Art
Palmyra, according to the IS: a hostage in Assad’s game with the West
For Palmyra, Bashar al-Assad is not better than the IS. Palmyra, a complete rebuild would transform the UNESCO world heritage site in a Disneyland, says the historian, Annie Sartre-Fauriat in the DW-Interview.
The
UNESCO world heritage site of Palmyra is since Sunday
under the control of the troops of the Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. His troops, the territory from the extremist militia “Islamic state had” returned Robert.
DW spoke with the French
Historian Annie Sartre-Fauriat. She is an expert on the Syrian antiquity. She has been conducting research for more than forty years in Palmyra and has published several books on the importance of the ancient sites. Sartre-Fauriat belongs to a group of experts that takes care of in the order of UNESCO to the world cultural heritage sites in Syria.
Deutsche Welle: Ms. Sartre-Fauriat, what do you know about the state of Palmyra. according to the “re-conquest” by Bashar al-Assad?
Annie Sartre-Fauriat: I have received in the last two days, many photos of me known to Syrian archaeologists. On these pictures you can see the military of Bashar al-Assad as it is to survey the ruins. Today, I can also see the first images from Inside the former Baal-temple. That was not possible before, because it was feared that the place was mined.
Also Assad’s troops plundered the UNESCO world heritage site of Palmyra
Are you relieved that the Palmyra of the terrorist militia, calling itself the “Islamic state” (IS), is exempt?
Yes and no! I am relieved that the jihadists were expelled. Of course. They have been terrible devastation across at the world heritage site of Palmyra. But I’m also not relieved. The memories of what has been done by Bashar al-Assad in the ruins of Palmyra are still alive. As his army had occupied during the Revolution between 2012 and 2015, the citadel of Palmyra, he is there, a great deal of damage. He has fired grenades and rockets at the world heritage site of Palmyra, and numerous pillars and walls destroyed. In addition, his troops tombs have been looted, the objects looted and illegally sold. As long as Bashar al-Assad in Palmyra, I’m afraid, that he might destroy the place and its people back to pillaging.
So the Baal looked temple in Palmyra, before the IS has destroyed him
But it makes the impression, when listening to about the head of the antiquity, authority, Maamun Abdul Karim, that Bashar al-Assad is now Palmyra, wool care, the world culture heritage site, even with the help of UNESCO again wants to build.
I know the press has commented on the news of the conquest of Palmyra. positive. Just because Palmyra was returned into the hands of the dictator Assad, is not the war to end. Therefore, I am not related to Palmyra too optimistic. First of all peace must come, the place must be secured, before you can even think about the place to rebuild or to restore the monuments. I’m for a restoration of what is possible. One of the buildings, where this is possible, the great arch of triumph, because, according to the photos I’ve seen, he is not blown up, but just been smashed. Doubt I, as far as the reconstruction of the great Baal temple, of which only bits are left.
I don’t want to, that Palmyra is completely built from scratch, since I’m being totally honest. See, for example, as before, not so long ago the theatre in Palmyra was restored. Everywhere you see that new stones were used. The Patina is missing, it is the story missing. If you do that now with the Baal temples as well, then Palmyra Disneyland is like. I would like to prevent in any case.
-
Palmyra: What to save?
Palmyra – what remains?
The splendid colonnaded street of Palmyra moved in ancient times as a gigantic axis through the desert city. Great colonnade lined the right and left. Now the first shots of Sunday (27. March) that many of the ruins have survived the destruction of the terrorist organization “Islamic state” (IS).
-
Palmyra: What to save?
Puzzle of debris
Out of the ruins of Palmyra to rise again and “be like before”, said the Syrian ancient times researchers Maamun Abdul Karim. Also the 2000-year-old Baaltempel and the Baalschamin temple – both of which were destroyed by IS – is to be reconstructed. Like, it’ll now consult with the United Nations, Abdul Karim.
-
Palmyra: What to save?
Roman Theatre
This shot from Sunday shows that the as 200 ad, built the Amphitheater is in good condition. To see the Palace ranks of the front and the viewers. Once the pieces were performed in the Aramaic language. The IS abused, the theatre as a place of execution of 25 Syrians in may of last year.
-
Palmyra: What to save?
Palmyra from the air
Aerial photographs from the 26. March also show, what is the extent of the destruction. From the Baal temple, the 32. n. Christ was consecrated, only the entrance arch. The image on the left shows the Baal-temple of the devastation caused by the IS, right then.
-
Palmyra: What to save?
