The Iraq Museum was founded in Baghdad in 1920 when the modern state of Iraq was created. As the nation grew, so did the reputation of the museum. It contained more than half a million artefacts. The collection included everything from prehistoric artefacts to recent Islamic objects. Gallery displays showcased some of the world’s greatest cultures.

During the Iraq War, the museum suffered substantial damage. It is estimated that perhaps 15,000 valuable pieces were stolen, including a marble sculpture of a woman’s head that dates back to 3,000 B.C. the head has since been found, and Iraq and the international art community are working to recover the other missing treasures.