The Museum of Lost Objects traces the histories of 10 antiquities or cultural sites that have been destroyed or looted in Iraq and Syria. With hundreds of thousands of lives lost, millions of people displaced and some of the world’s most significant heritage sites destroyed, the wars in Iraq and Syria have had an enormous cost. While the historical artefacts that have been bombed, defaced and plundered can never be restored, they are very well remembered. Through local histories, legends and personal stories, the Museum of Lost Objects recreates these lost treasures and explores their significance across generations and cultures, from creation to destruction. The winged bull was a huge 2,700-year-old sculpture that stood guard at the gates of one of the most fabled cities in antiquity – Nineveh, modern-day Mosul, northern Iraq. Militants from the Islamic State group defaced the winged bull in February 2015, almost a year after seizing control of the city. We tell the story of the bull and the role of Nineveh in the origins of Iraqi archaeology. This episode was first broadcast on 29 February, 2016 Presenter: Kanishk Tharoor Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Winged Bull of Nineveh, drawn by Eugène Flandin Credit: The New York Public Library Contributors: Mazin Safar, son of Iraqi archaeologist Fuad Safar; Mark Altaweel, Institute of Archaeology, UCL; and Iraqi archaeologist Lamia al-Gailani, SOAS With thanks to Nigel Tallis and Sarah Collins of the British Museum, and Augusta McMahon of the University of Cambridge.

Museum of Lost Objects

Winged Bull of Nineveh

It’s been a year since Brazil’s National Museum burned down in a fire. Not only was its collection one of the most extraordinary in the world, but Brazil’s entire history ran through the museum. On the second floor you could meet the prehistoric skeleton that was the ‘mother’ of all Brazilians; on the third, listen to Amazonian folklore about exploding jaguars; and downstairs, slide into the slippers of a slave king. Now, the only intact artefact on site is a huge iron rock from outer space – the Bendego meteorite. The National Museum and its precious archive of Brazil’s past may be in ruins, but amongst the ashes there’s a battle to revive it. Presenter: Kanishk Tharoor Producer: Maryam Maruf With thanks to Roberta Fortuna Contributors: Cahe Rodrigues, carnival director; Dom João, photographer and descendent of Brazil’s last emperor; Laurentino Gomes, journalist and author; Monica Lima, historian; Mariza Carvalho Soares, historian and museum curator; Aparecida Vilaça, anthropologist and author of Paletó and Me; Bernabau Tikuna, linguist; Tonico Benetiz, anthropologist; Murilo Bastos, bio-archaeologist; Luciana Carvalho, paleontologist and deputy director of rescue Museu Nacional; Sergio Azevedo, paleontologist and director of Museu Nacional’s 3D printing lab Voice over performances by: Fernando Duarte, Marco Silva, Silvia Salek; Thomas Pappon Picture: Brazil’s National Museum – or Museu Nacional – on fire September, 2018 Credit: Getty Images This edition of Museum of Lost Objects is broadcast on BBC World Service.

The Fire That Scorched Brazil’s History

Rabindranath Tagore, the celebrated Bengali writer, is one of the greatest figures in modern South Asian history. In 1913, Tagore became the first non-westerner to win a Nobel Prize, but just over a decade ago, his Nobel medal was stolen – and still hasn’t been found. This episode looks at Tagore’s legacy, how his songs and poems are ubiquitous in Bengali life, how he inspired revolutionaries and reformers in South Asia, and how his suspicion of all nationalisms - even anti-colonial nationalism - makes his work feel thoroughly contemporary and relevant today. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf Contributors: Arunava Sinha; Rahul Tandon; and Saroj Mukherji With thanks to Minu Tharoor; CS Mukherji; and Sudeshna Guha Image: An unseen vendor picks up a cut out photo of Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore Credit: Getty Images

Tagore’s Nobel Prize Theft

Ziarat Residency was a former sanatorium in the hills of Balochistan, and it’s where Muhammad Ali Jinnah - the founder of Pakistan – spent the last three months of his life. The building acquired great significance after his death – it was even on the 100 rupee note, and was eventually turned into a museum. But just four years ago, Ziarat residency was fire-bombed and burnt to the ground by Balochi separatists. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf Contributors: Nayyar Ali Dada; Saher Baloch; Ayesha Jalal, Tufts University; Pasha Haroon; With thanks to Fifi Haroon Image: Rebuilt Ziarat Residency after 2013 Credit: Nayyar Ali Dada Associates

