Isis blows up Arch of Triumph in 2,000-year-old city of Palmyra

Monument described as ‘jewel in the collection’ of Unesco-listed Syrian city is destroyed and follows the razing of other statues and temples

Islamic State militants have destroyed the Arch of Triumph in the ancient city of Palmyra, a monument that dates back to the Roman empire, Syria’s chief of antiquities told the Guardian. Maamoun Abdulkarim said sources in the city, which was conquered by Isis after a week-long siege in May, had informed him the arch was destroyed on Sunday in the latest act of vandalism against Syria’s cultural heritage perpetrated by Isis.“It’s a crime in every sense of the word,” he said in a telephone interview from Damascus. “All we can do is share the sadness.” The arch was built in commemorbaration of a visit by the emperor and his entourage when Palmyra was a Roman colony. Isis’s puritanical interpretation of Islam deems the preservation of ancient artefacts and monuments to be a form of idolatry.Earlier this summer, the group destroyed the majestic Temple of Bel, once the centre of religious life in ancient Palmyra, and the historic Temple of Baalshamin. The militants also beheaded Khaled al-Assaad, the elderly head of Palmyra’s antiquities, after he refused to pass on the location of hidden artefacts.Abdulkarim, who described the militants as “barbarians”, said the arch carried no religious significance and its destruction appeared to be fuelled entirely by spite. He said the terror group had also planted explosives on several other buildings in the ancient city, part of a process of systematically destroying the ruins. He said the majority of Palmyra’s monuments could be destroyed if the international community and forces on the ground in Syria did not act. “Liberating Palmyra is an immediate necessity,” Abdulkarim said. “The international community must find a solution to liberate it.” Isis has destroyed numerous cultural artefacts and monuments of historic significance in its rampage across Iraq and Syria. In addition to the destruction in Palmyra, it has blown up Christian and Shia shrines and houses of worship in both countries. It also burned and destroyed centuries-old Assyrian and Akkadian artefacts in Nineveh, releasing high-production-value imagery and videography of its atrocities. Experts say the group revels in the destruction as it highlights its ability to operate with impunity and it shows the powerlessness of the international community to put a halt to its actions. Isis also profits from illicitly selling artefacts it loots from ancient sites.

the content of this article talks about the matter of ISIS destroying historical artifacts and structures. The recent abuse of the Arch of Triumph in the ancient city of Palmyra has left Syria's chief of antiquities furious. So far the Isis has been vandalizing and ransacking numerous cultural artifacts and monuments of historic significance in its rampage across Iraq and Syria. this articles also gives additional information of the Arch Isis abolished and how it was built for the Roman emperor and his entourage. In my personal opinion, I believe the abolishing historical artifacts are absurd and unnecessary. I believe the purpose of history is for us relearn from the past and improve the future and what Isis is doing is vandalizing our opportunity due to their interpretation. In addition, I believe this article expresses some sort of irritation and concern. I also believe would attract readers who share concerns over the middle east and I hope reader would feel some sort of irritation towards what Isis has done. In summary the destroying of ancient artifacts in Palmyra has shocked many people. Furthermore, I also have a strong opinion towards vandalizing ancient sculptures and structures and I hope and pray for a day when these issue can be solved.   

citation:
Shaheen, Kareem. "The Guardian."  5 Oct. 2016 The Guardian Newspaper.  10 Oct. 2015
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