extremist group’s self-declared caliphate. It was captured by ISIS during a lightning onslaught in mid-2014, which brought large parts of northern and western Iraq under its influence.
When the terrorist organisation was defeated and Mosul was reclaimed, foreign archaeologists poured into the city – joining their Iraqi counterparts from the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy – to uncover its rich history.
Some remarkable archaeological discoveries have been announced in the past two years in Mosul and the wider Iraq. Rebuilding work is under way at major sites such as Mosul museum, Al Nuri Mosque and several churches.
Iraq has nearly 25,000 known archaeological sites, most badly affected by decades of war, lack of security and mismanagement.
For decades, many of these sites were neglected. Closed to the public, they were poorly guarded and became an easy target for looters.
"Everything started here in Iraq; the principles of humanity and science, first writing, law, wheel, school and agriculture," archaeological researcher Amir Abdul-Razaq Al Zubaidi, told The National.
"But, unfortunately, the years of war and destruction have kept Iraq away from the scene of excavation and tourism."
These discoveries are not only uncovering the past, but also offering a glimmer of hope for the city’s residents as they gradually recover from the conflict.
With the security situation improving, foreigners to visit Mosul, but it was not always a positive experience, often associated with stories of death and destruction, tour guide Harith Firas told The National.
“At the beginning, tourists started to visit Mosul mainly due to the destruction it endured, in what is known as dark tourism,” Mr Firas, 24, said.
The student at the English translation department at the University of Mosul started as a tour guide in 2021, and with ongoing reconstruction, especially at many historical and heritage sites, tourists started to "compare the dark and bright sides of the city”.
But recent discoveries at the more prominent archaeological sites will further “encourage the tourists to come in big numbers and make the city a tourist attraction”, he said.
Mr Al Zubaidi said "Iraq is gradually regaining its well-being with significant leaps towards reviving tourism after all these discoveries".
"This will have a positive impact on economy and trade in Mosul and the whole of Iraq."
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
