Tunisian Cultural Treasures Featured in UNESCO's Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Assets
On the occasion of International Museum Day, celebrated this year under the theme "Museums for a Divided World," UNESCO's virtual museum of stolen cultural assets has highlighted several Tunisian cultural treasures. This digital platform, launched during the Mondiacult 2025 conference in Barcelona, uses digital modeling tools to facilitate the identification and restitution of missing artworks.
Featured Treasures
- Roman Statue "Cupid Sitting on a Dolphin": A small white marble sculpture discovered at the archaeological site of Dougga between 2002 and 2004. The statue, which is now partially missing, depicts a nude child sitting on a dolphin.
- White Marble Head of a Goddess: Also from Dougga, this sculpture was unearthed in 1998 near the Capitol. Despite some damage, it showcases the artistic heritage of ancient Rome in North Africa.
- Illuminated Quran Leaf: A 10th-century manuscript page from the library of the Great Mosque of Kairouan. The page features coufique script with polychrome inks and golden motifs separating the verses.
UNESCO's Virtual Museum
Launched in collaboration with Interpol, the virtual museum aims to catalog missing artworks and facilitate international research. Since its launch, the platform has attracted over 1.6 million page views. The Tunisian delegation to UNESCO has reaffirmed its commitment to international mechanisms for restitution and combating the illicit trade in cultural goods.
Related News
- The virtual museum is part of UNESCO's efforts to combat cultural heritage theft and promote international cooperation in the field.
- The Tunisian government has expressed its commitment to protecting and preserving its cultural heritage.
- The international community is coming together to address the issue of cultural heritage theft and promote the return of stolen artifacts to their countries of origin.
