Syria – Islamic State Publishes Images Of 2,000-Year-Old Roman-Era Temple Destruction

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    This undated photo released Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 on a social media site used by Islamic State militants, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows smoke from the detonation of the 2,000-year-old temple of Baalshamin in Syria's ancient caravan city of Palmyra. A resident of the city said the temple was destroyed on Sunday, a month after the group's militants booby-trapped it with explosives. Arabic at bottom reads, "The moment of detonation of the pagan Baalshamin temple in the city of Palmyra." (Islamic State social media account via AP)Syria – The Islamic State group released propaganda images Tuesday that purport to show militants laying explosives in and then blowing up the 2,000-year-old temple of Baalshamin in Syria’s ancient caravan city of Palmyra.

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    The images, posted on social media by supporters of the group, showed militants carrying barrels of explosives, and laying them inside the temple. Other smaller wired cans lay around the temple walls and columns. Then an image shows a grey plume of smoke rising above the temple from a distance, and then an image of the temple reduced to a pile of rocks. One caption read: “The complete destruction of the pagan Baalshamin temple.”

    The Associated Press could not independently verify the images. However, they were released like other group propaganda and carried a logo it often used in the city of Palmyra, in Syria’s central Homs province.

    The images also corresponded to prior AP reporting. A resident of Palmyra had told the AP the temple was destroyed on Sunday, a month after the group’s militants booby-trapped it with explosives.

    The U.N. cultural agency UNESCO on Monday called the destruction of the temple a war crime.

    The temple, a structure of giant stone blocks several stories high fronted by six towering columns, was dedicated to a god of storm and rain — the name means literally “Lord of the Heavens.” It was part of a sprawling Roman-era complex that includes other remains of temples to local gods and goddesses, including the even larger and slightly older Temple of Bel. Experts and residents fear the group will destroy the other ruins.

    The Islamic State group, which has imposed a violent interpretation of Islamic law across its self-declared “caliphate” straddling Syria and Iraq, says such ancient relics promote idolatry. It already has blown up several sites in neighboring Iraq, and it is also believed to sell looted antiquities. The group had seized control of Palmyra, in the central deserts of Syria, in May.
    This undated photo released Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 on a social media site used by Islamic State militants, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows the demolished 2,000-year-old temple of Baalshamin in Syria's ancient caravan city of Palmyra. A resident of the city said the temple was destroyed on Sunday, a month after the group's militants booby-trapped it with explosives. The U.N. cultural agency UNESCO on Monday called the destruction of the temple a war crime. (Islamic State social media account via AP)
    This undated photo released Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 on a social media site used by Islamic State militants, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting,  shows the 2,000-year-old temple of Baalshamin in Syria's ancient caravan city of Palmyra rigged with explosives. A resident of the city said the temple was destroyed on Sunday, a month after the group's militants booby-trapped it with explosives. The U.N. cultural agency UNESCO on Monday called the destruction of the temple a war crime. (Islamic State social media account via AP)


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    4 Comments
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    albroker
    albroker
    8 years ago

    when will the Zionists have the courage to do the same to that rock ido al-Aksa?

    Wise-Guy
    Wise-Guy
    8 years ago

    When Moshiach tells us to do so.

    And NOT antagonizing the Umos-Ha’Olam, is our mandate during Galus.
    The repercussions of what you suggest will very likely result in loss of Jewish lives too.

    I find your attitude to be irresponsible, reckless, immature and foolish.

    p.s.
    Btw, there happens to be a significant difference between that Syrian temple and the Al-Aqsa mosque;

    The Muslims do not worship Avodah-Zora.
    The Syrian structure was built intentionally for idol-worship. (For one of the “Ba’al” idols.)

    So now, since apparently Hashem decreed that the area of the Beis Ha’Mikdash should be in Gentile hands during our exile (and it’s indeed fascinating how Levi Eshkol and Moshe Dayan “decided” to leave the area under Arab/Jordanian jurisdiction!) we should be glad and grateful that Hashem orchestrated that it should be in the hands of Gentiles that do not worship idols.
    That makes the ordeal considerably less painful.

    Wise-Guy
    Wise-Guy
    8 years ago

    p.p.s.
    My earlier comment was directed to Comment # 1.
    (Not Comment # 2)