Italian architects reconstructing Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch

A group of Italian architects are resurrecting parts of the war-ravaged ancient Syrian city of Palmyra by recreating the 2,000-year-old Triumphal Arch from the Temple of Bel – much of which was destroyed by the Islamic State (ISIL) over the past year.

The 3D robotic printers are being used to print the arch in Italy’s Carrara mountains so as to bring the historic ruins back to life. Later this month, it will go on display in London’s Trafalgar Square and New York’s Times Square before being taken to Palmyra.

Thousands of images of the ruins have been used to create 3D mapping – and alongside the latest technology, master craftsmen make the finishing touches.

“We sometimes think about if we were in the position of the Syrian people. We would like to have this. Our monuments, as Italians, also are very important for us these kind of monuments and the relation that we have with our place,” said Giacomo Massari, founder of TorArt, a contemporary art studio.

The project is managed by the Institute for Digital Archeology, a joint venture by Harvard University, the University of Oxford and Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

Once reconstructed, the arch will stand nearly six meters, but the people behind this project believe they can recreate more than just one ruin which has been destroyed by ISIL.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-04-10

It reminds me of a plaque I read at one of the Angkor Wat ruins near Siem Riep Cambodia. After Khmer Rouge dismantled a large complex there, and dumped the carved stones nearby, the long process of re-building was begun years later. It was lead by French specialists. On the plaque it said it was the largest 3-D jigsaw puzzle in the world. I don't believe in maintaining all the world's ancient structures, but certainly the arch at Palmyra is very special and attractive. I applaud its rebuilding.

From another perspective, it's a bit like sand castles. We love them, but know they're transitory. Life too is transitory as are all things built by people. I can revel in life in its myriad manifestations while concurrently sense awe its destruction - knowing new life will always spring forth. A spiny caterpillar can be as fascinating as a Roman arch built from stones hewn centuries ago.

I think one of the main points in rebuilding is in showing a certain sect that they will in the end be the losers.

Really encouraging News. Quite cheered me up!

It reminds me of a plaque I read at one of the Angkor Wat ruins near Siem Riep Cambodia. After Khmer Rouge dismantled a large complex there, and dumped the carved stones nearby, the long process of re-building was begun years later. It was lead by French specialists. On the plaque it said it was the largest 3-D jigsaw puzzle in the world. I don't believe in maintaining all the world's ancient structures, but certainly the arch at Palmyra is very special and attractive. I applaud its rebuilding.

From another perspective, it's a bit like sand castles. We love them, but know they're transitory. Life too is transitory as are all things built by people. I can revel in life in its myriad manifestations while concurrently sense awe its destruction - knowing new life will always spring forth. A spiny caterpillar can be as fascinating as a Roman arch built from stones hewn centuries ago.

In some countries there are few historical buildings but where we do have them, we have an obligation to maintain them for future generations. If we allow such buildings to be destroyed or fall into a state where they cannot be viewed we are being unfair to our children.

Not really sure why anyone would go to Palmyra to view a replica of the arch.