The Lion Statue of Ain Dara

Revealing the Fate of an Icon of Syrian Archaeology Looted During the Conflict

Bibliographic Data

ID4283018
AuthorsAmmar Kannawi, Salam Al Quntar (Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Dareen Gahli (Idlib University), Neil Brodie (0000-0003-1236-4066, Oxford Archaeology, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume31
Issue2
Pages154-176
Publication date2024-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Cultural Property (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0940-7391 • E-ISSN: 1465-7317
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0940739124000183
OpenAlexW4405373837
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited15

During the Syrian war, many archaeological sites were subjected to systematic looting and destruction, often on a massive scale. Among the casualties of this looting is a colossal basalt statue of a lion that was located at the archaeological site of Ain Dara in northwest Syria. The lion of Ain Dara is a prominent local symbol and of great importance for the collective memory of northwest Syria, especially for the people of Wadi Afrin. Its disappearance will also have serious repercussions for the local economy as it was, in the past, an important tourist attraction. In this article, we investigate how the statue was stolen, why it was stolen, and where it is now. By using the lion statue of Ain Dara as a case study, we aim to shed more general light on the networks responsible for looting and trafficking Syrian antiquities, the factors that have enabled their growth during the conflict, and the role of civil society organizations in reducing their harmful impact on the cultural community of the Syrian people

Ancient history · Archaeology · Icon · Statue · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Computer Science · History

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