Jinnah’s Last Home

In March 1739, the Persian warlord Nader Shah laid siege to Delhi. He destroyed and plundered the city. Among his ‘Delhi loot’ was the famous Jeweled or Peacock Throne of the Mughal Empire. It took seven years to make, and seven elephants to cart it away forever - and it's been lost ever since. This episode stretches back to stories of empire well before British rule, and looks at how narratives of conquest and loss still have a powerful hold over South Asians. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf Contributors: Yuthika Sharma, University of Edinburgh; and Manan Ahmed, Columbia University With thanks to Sussan Babaie, Courtauld Institute of Art Image: Persian ruler Nadir Shah on the Peacock Throne after his victory over the Mughals Credit: Alamy

Delhi’s Stolen Seat of Power

The mystery of the 2,000 year old little bronze box, the Kanishka casket, that was said to hold the remains of the Buddha himself. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf Contributor: Vazira Fazila-Yacoubali Zamindar, Brown University Picture: Replica of the Kanishka casket at the British Museum Credit: BBC

The Keeper of Buddha's Bones

Bonus pod! Amir Elahi, the great uncle of Columbia University historian Manan Ahmed, became rivals with his former Indian teammates when he left for Pakistan. Image: Amir Elahi and Dattaram Hindlekar, members of the All-India cricket team, 1936 Credit: Getty Images

The Cricketer Who Lost His Team

Kanishk Tharoor explores artefacts and landmarks caught up in India and Pakistan's independence in 1947. In this episode, the life and times of the Palladium cinema. The Palladium was one of Srinagar’s oldest and most popular movie theatres. It was on Lal Chowk, a square in the heart of the city. From the 1940s, the building was the backdrop to many of Kashmir's major political events. Today it stands in ruins, an unexpected casualty of the ongoing conflict, and now, there are no public cinemas left in Srinagar. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf Contributors: Krishna Mishri; Imtiyaz; and Neerja Mattoo With thanks to Andrew Whitehead Museum of Lost Objects series two is broadcast on BBC World Service. Image: Cadets during a National Conference rally at Lal Chowk, Srinagar 1944 Credit: India Picture

Kashmir’s Palladium cinema

Seventy years ago, India and Pakistan became independent nations - but at a cost. People and lands were partitioned, and a once shared heritage was broken apart. Kanishk Tharoor explores the tussle for ancient history and the prized artefacts of the Indus Valley civilization. There was a bureaucratic saga over the fates of the priest-king, the dancing girl, and the jade necklace so precious to both India and Pakistan that neither country could let the other have it whole. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf Contributors: Maruf Khwaja; Saroj Mukherji; Vazira Fazila-Yacoubali Zamindar, Brown University; Sudeshna Guha, Shiv Nadar University With thanks to Anwesha Sengupta, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata Museum of Lost Objects series two is broadcast on BBC World Service. Image: The Mohenjo Daro jade necklace that was cut in two. India's share on the left, Pakistan's share on the right. Credit: Archaeological Survey of India and Getty Images

The Necklace That Divided Two Nations

Nimrud is a 3,000 year old archaeological site blown up by the so-called Islamic State. The Iraqi archaeologist Muzahim Hossein spent 30 years excavating there, and he goes back for the first time to see what remains. And the story of one Iraqi family who grew up with the temples and talismans of the beautiful, fabled city of Hatra. Including contributions from Layla Salih, Nineveh Heritage Buildings; Alessandra Peruzzetto, World Monuments Fund; and Watha Saleh. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf With thanks to Eleanor Robson, Lamia al-Gailani, Ali Juboori, Mehdi Musawi, Faisal Irshaid, Lucinda Dirven and Roberta Venca. Museum of Lost Objects series two is broadcast on BBC World Service. Image: Gorgon head in Hatra Credit: Getty Images

