Palmyra - its sad destruction.

Syria was an archaeologist's paradise, a world heritage home to some of the oldest and best-preserved jewels of ancient civilisations. A brutal war that engulfed the country in 2011, one of the worst conflicts of the 21st century, has brought wanton destruction to the country's heritage. Let's trace back the violent history of one Syrian city - Palmyra - and list below some of the architectural treasures that were destroyed by the ISIS jihadists.

Palmyra

Is a majestic ancient city whose influence peaked towards the end of the Roman empire. Here's a timeline of the city's tumultous past.

Arch of Triumph

1,100 metres. Palmyra's imposing kilometre-long colonnade is unique and one of Syria's most recognisable landmarks. "Places like Palmyra have a universal significance and value.. They are part of our civilisation, they are milestones in our history as humans and so anything that damages them is a wound for all humanity" - Justin Marozzi, historian.

2000 - 1001 BC

Palmyra began as a caravan oasis.

300 BC - 100 AD

Palmyra prospered as a road through it became one of the main East-West trade routes during this period and for a couple of centuries more (Silk road route and other trade routes). The trade routes connected the Roman empire to India, Persia and China via Palmyra about 2,000 years ago.

150 AD

It had grown into a city and was colonised by the Roman Empire. Palmyra stood at a route that linked India, Persia and China with Rome - regions home to the major civilisations of the ancient world. 

260 AD

This was the height of the city's prosperity. The city was famously ruled by Queen Zenobia, who defied Rome. Few years later, an angry Roman emperor, Aurelian, burned Palmyra to the ground.

1400 AD

The Mongol conqueror Tamerlane, a self-styled heir of Genghis Khan, put the regrown city to the sword. Palmyra's importance as a trading centre had declined by then.

2015 AD

ISIS jihadists hurtled into Palmyra to expand the 'caliphate' they had proclaimed over parts of Syria and Iraq earlier. They sacked the ancient city, also known as "The Venice of the Sands" and defaced statue and sarcophagi. The site became a stage for public executions and other gruesome crimes. The headless body of chief archaeologist Khaled al-Asaad was also displayed there by ISIS henchmen who had tortured him to get him to reveal where the site's artefacts had been transferred.

Bent on their enterprise of cultural genocide, the nihilistic ISIS jihadists rigged Palmyra's famed shrine of Baal Shamin and blew it up.

Compiled from NIE.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. To the bank to tie up a few pending jobs.

Achu had gone to the Guruvayur temple in the evening.

2017 AD

By the time government forces retook control  of Palmyra in 2017, it had been irreversibly damaged.