This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36070721
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Palmyra's Arch of Triumph recreated in London | Palmyra's Arch of Triumph recreated in London |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A replica of a Syrian monument, two millennia old and destroyed by so-called Islamic State in Syria, has been erected in Trafalgar Square. | |
| The scale model of the Arch of Triumph has been made from Egyptian marble by the Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA) using 3D technology, based on photographs of the original arch. | The scale model of the Arch of Triumph has been made from Egyptian marble by the Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA) using 3D technology, based on photographs of the original arch. |
| It will travel to cities around the world after leaving London. | It will travel to cities around the world after leaving London. |
| Syria's director of antiquities said it was an "action of solidarity". | Syria's director of antiquities said it was an "action of solidarity". |
| 'Common heritage' | 'Common heritage' |
| The arch was built by the Romans. | |
| The two-thirds scale model will be on display at Trafalgar Square for three days before then going on display at other locations around the world, including New York and Dubai. | The two-thirds scale model will be on display at Trafalgar Square for three days before then going on display at other locations around the world, including New York and Dubai. |
| It is intended that it will then be taken to Palmyra next year, to find a permanent home near the original arch, said the IDA's executive director Roger Michel. | It is intended that it will then be taken to Palmyra next year, to find a permanent home near the original arch, said the IDA's executive director Roger Michel. |
| "It is a message of raising awareness in the world," said Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria's director of antiquities who was in London to watch the replica being installed. | "It is a message of raising awareness in the world," said Maamoun Abdulkarim, Syria's director of antiquities who was in London to watch the replica being installed. |
| "We have common heritage. Our heritage is universal - it is not just for Syrian people." | "We have common heritage. Our heritage is universal - it is not just for Syrian people." |
| Palmyra, and its complex of ancient ruins, was recaptured at the end of March, having been overrun by IS militants in May last year. | Palmyra, and its complex of ancient ruins, was recaptured at the end of March, having been overrun by IS militants in May last year. |
| At least 280 people were executed during their occupation of the city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group. | At least 280 people were executed during their occupation of the city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group. |
| Mr Abdulkarim, who visited Palmyra a week after its liberation from the Islamic State group, also known as IS, Isis and Daesh, said about 80% of the ancient monuments remain. | Mr Abdulkarim, who visited Palmyra a week after its liberation from the Islamic State group, also known as IS, Isis and Daesh, said about 80% of the ancient monuments remain. |
| He stresses that the purpose of the project is restoration, using the new technology and the remains of the site to rebuild the ancient monuments, rather than creating them afresh. | |
| "We can never have the same image as before Isis," he said. "We are trying to be realistic. | |
| "But what we want to do is respect the scientific method and the identity of Palmyra as a historic site." | "But what we want to do is respect the scientific method and the identity of Palmyra as a historic site." |
| Mr Michel said that when Palmyra was attacked, he decided the IDA's Million Images Database project - which distributes 3D cameras to volunteers in countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq - could take action. | Mr Michel said that when Palmyra was attacked, he decided the IDA's Million Images Database project - which distributes 3D cameras to volunteers in countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq - could take action. |
| "It is extraordinary to have a vision about something and see it come together in such a palpable way," he said. | "It is extraordinary to have a vision about something and see it come together in such a palpable way," he said. |
| The 5.5m-high replica was made by machines carving the stone to the exact shape and design of the original arch, based on 3D photographs. | The 5.5m-high replica was made by machines carving the stone to the exact shape and design of the original arch, based on 3D photographs. |
| Ancient city of Palmyra | Ancient city of Palmyra |
| Palmyra: Blowing ruins to rubble | Palmyra: Blowing ruins to rubble |
| Why IS destroys ancient sites | Why IS destroys ancient sites |
| Mr Michel said he wanted London to be the first to house the replica because the city itself had been reconstructed after World War Two, and that he hoped "anybody who appreciates free speech" would understand why it was so important to recreate the arch. | Mr Michel said he wanted London to be the first to house the replica because the city itself had been reconstructed after World War Two, and that he hoped "anybody who appreciates free speech" would understand why it was so important to recreate the arch. |
| Citing the economic importance of the site to Syrians, he said: "It doesn't mean because you mourn the loss of life that you should leave your country in ruins. No one can bring back the dead, but you can improve the lives of the living." | Citing the economic importance of the site to Syrians, he said: "It doesn't mean because you mourn the loss of life that you should leave your country in ruins. No one can bring back the dead, but you can improve the lives of the living." |
| He has said that he wants to "promptly (and, of course, thoughtfully)" restore monuments to prevent terrorists being given "the power to delete such objects from our collective cultural record". | He has said that he wants to "promptly (and, of course, thoughtfully)" restore monuments to prevent terrorists being given "the power to delete such objects from our collective cultural record". |
