For ages, Mankind is building structures and there are many archaeological or religious monuments in the world. These monuments serve as the glorious past but unfortunately, some of them are destroyed by the war. War always comes with a loss and does not determine who is right but who and what is left. Historical sites were destroyed in every war and terrorist attacks, here is the list of wonderful monuments destroyed by War,
Historical Monuments Destroyed By War
1.The Ancient City of Bosra, Syria
The Ancient City of Bosra was once the capital of the Roman province of Arabia and important points related to the ancient caravan route to Mecca. It is popular among tourist for its beautiful Roman theatre. The city is located 40km east of Daraa and about 140 Km south of Damascus. The UNESCO world heritage site survived 2500 years inhabited and almost intact in all situations. The ancient city faces great damage during the recent wars in Syria. The monuments are destroyed with the help of mortar shelling and gunfire.
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Image Source: Wikimedia
2.Palmyra, Syria
The Site of Palmyra located in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus, Palmyra popular for its ancient monuments that were the cultural centres of the ancient world. It is equipped with Graeco-Roman techniques and Persian influence can be seen across the city. One of the oldest cities in the world believed to have dated back to second millennium BC and even mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a desert city which was built by King Solomon. The most popular archaeological sites are Temple of Baalshamin, Monumental arch and Tower of Elahbel. The ISIS has destroyed different archaeological sites.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3.Buddha of Bamyan, Afghanistan
Buddhas of Bamiyan was one of the most popular attractions in Afganistan. The monument was carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley of central Afghanistan at an elevation of 2,500 metres. According to carbon dating, it is believed that the eastern structure was built around 570 AD and the western one was built around 618 AD. The valley is located 230 Km from Kabul near the Silk Road. The structure was destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001.
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Image Source: Wikimedia
4.Cyrene, Libya
The city was in control of ancient Greek and then Roman ha took over now it is a part of Shahhat, Libya. One of the most important cities of the ancient Greeks was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo. It is also known as ‘Athens of Africa’ and believed that the city wa established in 630 BC. The UNESCO world heritage sites are one of the best-preserved sites until civil war erupted in the country where 3rd-century viaduct, the necropolis complex, and around 200 tombs has been destroyed.
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Image Source: Wikimedia
5.Krak des Chevaliers,Syria
Krak des Chevaliers also knew as Crac des Chevaliers, Ḥiṣn al-Akrād and initially known as Crac de hospital is a crusader castle located in Syria and considered as the best-preserved medieval castles in the world until it was damaged in the Syrian civil war. The extent of the damage done to the castle is still unknown but one thing is clear that the Syrian army and rebels all are responsible for damaging the castle. After the 11th century, it was known by the name Hisn al Akrad which means Castles of the Kurds.
Image Source: Wikimedia
6.Great Mosque of Samarra, Iraq
Great Mosque of Samarra is a beautiful mosque from the 9th century situated in the Samarra, Iraq. The construction has been started in 851 by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil was in the Samarra reigned from 847 until 861. This is also a UNESCO world heritage site situated in the 15,058-hectare Samarra Archaeological City. The mosque is in the shape of the spiralling cone which is 52 metres high and 33 metres wide. The upper part of the mosque was destroyed by the airstrikes in 2005 and it was partially damaged. The unique design of the mosque is believed to be part of the Mesopotamian ziggurats architecture.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7.Jonah Tomb, Iraq
Jonah Tomb was built on the mounds of Nineveh’s ruins and built the Mosque of the prophet Jonah who is the son of Amittai. The mosque has replaced an Assyrian Church which is believed to be the burial place of Jonah and called Jonah’s Tomb. The places is considered to be important for Muslims and Hindus.ISIS has destroyed the place in the year 2014 stating this is a place of disaffection and not for prayers.
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Image Source: Wikimedia
8.Nimrud, Iraq
The ancient city Nimrud is located in Iraq located in the 30 kilometres south of the city of Mosul. Th city was a major Assyrian city between approximately 1350 BC and 610 BC. It was originally known as Kalhu and the excavations has been started in the 19th century and many precious things has been explored including artefacts along with 613 pieces of gold jewellery. Even some of the earliest examples of writing known to man. It is also a UNESCO heritage site famous for its colossal Lamassu sculptures. The city has been ruined by ISIS when they have taken over Iraqi forces.
Image Source: Wikimedia
9.Citadel of Aleppo, Syria
Citadel of Aleppo is the largest medieval fortified palaces dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. The palace is many empires that include Greeks, Byzantines, Ayyubids, and Mamluks. The majority of construction work has been done in the era of the Ayyubid period. The UNESCO world heritage site was destroyed in the year of August 2012 where the Battle of Aleppo of the Syrian Civil War has damaged the external gates of the citadel after it was shelled during a clash between the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Army in order to take the control of the city.
Image Source: Wikimedia
10.Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque, Syria
Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque is a mosque in Syria and famous for its Ottoman Turkish architectural styles. It is located in the Homs of Syria and was dedicated to the Khalid Ibn al-Walid. The location of the mosque is in the frontline of the rebels so the Syrian army but later recaptured after causing subsequent damage to the mosque. It is one of the beautiful historical monuments destroyed by war.
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Image Source: Wikimedia
11.Old City of Dubrovnik, Croatia
The Old City of Dubrovnik is a city in southern Croatia and also one of the popular tourist attractions in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. The city dates back to the 7th century when the Romans and Slavs settled on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. By 19 century, it was a major trading power, howvever, in 1991 & 1992, the city was under severe damage as a part of the Yugoslav Wars.
Image Source: Wikipedia
12.Vijecnica (City Hall) of Sarajevo, Bosnia
Vijecnica is also known as Sarajevo City Hall is situated in the city of Sarajevo. The city was well designed by the Czech architect Karel Parík, but criticisms by the minister, Baron Benjamin Kallay, caused him to stop working on the project. The city went in females in the year 1992 that destroyed almost two million books, howvever, the world comes up for its restoration and later it was opened to the public in the year 2014.
Image Source: Wikimedia
13.Djinguereber Mosque of Timbuktu, Mali
Djinguereber Mosque is a famous learning centre completed in 1327 and called by the names Djingareyber or Djingarey Ber in various languages. The mosque went under minor damage in 2012 when members of the militant Ansar Dine group attacked the city.
Image Source: Wikimedia
14.Bel at Palmyra, Syria
Temple of Bel is also known as the “Temple of Baal” is an ancient temple situated in Palmyra, Syria.It was attacked and destroyed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS in the year 2015.
Image Source: Wikipedia
15.The Gates of Nineveh, Iraq
The ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh is one of the oldest monument dating back to the seventh century B.C. It was historically guarded by walls and multiple gates. ISIS destroyed Adad Gate and the Mashki Gate as a part of its campaign against cultural sites and relics.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are the wonderful historical monuments destroyed by war. Kindly share and do post your comments.
