By: Little Traveler
The horror of war reveals the darkest side of humanity. The hatred between ethnic groups and the resulting massacres are hard to forget. Last year, the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra suffered unprecedented destruction of its cultural relics by the extremist group Islamic State (IS), including a 2,000-year-old lion statue, temples, and the Arch of Triumph.
Before being ravaged by war, the ancient city of Palmyra was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracted 150,000 visitors annually. But after IS’s destruction, only an arch remained of the entire ancient city. Their goal in blowing up the temples was to erase the historical memory predating the spread of Islam.
Researchers at the Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA) at the University of Oxford in the UK believed this arch would soon be destroyed as well. They collected about 1 million 3D photos of the arch and used 3D printing technology with cement-based materials to reconstruct the Arch of Triumph. The arch was divided into several parts, manufactured separately in Shanghai and Italy, and then assembled like building blocks in London’s Trafalgar Square.
The finished product is highly realistic — IDA Director Roger Michel even said it’s hard to tell the difference compared to the original ruins.
This showcases the significant impact that 3D high-tech can have on history. Of course, what we hope most is world peace without war.
Image source: Getty Images