Exhibition of Returned Ancient Artifacts to Iran

Mohammad Hassan Talebian, the Deputy Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, told the Associated Press that all the artifacts on display have been returned from England, Belgium, Italy, and the United States over the past two and a half years. According to this report, he attributes the feasibility of this process to the improvement of relations between Tehran and the West following the historic nuclear agreement a year and a half ago. The report states that a special exhibition opened on Monday at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, showcasing 558 diverse artifacts. The Associated Press writes that these include hunting tools and sewing needles from the Iron Age and a pair of necklaces dating back over two thousand years to the Achaemenid Empire, the esteemed Iranian dynasty founded by Cyrus the Great. Among the oldest artifacts displayed are dozens of pottery bowls and jars and engraved coins that date back 3,500 years and were previously housed at the renowned Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. The Associated Press noted that the artifacts from the University of Chicago had been exhibited nearly a year ago, although this is the first time that all the artifacts returned from the four mentioned countries are displayed together. In conclusion, an art enthusiast named Maryam Rahgoshay stated that the return of these and thousands of other historical items still outside the country strengthens the national identity of Iranians. She said, 'This is a source of great pride and joy because our identity, which is under collapse, is being reconnected again.'