WORLD

The damage ISIS inflicted on some of Palmyra’s most revered treasures could take about five years to repair, Syria’s antiquities chief has said. (Wall Street Journal)

Why would ISIS target humanity’s shared history? Use our resources to find out.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including today’s MapMaker Interactive map of Palmyra’s archaeological sites.

Discussion Ideas

• Damage to the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra may be repaired in as few as five years. Most damage is associated with the year-long occupation by ISIS. What is ISIS? Read through this blog post for some help.
  • ISIS stands for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The group is also known as Daesh and ISIL, Islamic State in the Levant.
  • ISIS is a militant terrorist organization seeking to overthrow local governments and establish a caliphate (Islamic state) in the region.

 

• What forces recaptured Palmyra? Read through this blog post or consult this map for some help.
  • The Syrian government, backed by air strikes from Russia and tactical support from Hezbollah, pushed back ISIS forces.

 

• Why is Palmyra such a valuable target? Take a look at today’s MapMaker Interactive map and read through this Nat Geo News article for some help.
  • Palmyra sits at a crucial crossroads for both the ancient and modern worlds. It was part of a trade route linking three continents and its citizens were influenced by the culture, spirituality, and rich trade goods of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
    • For example, according to Nat Geo News:
      • dedications to gods were bilingual, written in both Greek and a dialect of Aramaic.
      • architectural styles mixed Roman and Near Eastern styles.
      • temples honored Greek, Roman, Phoenician, Canaanite, and Babylonian gods.

 

• Why would ISIS destroy such a breathtaking collection of our shared humanity? Read through this great New York Times article or this Nat Geo News article for some help.
  • Many ISIS members are intent on destroying depictions of pre-Islamic religion or spirituality.
  • Public destruction of such well-known objects is a successful global marketing and publicity tactic.
  • Critically, not all treasures or sites targeted by ISIS are being destroyed. A huge number of artifacts are being looted, or stolen, to finance ISIS’ political goals. These items are being sold on the lucrative international black market. Learn more about the state of Palmyra here.

 

• How do authorities plan on reconstructing damaged sites in Palmyra? Read through the Wall Street Journal and New York Times articles for some help.
  • According to the WSJ, “Palmyra is likely to be restored by using original material of the destroyed site that is still present, a process called anastylosis, combined with reconstruction using new material.”
  • According to the NYT, teams of engineers, artists, and archaeologists are working with high-tech computer programs to create precise three-dimensional digital models of Palmyra’s destroyed features. These models will guide robot-assisted recreations of the monuments.
  • Many of Palmyra’s sites were restored even before the Syrian Civil War. Take a look through today’s MapMaker Interactive map to see how the restored sites looked before the war, and the state of their repair today.

 

• Why do some leaders think a five-year strategy for reconstructing Palmyra is optimistic?
  • The full extent of damage has yet to be assessed. “[W]e still need experts in the field of reconstruction and stabilization to look at the damage and assess it carefully. We are a long way off,” says one expert.
  • Syria is still in the midst of a brutal civil war, and the security of Palmyra is not assured. ISIS is still nearby, and the site is riddled with improvised explosive devices. Only after these are removed will specialists arrive to assess the damage.

 

TEACHERS’ TOOLKIT

Wall Street Journal: Syria’s Palmyra Can Be Repaired in ‘Five Years’

Nat Geo: Why Palmyra, Recently Liberated, Is a Historical Treasure

New York Times: Scenes From Palmyra Indicate ISIS Slowed Assault on Treasures

New York Times: If All Else Fails, 3D Models and Robots Might Rebuild Sites

Wikimedia: Palmyra’s Landmarks (great map)

Nat Geo: Where is Palmyra? map

Nat Geo: ISIS Targets Humanity’s Shared History

UNESCO World Heritage: Palmyra

Wikipedia Featured Article: Palmyra