Monumental Arch of Palmyra
| Monumental Arch | |
|---|---|
| قوس النصر | |
 The Monumental Arch in 2010 | |
| Alternative names |
Arch of Triumph Arch of Septimius Severus |
| General information | |
| Status | Partially destroyed |
| Type | Ornamental arch |
| Architectural style | Roman/Palmyrene |
| Location | Palmyra, Syria |
| Coordinates | 34°32′59.9″N 38°16′15.6″E / 34.549972°N 38.271000°E |
| Completed | 3rd century |
| Destroyed | 4 October 2015 |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iv |
| Designated | 1980 (4th session) |
| Part of | Site of Palmyra |
| Reference no. | 23 |
| State Party |
 Syria |
| Region | Arab States |
| Endangered | 2013–present |
The Monumental Arch, also called the Arch of Triumph (Arabic: قوس النصر) or the Arch of Septimius Severus, was a Roman ornamental archway in Palmyra, Syria. It was built in the 3rd century during the reign of emperor Septimius Severus. Its ruins later became one of the main attractions of Palmyra. The arch was reportedly destroyed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in October 2015, although about half of the structure seems to have survived.
History
The Monumental Arch was built sometime during the reign of emperor Septimius Severus, which lasted from 193 to 211 AD; it linked the main street of the Colonnade and the Temple of Bel.[1] The arch was meant to integrate the southern and central parts of the Colonnaded as its location marks a change of 30° in the orientation of the street.[2]
According to some sources, the structure was built as a triumphal arch to commemorate the Romans' victories over the Parthians.[3] The structure was sometimes erroneously referred to as Hadrian's Arch, although emperor Hadrian had been dead for over half a century when the arch was built.[4]
The ruins of the arch, along with other monuments in Palmyra, were depicted in engravings by the British traveller Robert Wood, which were published in London in 1753 under the title The ruins of Palmyra; otherwise Tedmor in the desart.[5]
The Monumental Arch was restored in the 1930s.[4] When the ruins of Palmyra became a tourist attraction in the 20th and early 21st centuries, the arch was one of the city's main sights.[5]
Destruction
Palmyra was captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in May 2015. The militants booby-trapped the arch some time later, and reportedly blew it up on 4 October using dynamite.[6] Footage released on 8 October showed that about half of the arch was still standing, so the actual extent of damage is unclear.[7]
The Office of the President of Syria as well as the director-general of UNESCO condemned the destruction of the Monumental Arch.[8] According to the United Nations, the destruction showed that ISIL was "terrified by history and culture."[9][10]
Architecture
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The Monumental Arch was unusual from an architectural viewpoint, since it had a double façade, masking a 30° bend between the eastern and central sections of the Great Colonnade.[4][11] The arch consisted of a large gateway in the centre flanked by a smaller opening on either side.[12]
The arch was decorated with ornate stone carvings, including reliefs depicting plants or geometrical designs. These were similar to those found on other arches built during Severus' reign elsewhere in the Roman Empire, such as at Leptis Magna in modern day Libya.[3] The reliefs on the arch were described by UNESCO as "an outstanding example of Palmyrene art."[12]
References
- ↑ Richard Stoneman (1994). Palmyra and Its Empire: Zenobia's Revolt Against Rome. University of Michigan Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-472-08315-2.
- ↑ Charles Gates (2011). Ancient Cities: The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome. Taylor & Francis. p. 406.
- 1 2 "Palmyra - The Colonnade". romeartlover.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 Demeter, Daniel (3 August 2015). "Palmyra – Monumental Arch". syriaphotoguide.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
- 1 2 Kaphle, Anup (5 October 2015). "This Is The Monumental Arch ISIS Blew Up In Palmyra". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
- ↑ "ISIL blows up Arch of Triumph in Syria's Palmyra". Al Jazeera. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015.
- ↑ Wyke, Tom (8 October 2015). "First footage emerges revealing the destruction of Palmyra's 2,000-year-old Arch of Triumph as ISIS continue to lay waste to civilization". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
- ↑ El Deeb, Sarah (5 October 2015). "Syria presidency condemns destruction of Palmyra's arch". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
- ↑ "UNESCO says IS 'terrified by history' after Palmyra destruction". Yahoo! News. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
- ↑ "Islamic State destroys 2,000-year-old Arch of Triumph in Palmyra". The Telegraph. 5 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015.
- ↑ Millin, Aubin Louis; Noel, François; Warens, Israel (1799). Magasin encyclopédique: ou Journal des sciences, des lettres et des arts, Volume 1 (in French). p. 413.
- 1 2 Mullen, Jethro; Elwazer, Schams (6 October 2015). "ISIS destroys Arch of Triumph in Syria's Palmyra ruins". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
Media related to Monumental Arch of Palmyra at Wikimedia Commons