In Syria, the lion of Palmyra, a new victim of Daesh

HERITAGE. The information has not yet been confirmed, but citing "local sources", the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Syria fears that the religious fanatics of DAESH have destroyed a new archaeological piece. The piece in question is a statue of 3.5 meters and weighing 15 tons. It represents a lion, its mouth ajar, an antelope between its paws. The limestone statue dated to the 1st BC was discovered in very poor condition in 1977 by a Polish archaeological mission conducted in the Al-Lat temple. A goddess worshiped in pre-Islamic times. The statue underwent restoration (as can be seen in the image opposite) before being exhibited in front of the Palmyra Museum. When the fighting got closer, the statue was moved to the lobby of the museum and covered with metal casing and sandbags to protect it in the event of a bombardment. "We never imagined that ISIS (DAECH) would come to the city to destroy it" , Maamoun Abdelkarim told AFP,

the Director General of the Department of Antiquities and Museums of Syria. The archaeological organization recalls in a press release that no member of its team has been able, for the moment, to confirm this information and therefore hopes that it is erroneous. "However, given ISIS's (DAECH) record of destruction and looting on other cities historic events in northern Iraq, we view this alert as a bad omen , the statement said. But we are counting on local communities and personalities to play an effective role in the preservation of the ancient city and the museum. We hope they can stand up to these fanatical groups, who only believe in murder, theft and destruction ".