Lamb-Skin Workers The city of Baghdad once had many interesting museums and mosques, which, if Iraq is ever re-opened to the outside world, could prove fascinating to the visitor.

Allied bombing of Baghdad during the Gulf War, of course, leaves considerable doubt as to the continued intact existence of these buildings. They are listed below, nonetheless.

Iraqi Museum

Situated in the Karkh district, this has 28 galleries, making it the largest museum in the Middle East.

Exhibits cover a time-span from 100,000 years ago to well into the Islamic period. One of its most fascinating exhibits is a 10,000-year-old pebble with twelve deep scratches on its surface, which is thought to be one of the first calendars. Also, a Sumerian seal dating from about 5,000 years ago, shows the first pictorial representation of two people shaking hands.

Some of the objects on display here are reproductions, with their originals removed by conquering nations to be displayed in foreign museums. The Louvre in Paris, London's British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania Museum in the US all contain antiquities from ancient Mesopotamia. Some pieces have been returned, but the effective closure of the country seems to preclude any further returns for the foreseeable future.

Mustansiriyah School

Built in the 13th century, during the reign of the 37th Abbasid caliph, Mustansir Billah, this was once a highly-esteemed university.

Abbasid Palace

Built in the same era and in the same architectural style as the Mustansiriyah School, the palace overlooks the Tigris.

Khan Murjan

Originally designed as an inn for travelling merchants, and the dwelling place of many university scholars, this was built in the 14th century, and has a central hall more than 45 feet high. The crenellated arches of brick and perforated windows make this a fascinating piece of architecture.

The building was reputedly in a state of disrepair for over two centuries, with waist-high flood water from the Tigris standing in the famous hallway. By the mid-80s, the building had been restored and was in use as a restaurant.

Al-Khadhimain Mosque

Prayers This is one of the most important mosques in the Islamic world, with gold-capped domes and minarets rising above its courtyard. The mosque was built on the site of the shrines of two imams (Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammed al-Jawad) said to be descendants of the Prophet. The building dates from the early 16th century.

Baghdad Museum

Contains life-size models of the traditional life of Baghdad presented in tableau form.

Museum of Popular Heritage

This is a collection of traditional old Baghdadi houses, and contains displays of traditional crafts, such as basketwork, carpets, woodwork and metalwork.

Murjaniya School

Originally built in 1357, this school building was demolished in the early part of the twentieth century and rebuilt as a mosque, known today as the Marjan Mosque.

Museum of Pioneer Arts

This is another old Baghdadi house, built in 1922, with rooms constructed around a central courtyard containing a fountain. It is furnished with traditional old Baghdadi furniture and has an interesting collection of paintings on display.

Saddam Arts Centre

This features modern works, chiefly by artists of the 70s and 80s.

Abd Al-Kadir Al-Gailani Mosque

Although built some 700 hundred years ago by Abu Said Al-Mubarak Bin Ali Al-Mukharrami, this school is famous for being the living and teaching place of his pupil, Sheikh Abd Al-Kadir Al-Gailani. The Sufi Sheikh was later burried at this site in 1165. The Ottoman Sultan, Sulaiman the Magnificent, laid the foundation plans for much of the current structures by constructing an expansive dome over the tomb.

Al-Kadhimayn

On the outskirts of Greater Baghdad and on the west bank of the Tigris lies the town of Al-Kadhimiya. So named after the Imam Mousa Al-Kadhim and his grandson Mohammed Al-Jawad who are berried there. The magnificent shrine was first constructed in 1515 in what was called the Qureish Cemetries. The Tomb of Zummurud Khatun in the Bani Hashim Cemeteries.

Al-Imam Al-A'dham

Al-A'adhamiya area of Baghdad derives its name from Imam Abu Hanifa (Al-A'adham), who was burried in the Al-Khaizuran Cemetries in 767. In 1066 the shrine was renovated, and a Hanafite school built next to it.

Modern Mosques

On the road out of Baghdad and toward the airport, is the area known as Um Al-Tuboul. There stands the beautiful Matyrs Mosque.
It is one of a host of modern mosques, which are distinguished by their magnificent arabesques and glazed tile walls.