Items of historical significance, smuggled out of Syria about 15 years ago, have been returned to France. The treasures of these ancient times have now been placed on display at the Damascus Citadel, the heart of a summer festival in Damascus.

These relics were highly expected to be returned because of a diplomatic trip by French President Emmanuel Macron visiting Damascus. These were handed over by representatives from the French Presidency and are now on display in the marvelous Throne Hall of the citadel.

A magnificent assembly of funerary sculptures, relief inscriptions, and other objects from the Roman era are on display. Many of these were related to the ancient city of Palmyra, which is of great historical and cultural significance, and is cherished by UNESCO and historians alike.

Syrians have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their heritage that they had recovered firsthand in the newly opened exhibition. “This is a great response from the public to learn the detailed history and stories of these repatriated objects,” said Abduhrrahman Amer, festival director.

The Syrian Ministry of Tourism has also announced the significance of this event, as it follows the re-opening of the Citadel of Damascus after many years. The event is attracting some visitors who are making it their first visit to the historic site in their lifetime, Amer says.

Syria’s state media is actively reporting on this cultural revival, using its own Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) to report on the summer festival activities.

For the Syrian people, the artifacts have a deep emotional value. The return to the past is a key subject and a core element of the heritage projects, including the Discover Syria official portal. Amer was absolutely right in saying that the nation’s rightful heritage and intrinsic cultural values have been brought back to their home, and he added with deep gratitude