How ISIS ravaged Palmyra’s world treasures | CNN

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World

How ISIS ravaged Palmyra’s world treasures

Updated 3:46 PM EST, Sat December 10, 2016
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<strong>Before:</strong> The ruins of the 2,000-year-old Temple of Baalshamin are seen in Palmyra, Syria, in 2007. The ISIS militant group took over the ancient city last year and razed parts of its <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhc.unesco.org%2Fen%2Flist%2F23" target="_blank" target="_blank">World Heritage Site.</a> Syrian government forces recaptured the ancient city from the terror group in March 2016. Click through to see the landmarks before and after ISIS' occupation.
Before: The ruins of the 2,000-year-old Temple of Baalshamin are seen in Palmyra, Syria, in 2007. The ISIS militant group took over the ancient city last year and razed parts of its World Heritage Site. Syrian government forces recaptured the ancient city from the terror group in March 2016. Click through to see the landmarks before and after ISIS' occupation.
DEA/G.DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini/Getty Images
<strong>After:</strong> A Syrian government soldier walks near what's left of the Temple of Baalshamin on Sunday, March 27. Syrian forces retook the city days before, but damage had already been done by ISIS. UNESCO says it plans to evaluate the extent of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2016%2F03%2F28%2Fmiddleeast%2Fisis-palmyra-treasures-destroyed%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Palmyra's damage</a> soon. Many of the structures -- which date from the first and second centuries and marry Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences -- remain in place, bolstering hopes that ISIS didn't completely raze the world heritage site.
After: A Syrian government soldier walks near what's left of the Temple of Baalshamin on Sunday, March 27. Syrian forces retook the city days before, but damage had already been done by ISIS. UNESCO says it plans to evaluate the extent of Palmyra's damage soon. Many of the structures -- which date from the first and second centuries and marry Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences -- remain in place, bolstering hopes that ISIS didn't completely raze the world heritage site.
Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images
<strong>Before: </strong>The Arch of Triumph in 2006.
Before: The Arch of Triumph in 2006.
Raphael GAILLARDE/GAMMA/Getty Images
<strong>After:</strong> The Arch of Triumph on March 27.
After: The Arch of Triumph on March 27.
Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images
<strong>Before: </strong>The Temple of Bel in 2008.
Before: The Temple of Bel in 2008.
DEA/C. SAPPA/De Agostini/Getty Images
<strong>After:</strong> The Temple of Bel on March 27.
After: The Temple of Bel on March 27.
Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images
Destroyed statues are seen inside the damaged Palmyra Museum on March 27.
Destroyed statues are seen inside the damaged Palmyra Museum on March 27.
SANA via AP
Many statues in the museum had their faces chipped off -- in keeping with strict Sharia interpretations of the depiction of human forms.
Many statues in the museum had their faces chipped off -- in keeping with strict Sharia interpretations of the depiction of human forms.
SANA via AP
Before ISIS invaded, authorities took what they could from the museum. But larger items and those fixed to walls had to be left behind.
Before ISIS invaded, authorities took what they could from the museum. But larger items and those fixed to walls had to be left behind.
SANA via AP
Destroyed statues inside the Palmyra Museum.
Destroyed statues inside the Palmyra Museum.
SANA via AP
The Syrian directorate-general of antiquities and monuments was positive that the condition of artifacts meant that they could be restored and their "historic value" returned, according to a translation of an article on the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dgam.gov.sy%2Findex.php%3Fd%3D314%26id%3D1957" target="_blank" target="_blank">department's website.</a>
The Syrian directorate-general of antiquities and monuments was positive that the condition of artifacts meant that they could be restored and their "historic value" returned, according to a translation of an article on the department's website.
SANA via AP
ISIS took over Palmyra in May.
ISIS took over Palmyra in May.
SANA via AP
By June, ISIS began destroying historical sites.
By June, ISIS began destroying historical sites.
SANA via AP
Damage inside the Palmyra Museum.
Damage inside the Palmyra Museum.
SANA via AP
Palmyra was a caravan oasis when Romans overtook it in the mid-first century. In the centuries that followed, the area "stood at the crossroads of several civilizations" with its art and architecture mixing Greek, Roman and Persian influences, according to UNESCO.
Palmyra was a caravan oasis when Romans overtook it in the mid-first century. In the centuries that followed, the area "stood at the crossroads of several civilizations" with its art and architecture mixing Greek, Roman and Persian influences, according to UNESCO.
SANA via AP

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