As War Destroys Yemen's Present, Museums Struggle to Save Its Past
2021-06-13
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1A metal statue lies in a dark and secure room of the Sanaa National Museum.
2It was from the kingdom of Saba in what is now the Yemini province of Marib.
3The piece was made in the first half of the sixth century BC.
4It survived the latest war in Yemen. Many other artifacts have not.
5The Sanaa museum escaped years of bombing by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in their war against the Houthi group.
6Ibrahim al-Hadi is the museum's director.
7He said, "Other areas around the museum were targeted and that led to the destruction of some artifacts and to cracks in the walls of the building itself."
8Most of the collection was moved to safe rooms in the museum when the Saudis began bombing Yemen in 2015.
9Collections of Arabian swords, rifles and helmets, some covered with gold, are packed in boxes.
10Two metal lions from the kingdom of Qataban sit in the back.
11They were restored at the Louvre Museum in 2008.
12Yemen's museums are the richest in the Arabian Peninsula.
13But they are a reminder of the cost the war has taken on the country's cultural history.
14Nature and war combined to destroy the National Museum in Taiz.
15Inside lies burned manuscripts and broken glass.
16Trees are growing through the building and have helped pull down the walls.
17Ramzi al-Damini is the Taiz museum director.
18"Shelling destroyed the buildings," he said.
19"The collection was looted and fires burned down" rooms.
20The Yemeni General Authority for Antiquities and Museums is working with the Global Heritage Fund to rebuild parts of the buildings.
21The Taiz museum has lost around 70 percent of its collection.
22Some stolen artifacts have been found in local markets.
23Volunteers have also brought back other pieces.
24Ahmed Jassar is with the Taiz museum.
25He said some pieces have been taken illegally outside the country.
26"It is not easy to get them out of Yemen, only powerful people with international connections can do that," he said.
27I'm Dan Novak.
1A metal statue lies in a dark and secure room of the Sanaa National Museum. It was from the kingdom of Saba in what is now the Yemini province of Marib. 2The piece was made in the first half of the sixth century BC. It survived the latest war in Yemen. Many other artifacts have not. 3The Sanaa museum escaped years of bombing by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in their war against the Houthi group. 4Ibrahim al-Hadi is the museum's director. He said, "Other areas around the museum were targeted and that led to the destruction of some artifacts and to cracks in the walls of the building itself." 5Most of the collection was moved to safe rooms in the museum when the Saudis began bombing Yemen in 2015. 6Collections of Arabian swords, rifles and helmets, some covered with gold, are packed in boxes. Two metal lions from the kingdom of Qataban sit in the back. They were restored at the Louvre Museum in 2008. 7Yemen's museums are the richest in the Arabian Peninsula. But they are a reminder of the cost the war has taken on the country's cultural history. 8Nature and war combined to destroy the National Museum in Taiz. Inside lies burned manuscripts and broken glass. Trees are growing through the building and have helped pull down the walls. 9Ramzi al-Damini is the Taiz museum director. "Shelling destroyed the buildings," he said. "The collection was looted and fires burned down" rooms. 10The Yemeni General Authority for Antiquities and Museums is working with the Global Heritage Fund to rebuild parts of the buildings. 11The Taiz museum has lost around 70 percent of its collection. Some stolen artifacts have been found in local markets. Volunteers have also brought back other pieces. 12Ahmed Jassar is with the Taiz museum. He said some pieces have been taken illegally outside the country. 13"It is not easy to get them out of Yemen, only powerful people with international connections can do that," he said. 14I'm Dan Novak. 15Aziz El Yaakoubi reported this story for Reuters. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 16_________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18statue - n. a figure usually of a person or animal that is made from stone, metal, etc. 19artifact - n. a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past 20restore - v. to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc. 21manuscript - n. the original copy of a play, book, piece of music, etc., before it has been printed 22loot - v. something that is stolen or taken by force 23antiquities - n. objects from ancient times 24shell - v. to shoot shells at (someone or something) using large guns