The Temple Of Bel
Before
After
The Temple of Bel before its destruction by the ISIS in 2015, and after
The Temple of Bel, also known as the Temple of Jupiter Belus is a 2,000-year-old temple in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. The temple was honored the Mesopotamian god Bel and was recognized as one of the most significant religious and cultural landmarks in the area
The temple was sadly demolished on August 30, 2015, by ISIS. For the Syrian people as well as the entire world's archaeology and history communities, the demolition of the Temple of Bel is a very tragic loss. A singular and well-preserved example of Roman engineering and construction, this temple dates back to 32 AD, more than 2 millennia. Besides that, this monument was also a very important cultural and religious center for the people of Palmyra and the Syrian population.
The destruction of the Temple of Bel is part of a larger campaign by ISIS to destroy historic and cultural sites in Syria and Iraq. They also have targeted a number of ancient cities and monuments, including the city of Mosul in Iraq and the ancient city of Nimrud.This destruction has been condemned by the international community and UNESCO has designated the ancient city of Palmyra as a world heritage site in danger.
The world as a whole, not just the Syrian people, suffers from the destruction of the Temple of Bel. The information they provide about the societies who produced them makes these historic sites important in addition to their historical and cultural relevance.
The safeguarding of these locations must continue to receive support from the international community, which also needs to fight to stop the carnage wrought by ISIS by all means. Making people aware of the destruction of cultural heritage places is also crucial, as is supporting their preservation and reconstruction for future generations to come.
This serves as a reminder that cultural heritage sights are important markers of human history and emblems of civilization, and that they should be preserved for the sake of present-day society as well as future generations.