This glossary serves as a starting point for understanding terms used commonly across The Simurgh Initiative and in the cultural heritage field. Is there a word we’re missing? Let us know!
A
Aleppo, Syria
“An ancient city in NW Syria: industrial and commercial centre; scene of heavy fighting in 2012 between the rebel Free Syrian Army and government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.”
Antiquities Coalition
“A nonprofit organization leading the global campaign against cultural racketeering: the looting and trafficking of ancient art.”
Archaeological looting
The illegal removal of artifacts from an archaeological site; may involve excavating previously unfound artifacts. This type of looting can be a major source in the black market trade of artifacts.
Archaeology
“The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of [artifacts] and other physical remains.”
C
Colonialization
“The act of colonializing or being colonized especially: subjugation by colonial policies.”
Conflict Antiquities
“Illicit antiquities trading in economic crisis, organized crime and political violence.”
Cultural heritage
Art, artifacts, architecture, and archaeology based down through a culture. May also refer to intangible cultural heritage, which includes customs and traditional practices.
D
Daesh
A shortened form of the original Arabic name of the jihadist/ extremist group rooted in the radical interpretation of Islam, also referred to as ISIS, ISIL, and Islamic State (IS).
Destruction
Extensive purposeful or accidental damage to cultural heritage.
Digital Colonialism
“New [digital] deployment of a quasi-imperial power over a vast number of people, without their explicit consent, manifested in rules, designs, languages, cultures and belief systems by a vastly dominant power.”
E
Egyptian Revolution of 2011
“A popular uprising forced one of the region’s longest-serving and most influential leaders, President Ḥosni Mubarak, from power.”
Egyptomania
“Obsessive interest by Westerners in ancient Egyptian culture, especially during the 19th century.”
Encyclopedic Museum
A museum with a varied collection spanning from across the world. See also: Universal museum
Ethnocentrism
Belief that one’s own cultural group is superior; considering and interpreting another culture through one’s own perspective or lens
Ethnocentrism
Belief that one’s own cultural group is superior; considering and interpreting another culture through one’s own perspective or lens
F
Federal Parliamentary Republic
“State and federal parliaments/congresses with specific functions (divisions of labour), where the governments of each needs majority parliamentary support to govern.”
G
H
Heritage
Art, artifacts, architecture, and archaeology based down through a culture. May also refer to intangible cultural heritage, which includes customs and traditional practices. Also: cultural heritage.
I
Iconoclasm
“The action of attacking or assertively rejecting cherished beliefs and institutions or established values and practices.”
Intangible cultural heritage
Aspect of cultural heritage referring to the “living” including customs and traditions.
Iraq War
“A protracted military conflict in Iraq that began in 2003 with an attack by a coalition of forces led by the United States and that resulted in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime. US combat troops were withdrawn in 2010.”
Islamic State (IS)
The currently declared name (as of 2014) of the jihadist/ extremist group rooted in the radical interpretation of Islam, also referred to as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
A name for the jihadist/ extremist group rooted in the radical interpretation of Islam, also referred to as ISIS, Islamic State (IS), and Daesh.
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
A name for the jihadist/ extremist group rooted in the radical interpretation of Islam, also referred to as ISIL, Islamic State (IS), and Daesh.
Islam
“The religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet.”
Islamic
Of, or relating to, Islam. May refer to a period of art and architecture.
Islamophobia
Dislike, prejudice, and acts of prejudice against Islam or Muslims
L
Looting
Stealing or pillaging of art and archaeological material.
M
Muslim
Follower of the religion Islam.
Muslim Brotherhood
Egyptian political party that “advocated a return to the Qurʾān and the Hadith as guidelines for a healthy modern Islamic society.”
N
NGO (Non-governmental organization)
“Any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level”
O
Orientalism
Western depiction/ understanding of the Middle East as exotic, erotic, or mysterious
P
Partage
System used to divide archaeological findings between the discoverers and place of origin; common practice in the 1800s through the mid-1900s.
Pharaoh
Ruler (often King) of ancient Egypt
Preservation
Process and actions to maintain or restore cultural heritage.
Presidential Republic
“State based on parliamentary democracy but with an authoritarian presidential rule.”
R
Red List
Country-based booklets with examples of commonly looted and stolen types of artifacts. The Red List database is published by ICOM (International Council of Museums) and available to download in multiple languages.
Repatriation
Returning of art, artifacts, or cultural heritage to the country/ people of origin
S
Smuggled artifacts
Artifacts that have been traded or exported illegally.
Smuggling
To secretly export artifacts or other cultural heritage.
T
Terrorist
“A person, group, or organization that uses violent action, or the threat of violent action, to further political goals”
Terrorism
Violence or threats of violence to achieve a goal (often political and targeting a specific group of people)
Think Tank
“An institute, corporation, or group organized to study a particular subject (such as a policy issue or a scientific problem) and provide information, ideas, and advice.”
U
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Highly involved with cultural heritage, particularly through World Heritage sites.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sites recognized as having universal cultural value; over 1,000 sites worldwide sorted as either cultural or natural.
Unitary Republic
“A sovereign state governed as a single entity.”
Universal museum
A museum with a varied collection spanning from across the world. See also: Encyclopedic museum
W
Western
Referring to the “Western world”, often meaning the Europe and the United States; also Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
World Heritage Site
Site recognized by UNESCO as having universal cultural value; over 1,000 sites worldwide sorted as either cultural or natural. See also: UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Simurgh Initiative 