| But Professor Bill Finlayson, of the Council for British Research in the Levant, which supports research into the archaeology of the region, sounded a note of caution. | But Professor Bill Finlayson, of the Council for British Research in the Levant, which supports research into the archaeology of the region, sounded a note of caution. |
| "The publicity and so on is great," he said. "I have no problem with this [project]. | "The publicity and so on is great," he said. "I have no problem with this [project]. |
| "I think there is a bit more of a problem with the issue of reconstruction on the site itself. | "I think there is a bit more of a problem with the issue of reconstruction on the site itself. |
| "The dangerous precedent suggests that if you destroy something, you can rebuild it and it has the same authenticity as the original." | "The dangerous precedent suggests that if you destroy something, you can rebuild it and it has the same authenticity as the original." |
| The installation of the replica, which cost about £100,000 to create, has taken place during World Heritage Week. | The installation of the replica, which cost about £100,000 to create, has taken place during World Heritage Week. |
| 'Not making a statement' | 'Not making a statement' |
| Coinciding with the installation of the arch is The Missing: Rebuilding the Past, an exhibition claiming to be the first to "showcase the efforts of artists and scholars who resist the destruction of cultural heritage" carried out by IS. | Coinciding with the installation of the arch is The Missing: Rebuilding the Past, an exhibition claiming to be the first to "showcase the efforts of artists and scholars who resist the destruction of cultural heritage" carried out by IS. |
| Jessica Carlisle, who is hosting the show at her central London gallery, which includes a 3D printed model of the Arch of Triumph, said their response "challenges the very notion of loss". | Jessica Carlisle, who is hosting the show at her central London gallery, which includes a 3D printed model of the Arch of Triumph, said their response "challenges the very notion of loss". |
| She said: "Artists and scholars wanted to do something positive, to say that what is happening is terrible, but let's celebrate the creativity coming out of it, and the people challenging what Isis are doing." | She said: "Artists and scholars wanted to do something positive, to say that what is happening is terrible, but let's celebrate the creativity coming out of it, and the people challenging what Isis are doing." |
| One of the most visually striking pieces at the gallery is by British artist Piers Secunda, who creates moulds of bullet holes made by so-called Islamic State militants and casts them in replicas of ancient reliefs. | One of the most visually striking pieces at the gallery is by British artist Piers Secunda, who creates moulds of bullet holes made by so-called Islamic State militants and casts them in replicas of ancient reliefs. |
| His piece displayed at the gallery shows bullet holes from a school in Iraqi Kurdistan, where he had travelled to two weeks before the Paris terror attacks, the village having been liberated from IS only weeks previously. | His piece displayed at the gallery shows bullet holes from a school in Iraqi Kurdistan, where he had travelled to two weeks before the Paris terror attacks, the village having been liberated from IS only weeks previously. |
| He says of his work: "It's about capturing the texture of geopolitics. It's not making a statement, it's making a record." | He says of his work: "It's about capturing the texture of geopolitics. It's not making a statement, it's making a record." |
| The exhibition also features a model of the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo made by 25-year-old Tmam Alkhidaiwi Alnabilsi, a Syrian currently living at the Zaatari camp outside Jordan. | The exhibition also features a model of the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo made by 25-year-old Tmam Alkhidaiwi Alnabilsi, a Syrian currently living at the Zaatari camp outside Jordan. |
| The mosque has been heavily damaged, with both the Syrian Army and rebel forces blaming each other for its destruction. | The mosque has been heavily damaged, with both the Syrian Army and rebel forces blaming each other for its destruction. |
| It was made by Alnabilsi as part of a community art project, out of a variety of materials including kebab sticks. | It was made by Alnabilsi as part of a community art project, out of a variety of materials including kebab sticks. |
| "I think it was a really cathartic thing to do in the camp," said Ms Carlisle. "It's very poignant. I was very emotional opening the crate when it arrived at the gallery." | "I think it was a really cathartic thing to do in the camp," said Ms Carlisle. "It's very poignant. I was very emotional opening the crate when it arrived at the gallery." |
| The Missing was previously on show at New York's Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery, with the London exhibition featuring some of the same works. | The Missing was previously on show at New York's Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery, with the London exhibition featuring some of the same works. |
| Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime, curated the exhibition as a response, she said, to the "dominant image in the Western media... that we were helpless to prevent any of the destruction". | Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime, curated the exhibition as a response, she said, to the "dominant image in the Western media... that we were helpless to prevent any of the destruction". |
| She described reacting in such a way was "doing Isis's propaganda for them". | She described reacting in such a way was "doing Isis's propaganda for them". |
| Instead, she decided to find artists who were "creatively reacting to this destruction", and said people had been "extremely moved" by the show. | Instead, she decided to find artists who were "creatively reacting to this destruction", and said people had been "extremely moved" by the show. |
| Ms Carlisle said: "I hope people see the positive message in this. | Ms Carlisle said: "I hope people see the positive message in this. |
| "For me, it is a celebration of creative spirit and artistic endeavour, in the face of really unfortunate circumstances." | "For me, it is a celebration of creative spirit and artistic endeavour, in the face of really unfortunate circumstances." |