Assyrian Hall
The Assyrian Hall of the Mosul Cultural Museum displayed artworks dating from the 9th to the 6th century BC, such as statues, guardian animals often called lamassu, and reliefs. Most of the pieces on display were monumental stone artworks, but there was also a collection of bronze plaque fragments from the ancient city of Balawat. An Assyrian bronze sarcophagus and the remains of Assyrian wall paintings were also on display. Among the most remarkable artworks, the Banquet Stele of King Ashurnasirpal II commemorated the construction of the city of Nimrud as the new capital of the Assyrian Empire.
Hatra Hall
The Hatra Hall housed the artworks of this caravan city that flourished from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. The culture of Hatra is distinguished by its composite elements. For example, its Arab inhabitants wore Parthian costumes, while the gods, also with Arab names, wore Roman clothing. The stone statues displayed in the Hatra Hall represented citizens and kings of the city. Among the reliefs, an exceptional plaque painted in colour depicted a mythological scene around Nergal, the Mesopotamian god of the underworld.
Islamic Hall
The Islamic Hall displayed a large collection of artworks from the 9th to 13th centuries. These included several wooden cenotaphs, three finely carved stone mihrabs decorated with Qur'anic inscriptions, and a number of inlaid mosque doors and large earthenware vessels.
The mezzanine and the prehistoric collections
In addition to these three main areas, the museum had an exhibition area for artworks from the earliest, so-called prehistoric periods, before the appearance of writing in the 4th millennium BC.
Other areas of the museum
The museum also had a large library of some 27,000 books (including 2,500 rare books), a conference room, office space for staff and spaces for the restoration and conservation of the collections.
The garden
The garden surrounded the museum on three sides. More than just a space for relaxation, this garden also displayed several artworks, including a column base and the altars of a temple dedicated to the Sibitti deities.
