The Iraqi Embassy in Washington has announced the repatriation of the Ibex statue, one of the oldest surviving examples of metal artistry from Mesopotamian civilization.
In a statement, the embassy said:
“Today we celebrated the return of the Ibex statue to Iraq, an event that is not only cultural but also a reaffirmation of our natural place as the cradle of human civilization. This rare piece reflects the genius of our ancient civilization in metal arts more than 4,500 years ago.
The statue, crafted using the lost-wax casting technique for hollow artifacts, stands as one of the earliest known examples of advanced metalwork in Mesopotamia. Its recovery was the result of a collaborative effort between Iraq’s Ministry of Culture, the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The embassy emphasized:
“Everyone worked diligently with American institutions to achieve this accomplishment, which restores Iraq’s heritage and presents it once again to the world.”
The statement concluded with gratitude:
“We extend our thanks to the American institutions, the New York Attorney General’s Office, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art for their role in returning this piece and highlighting Iraq’s cultural legacy.”