“Palmyra has become an emblem of endangered heritage. At the height of the war in Syria, Isis militants reportedly tortured Palmyra’s 82-year-old antiquities chief to reveal where he had hidden the city’s important artifacts for protection. Khaled al-Asaad, who had been in charge of the city museum since the 1960s, was eventually killed without giving up the location.

The militants destroyed the Temple of Bel at Palmyra among other structures. The 1st-century temple chamber previously stood on a central podium, surrounded by porticos and a 205-meter wall complete with a grand propylaea gateway. All that remained afterward was a section of the wall and the temple’s main entrance arch. Today, emergency work is being done to preserve the ancient city.”