The sudden assault by ISIS earlier this year lead marches by Shiite Muslims in Iraq's capital in a show of defiance.
Some of the important cultural institutions in the city include the , which was looted during the , but efforts are underway to restore the theater.
Also in 2003, a minor riot in the city which took place on 21 July caused some disturbance in the population.
The Muslim historian al-Tabari reported an ancient prediction by Christian monks that a lord named Miklas would one day build a spectacular city around the area of Baghdad.