Devastation also in the national Museum
The national Museum of Palmyra was completely robbed. Some of the works of art were destroyed. In some Places the roof of the Museum was torn down.
-
Palmyra: What to save?
Recapture of the fortress
The Qal’at Ibn Ma’n probably originates from the 13th century. to 16. Century. It towers above the ancient city on a hill. Also, it had to be one of the attractions during a visit to the desert city.
For ten months the whole world thought that Palmyra had been razed to the ground. Now it looks like only 20 per cent were destroyed. It was a targeted Propaganda IS to make us believe that all of the statues and ruins are lost forever?
20 per cent, the sounds a little. But the terrorists have destroyed the most important monuments of world cultural heritage: the Baal temple and the Balschamin temple, two of the largest and most beautiful buildings in Palmyra.. In addition, they have destroyed seven of the most beautiful grave towers and the triumphal arch. And many of the surfaces, on which it was dug. The looting – whether by Assad’s troops or by the IS also affected areas that wanted to explore archaeologists and historians. The losses are of historic proportions. Now, if 20 percent of the speech is, then you have to put this in perspective: The most important 20 percent of the world’s cultural heritage have been wiped out.
Fear of reconstruction of Palmyra. as a “Disneyland”
So what will happen with Palmyra?
I am in favour of the reconstruction, but a reconstruction. But I’m also opposed to doing so, as what happened in Palmyra would not have taken place. You should leave a part of the destroyed Palmyra. as a memorial, as a testimony of the history. It must remain in the memory of what was going on there.
I come back again to my question: Was the destruction of Palmyra. Propaganda IS?
Yes, for sure. It is not denied that in the eyes of the IS Palmyra in two respects destroyed. For the First, because Palmyra for the West is a Symbol that was to receive it. I would like to make it clear that the IS has also destroyed certificates of Islamic history, such as mosques or mausoleums. And Second, because Palmyra is a Symbol of Syria. One need only look at the stamps, the notes, everywhere Palmyra is printed.
The Baal temple in Palmyra: before (left) and after (right) the destruction by the IS
How do you see the “liberation” of Palmyra.. Bashar al-Assad is trying to personally Profit?
As Bashar al-Assad Palmyra has left the hands of the “Islamic state” in may 2015, in a sense, it was a deliberate political move on the part of His strategy was that the West came to his aid, to fight the IS. But first, his account is not risen, because the West did not want to, of course, that a dictator like Assad to help. The Syrian air monitoring must have seen, that the troops of the IS approached through the desert to Palmyra. You will have extra done something about it, because they had to get help from the West. Instead of the IS to attack, they dropped bombs on Aleppo. Now observe a similar Situation: Assad has managed to pull Russia and Hezbollah on his side, to get rid of Palmyra and you can now celebrate. He hopes that the West accepted him as a negotiating partner. These are political maneuvers.
Possible exploitation of Palmyra. by Assad
Do you think all of this is just tactics?
Assad is lying when he opens his mouth. I know the Syrian regime for more than forty years. When I came in 1971, after Syria, I came immediately with the Regime of Bashar al-Assad’s father in contact, I have also followed the Transition from father to son with, I was at the beginning of the Revolution in 2011 in Syria. I’ve learned Bashar al-Assad as a great Manipulator and a fraud. We have to do it in Syria with a mafia-like dictatorship.
The only goal of the Bashar al-Assad, stay in Power so that Syria remains, as he wants it, because he considered it as his property. He is willing to do anything for it: He has no problem massacring 300,000 people, to distribute millions of Syrians into exile, to torture prisoners and to kill. Now, when resumed negotiations with him, then the negotiator will need to bring a big spoon. Because you are going to put up with the devil himself at a table.
The tomb towers in Palmyra: The IS has also destroyed seven of these unique buildings. The image is from 2010
Palmyra remains a hostage?
Yes, Assad knows how to exploit Palmyra. I’m glad the is is way, but I’m not ready to thank Assad for this.
You think it’s possible, of Palmyra, in five years, to rebuild, as it has Maamun Abdul Karim, head of the Syrian antiquities authority, announced?
I think it is unrealistic. Without help from abroad, so the UNESCO, it will be not create. I have also spoken to Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO. You want to make anon a picture of the situation on the ground. You hold back with Commitments. First need to go to the experts a picture, whether a rebuild makes sense. On the other hand, the question of whether Palmyra in the reconstruction of Syria is high on the priority list above. The entire country lies in rubble and ashes.
Would you help with the reconstruction?
If I am asked, then Yes. But I’m afraid to watch, Palmyra, in this state.
The interview was conducted by Sabine Oelze.