Nimrud and Hatra

The story of one neighbourhood in Aleppo, and how it changed the lives of two Syrians caught up in the war. Zahed Tajeddin is a sculptor and archaeologist whose family have lived in Aleppo for generations. He owned a beautiful medieval courtyard house in a neighbourhood called Judaydah, part of the city's historic centre. But Zahed was forced to abandon his house in 2012, when Judaydah became a battleground between government forces and rebel fighters. He makes the emotional and dangerous journey to see whether his home survived the conflict. Abu Ahmed is a pharmacist who set up Judaydah's only medical centre. He stayed in Aleppo throughout the conflict, giving first aid, medicines and comfort to the local residents. He was one of the last people to flee rebel-held Aleppo after the government advance in December 2016. Presented by Kanishk Tharoor Produced by Maryam Maruf With thanks to Elyse Semerdjian, Mustafa Abu Sneineh, Mehdi Musawi, Dr Hatem and Emily Webb. Image: A courtyard house in Judaydah. Credit: Getty Images.

Return to Aleppo

Quick update on the next season

The Museum of Lost Objects traces the histories of 10 antiquities or cultural sites that have been destroyed or looted in Iraq and Syria. This is the oldest and smallest object in the series: a tiny Sumerian cylinder seal depicting a harvest festival. It was carved in 2,600 BC and was part of the collection of ancient cylinder seals which disappeared when the Iraq Museum in Baghdad was looted during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. We tell the story of this seal and the pillaging of the country's most important museum. This episode was first broadcast on 11 March, 2016. Presenter: Kanishk Tharoor Producer: Maryam Maruf Contributors: Lamia al-Gailani, SOAS; Mazin Safar, son of Iraqi archaeologist Fuad Safar; John Curtis, Iran Heritage Foundation With thanks to Augusta McMahon of Cambridge University, Mark Altaweel of the Institute of Archaeology UCL, and Sarah Collins of the British Museum Picture: Sumerian harvest seal Credit: Lamia al-Gailani

Looted Sumerian Seal, Baghdad

The Museum of Lost Objects traces the histories of 10 antiquities or cultural sites that have been destroyed or looted in Iraq and Syria. The Armenian martyr's memorial in Der Zor, Syria was a tribute to the Armenians who perished in the mass killings of 1915. It was consecrated in 1991 and then completely destroyed in 2014 by Islamic militants. A British-Armenian writer recalls her visits to Der Zor, and traces the harrowing journey of her ancestors through the Syrian desert. This episode was first broadcast on 10 March, 2016. Presenter: Kanishk Tharoor Producer: Maryam Maruf Contributors: Nouritza Matossian, writer; Heghnar Watenpaugh, University of California Davis With thanks to Elyse Semerdjian of Whitman College Picture: Armenian Martyr's Memorial, Der Zor

Armenian Martyr’s Memorial, Der Zor

The Museum of Lost Objects traces the histories of 10 antiquities or cultural sites that have been destroyed or looted in Iraq and Syria. The ancient Assyrians were fond of protective spirits. They had sculptures of all manner of mythological creatures lining the walls of their palaces. One such sculpture was a stone relief of a genie. This was a powerful male figure - a bountiful beard and muscular thighs but with huge wings sprouting from his back. Three thousand years ago, it adorned the walls of Nimrud, one of the great strongholds of Mesopotamia, near Mosul in modern day Iraq. During the 1990s, this genie disappeared - believed to have been taken during the chaos of the first Gulf war - and ended up in London around 2002 - just before the mire of the second Gulf war. It’s been kept by Scotland Yard for these last 14 years - locked in legal limbo, and unlikely to ever reemerge or return to Iraq. We explore the cost of looting to a country’s cultural heritage, and tell the story of another valuable Mesopotamian antiquity that was looted, eventually uncovered, but managed to stay in Iraq. This is a tablet, and holds a new chapter from the oldest tale ever told - the Gilgamesh epic. This episode was first broadcast on 9 March, 2016. Presenter: Kanishk Tharoor Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Assyrian winged-genie from Nimrud Credit: Brooklyn Museum Contributors: Mark Altaweel, Institute of Archaeology UCL; Augusta McMahon, University of Cambridge; Mina al-Lami, BBC Monitoring; the readings are by Martin Worthington, George Watkins, and Susan Jameson With thanks to Vernon Rapley, V&A; Sarah Collins, British Museum; Andrew George, SOAS; and John Russell Massachusetts College of Art and Design

The Genie of Nimrud

Tracing the histories of antiquities and landmarks that have been destroyed or looted in Iraq and Syria, India and Pakistan.

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Museum of Lost Objects

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