London mayor unveils replica of Palmyra monument
Arch of Triumph was among ancient treasures destroyed by Daesh
A scale replica of the 2,000-year-old Roman arch destroyed by Daesh in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra was unveiled in London on Tuesday.
The 5.5 meter (18 foot) replica of the Arch of Triumph has been set up in Trafalgar Square.
The original was blown to rubble by Daesh during its occupation of Palmyra last year.
London Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled the Egyptian marble replica. It was created by the U.K.’s Institute for Digital Archaeology using 3D technology.
The institute’s executive director, Roger Michel, said the reproduction was extremely precise.
“I think this might be the most exact reproduction of any classical structure ever made,” he told the BBC. “It got to the point where we were trying to decide whether to include cobwebs, birds’ nests, moss that was on the structure in the reproduction behind us.”
Syrian and Russian forces pushed Daesh out of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, last month after a 10-month occupation. The city’s iconic Temple of Bel was among the structures destroyed.
According to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 280 people were executed during Daesh’s occupation.
The replica arch will remain in London until April 21 before travelling to other cities around the world. It will eventually be sent to Palmyra.
