ISIS militants have destroyed the iconic Arch of Triumph in Palmyra, the latest cultural treasure of the ancient site that they have reduced to rubble. The 1,800-year-old monumental arch, which framed the approach to the Roman city, was blown up by the militants. ISIS jihadists seized control of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the surrounding area from Syrian government forces in May. Since then, the Islamic extremists have beheaded the antiquities expert who looked after the ruins and set about demolishing their architectural riches.
In August, they leveled two temples of immense cultural significance — the Temple of Bel and theTemple of Baalshamin — prompting outrage and condemnation from around the world. The Arch of Triumph, consisting of one large arch flanked by two smaller ones, opened onto Palmyra’s elegant Colonnade.
UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, describes the archway’s adornments as “an outstanding example of Palmyrene art.” As well as the temples, the terrorist group has also demolished Roman-era funerary towers that were “among the most representative and evocative monuments” at the site.
The militants, however, are unapologetic over their step-by-step trashing of one of the world’s most important ancient sites, publishing photos of some of the destruction. Palmyra, northeast of Damascus, is known as the “bride of the desert” for its magnificent collection of structures along a historical trade route that once linked P
