Cultures in the Crossfire: Stories from Syria and Iraq

Nimrud. Aleppo. Palmyra. Ebla. These ancient sites and many others in Iraq and Syria have found their way to the top of international news today, as the destruction of cultural heritage becomes both a by-product and a tactic of ongoing war.

What is really at stake? Why does it matter? What is the human story that accompanies this unprecedented loss? And what is being done to prevent further loss in the region of the world long known as the “cradle of civilization”?

Also presenting the reopening of The Artifact Lab: Conservation in Action, where conservators work on ancient artifacts from the Middle East and around the world.

10 am to 11 am Galleries Open for Viewing

11 am Program: Brief remarks by Exhibition Contributors:

Julian Siggers, Director, Penn Museum
Salam Al Kuntar, Syrian Archaeologist and Lead Curator
Richard Leventhal, Executive Director, Penn Cultural Heritage Center and Co-curator
Issam Kourbaj, Syrian-born Artist, Art Intervention

Light Refreshments available from 10 am to Noon

RSVP to Pam Kosty, Public Relations, [email protected], or call 215.898.4045.

Limited parking available in the Penn Museum’s Stoner Circle Courtyard.

Penn Museum, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 www.penn.museum