Experts push to restore Syria’s heritage sites after more than a decade of civil war

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Experts are working to restore Syria’s war-ravaged heritage sites, hoping to revive tourism and boost the economy after nearly 14 years of conflict.
Key sites like Palmyra and Crac des Chevaliers, once thriving landmarks, remain damaged but are seeing a return of local tourists.

About Palmyra:

One of Syria’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Palmyra was once a key hub to the ancient Silk Road network linking the Roman and Parthian empires to Asia.
Located in the Syrian desert, it is renowned for its 2,000-year-old Roman-era ruins. It is now marked by shattered columns and damaged temples.
Before the war, Palmyra attracted around 1,50,000 tourists monthly and was a major tourist destination in Syria. It was known as the “Bride of the Desert” and played a crucial role in revitalizing the steppe region.
In the 3rd century, Palmyra was the capital of an Arab client state of the Roman Empire, led by Queen Zenobia, who briefly established an independent kingdom.
In recent times, the area was infamous for Tadmur Prison, where opponents of the Assad regime were reportedly tortured. The prison was later destroyed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
IS militants later destroyed Palmyra’s historic temples of Bel and Baalshamin and the Arch of Triumph, viewing them as monuments to idolatry.

The Crac des Chevaliers:

The Crac des Chevaliers, a medieval castle located near the town of Al-Husn, is another key cultural heritage site in Syria.
Originally built by the Romans and later expanded in the medieval period, the castle has suffered significant damage due to the conflict. Airstrikes in 2014 destroyed much of the central courtyard and its ornate columns.