In memory of Palmyra

When I travelled through Syria in mid-2010, I was stunned by the ancient city of Palmyra. I wandered around the preserved ruins, trying to imagine times past.

Today, this priceless archeological site is being systematically destroyed by ISIL, an immeasurable loss to Syria, and to humanity as a whole. Within the last 24 hours, it has come to light that the beautiful Temple of Bel has been reduced to rubble.

This temple stood through the lifetime of Jesus, the fall of the Roman Empire, the birth of Muhammad, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, two world wars. Its foundations were laid in 32BC. Now, in 2015, a group of ignorant thugs have destroyed over 2000 years of history. Utterly inconceivable, and heartbreaking.

I share these photos in memory of Palmyra.