The tragedy of Palmyra

Fox News ^ | 12-14-17 | Hollie McKay

[SJackson]

First look inside one of world’s most magical ancient ruins – now utterly destroyed by ISIS

Palmyra before and after ISIS

PALMYRA, Syria – The Syrian city of Palmyra stood for decades as a shining example of ancient civilization, a caravan stop on the Silk Road that served as the capital of Queen Zenobia’s empire.

The city’s meticulously preserved Greco-Roman ruins landed it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, making it a top tourist attraction in the Middle East and a mecca for archaeologists and historians.

Now the city once known for its priceless ancient art and artifacts has been ravaged by ISIS, the terror group that has defiantly destroyed the cultural heritage of the lands they occupy. But even as it set about destroying some of the world’s most priceless and beautiful structures – declaring many of the treasures sacrilegious idolatry -- ISIS also launched the highly profitable trade of selling these supposedly unholy relics on the black market.

Now that ISIS has largely been driven from Palmyra, Fox News got an up-close look at the destruction the group wrought on what only a few years ago was a stunningly preserved ancient city.

Before the terrorists swept in, the old city of Palmyra, or Tadmur as it is known locally in Arabic, was something of an archaeological sanctuary deep inside the south-central desert of Syria. It was the country’s premier site for studying ancient Greek, Persian, Roman and Islamic cultures, representing life in the area from the early centuries of the first millennium. It was also a sacred place for prayer, first for suppliants in the Baalshamin Temple and then for eastern Orthodox Christians at the now-decimated ancient monastery of Mar Elian.

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Before and after photos at link

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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[EarlyBird]

As a history buff, this right here drives me to spasms!

Obama could have exterminated all of these ISIS losers, driving around in their Toyota Land Cruisers destroying everything.

But he didn’t.

As soon as President Trump unleashed our military, the Land Cruisers were rubble.

There is a reason why the Constitution requires a president to be a natural born citizen!

[onedoug]

Now the city once known for its priceless ancient art and artifacts has been ravaged by ISIS, the terror group that has defiantly destroyed the cultural heritage of the lands they occupy. But even as it set about destroying some of the world’s most priceless and beautiful structures – declaring many of the treasures sacrilegious idolatry -- ISIS also launched the highly profitable trade of selling these supposedly unholy relics on the black market.

Typical islam.

Destroy it.

[stockpirate]

Is this anything like Antifa destroying confederate monuments? eysarcasm

[Irish Eyes]

I am sickened by this destruction.

[Mears]

It’s like removing the surname Lynch from several schools because some idiots said it was offensive and reminded them of lynching.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/08/10/name-lynch-removed-from-schools-after-word-deemed-offensive/

The US is becoming as bad as ISIS.

.

[SJackson]

ping

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SJackson. A lot of topics about this, including the pagan-bashing tirades because of the replicas of various destroyed antique temples.

[Verginius Rufus]

In Biblical times it was called Tadmor.

[ChicagahAl]

Is this anything like Antifa destroying confederate monuments?

It's exactly the same thing.

All Totalitarians erase and re-write history.

[Elsie]

The US is becoming as bad as ISIS.

Oh?

Does ISIS say abortion is fine and dandy?