PALMYRA, SYRIA, 2015 Twenty-five Syrian soldiers were captured during the battle for the city by terrorists from the notorious ISIS. They were lined up inside the ancient amphitheater in Palmyra, where they were executed en masse. The execution was carried out by teenage boys and children, whom ISIS called “the crows of the caliphate.” Hundreds of spectators used the amphitheater’s seating to watch the execution.
The ancient city of Palmyra, including its amphitheater, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded during the 2nd millennium BCE. The amphitheater itself, combining Greco-Roman architectural style, was built during the Roman Empire. It survived thousands of years, but not ISIS – during their rule, the amphitheater and other parts of Palmyra were deliberately destroyed.
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- Palmyra amphitheater (before)
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- Palmyra amphitheater (after) 1
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- Palmyra amphitheater (after) 2
One reason ISIS resorted to destroying ancient monuments is their extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam, which forbids worshipping statues, old temples, or pagan symbols. Palmyra contained pagan temples, statues, and historical monuments that, according to their ideology, were “idolatrous” and therefore sinful.
The main reason, however, was propaganda and demonstrating their power. The destruction of famous landmarks was heavily publicized, giving ISIS international attention. For the same reason, children were often involved in executions in videos, which were recorded in high resolution.
Although ISIS still has some active cells, their peak power, when they controlled large territories, is over. The horrors they caused should be remembered for the same reason we remember the Nazi Holocaust or communist gulags: we must know history to avoid repeating its mistakes.
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