October 5, 2026
In a move that reflects a national sense and high awareness of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, the Jaroudi family handed over a group of artifacts made of pottery and glass to the General Directorate of Antiquities, after keeping them for years in the private collection of Dr. Saeb Jaroudi and Mrs. Laila Salam.
In a related context, the Minister of Culture, Dr. Ghassan Salama, received in his office at the National Library in Sanayeh, both Nadim and Lamia Saeb Jaroudi. The meeting was attended by the Director General of Antiquities, Engineer Sarkis Al-Khoury, and the Head of the Directorate’s Recovery Department, Laure Salloum.
The General Directorate of Antiquities will study the submitted pieces and inspect them archaeologically, to verify their authenticity and determine their characteristics and history in accordance with approved scientific and administrative principles.
Minister Salama praised the initiative, considering it a distinctive national step that embodies the spirit of responsibility towards Lebanon’s cultural heritage, especially since the collection was kept in the family home over the past years before being handed over to the official authorities.
For their part, the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Antiquities appreciated this step, and expressed their hope that it would constitute a role model that encourages citizens to contribute to protecting national heritage and preserving artifacts for future generations.
In conclusion, the Ministry stressed the extreme importance of registering antiquities within private collections, based on the provisions of Decree No. 3065/2016 and its amendments, as it is an essential pillar for documenting and protecting the national archaeological heritage.
