In a step considered the first of its kind, the Department of Old City Services and Entrances Affairs of the Imam Hussein Holy Shrine took the initiative to establish a miniature museum that included rare valuables and collectables obtained during the acquisition process to expand the shrine of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him.
The head of the department, Nafeh Jassim Al-Khafaji, said in an interview with the official website, “During the work of removing old and dilapidated houses that were seized by the General Secretariat of the Holy Hussaini Shrine in the Old City, some rare artifacts and some ancient ceramic valuables were found, as well as coins and Arab swords, pointing out. Until the administration of the shrine informed the owners of the houses of these possessions, and they in turn donated them to the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), and they were collected in a miniature museum. “
He explained that “one of those treasures that this museum includes is a large wooden door dating back more than (500) years, and this door is considered one of the main doors to the entrances to one of the important alleys in the holy Karbala, where it is called (Bab Al-Taq).”
He added, “The museum also includes war remnants consisting of an English (cabbra), which weighs approximately 25 kilograms, and it is the same that the holy city of Karbala was targeted in during the English attack in 1918 on the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), to be displayed as well. With the valuables and collectibles that were found by the technical personnel during the acquisition and expansion of the Old City. “
He continued, “The museum also includes coins of gold and silver dating back to the era of kings, sultans and princes who ruled large parts of the world, in addition to coins in the Ottoman period and the Iraqi state since its establishment.”
It is noteworthy that the Department of Old City Services Affairs and Entrances of the Holy Hussaini Shrine is concerned with rehabilitating and rehabilitating the old alleys near the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)