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Satellite images prove Palmyra's Temple of Bel was destroyed by ISIS

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Despite recent reports the Temple remained, the UN reports it is ruined.

Despite recent reports, the 2,000-year-old ancient temple of Baal Shamin has been destroyed from the Syrian archaeological site of Palmyra.

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Highlights

By Nikky Andres (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/1/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in Middle East

Keywords: palmyra, isis, extremists, syria, war, antique, temple

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The Palmyra Temple of Baal Shamin was severely damaged in the explosion. According to Syria antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim, the attack was initiated by the jihadi group.

"Unosat analysts said the main structure had been reduced to rubble, as well as a line of columns beside it," according to BBC.

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The ancient temple was built in 32 A.D. and was dedicated to gods worshipped by the Semites, a group of diverse cultures found in the Ancient Middle East. This included the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Hebrews and Arabs.

The structure stands on an artificial hill which could be traced back more than 2,200 years and features lavish carvings, zodiac signs and Makkabel, the fertility god, along the monolithic ceiling of its northern chamber.

According to Dr. Robert Bewley, Project Director at the School of Archaeology at Oxford, the extremist group was determined to destroy Palmyra piece by piece. The city has been known as "the oasis in the desert" and was a jewel of the ancient world. It is famous for its well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins.

"Unfortunately, the images we acquired do show that the main building of the temple has been destroyed," Einar Bjorgo, Unosat's manager, told the BBC early on Tuesday.

For ISIS fighters, such sites are considered targets due to their "non-Islamic" history and what ISIS classifies as idolatrous antiquities, icons and carvings. The religious extremists conquered Palmyra in May and just last week slaughtered retired archaeologist and scholar Khaled Asaad, 82, who worked for over 50 years as head of antiquities. Aamaq News Agency, which supports the Islamic State, reported that Islamic State fighters have already conquered half of Qadam as well.

The Islamic State has established itself as one of the most powerful forces in the battle to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad. Islamic State fighters now have control over huge parts of the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, east of Qadam.

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