A view inside the wax museum in Kufa. (Photo: 964media)
New wax museum in Kufa showcases Najaf’s religious and cultural icons
NAJAF — A new wax museum in Kufa is drawing visitors with life-size models of 55 historical figures from Najaf and Iraq’s religious and intellectual heritage, crafted with intricate detail and realism.
The statues, produced by professional Lebanese workshops using wax and silicone, depict clerics, poets, and scholars in historically accurate clothing and lifelike poses. Among the figures featured are Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir Al-Sadr and poet Mohammad Mahdi Al-Jawahiri.
Abdul Latif Al-Halfi, supervisor of the museum, told 964media the project was designed to document key personalities who shaped Najaf’s scholarly and cultural history. “We focused on scholars, poets, and figures of the Hawza [Najaf seminary], and strived for accuracy in features, height, and posture,” he said.
Al-Halfi said families of the figures were consulted to ensure authenticity. “For example, we determined the exact design of Al-Jawahiri’s cap through conversations with his family and daughter,” he said.
He added that the museum plans to expand with a second floor featuring rare manuscripts, documents, and additional cultural and artistic figures, along with audio-visual effects and modern display systems.
Visitor Israa Al-Assem described the experience as immersive and emotional. “The museum highlights figures known for their influential fatwas and positions,” she said. “Every statue is accompanied by detailed biographical notes, including their children, achievements, and historical roles.”
She added, “The craftsmanship is impressive, down to the detail of a tear in the eye. I recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn about Najaf’s deep-rooted history and its prominent scholars.”
Najaf holds a central place in Shia Islam as the burial site of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Imam according to Shia belief. It is also home to the Hawza of Najaf, one of the world’s oldest and most influential Shia seminaries and a center of religious scholarship for centuries.