Syria's Palmyra arch, destroyed by ISIS, recreated in London
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LONDON - A 2,000-year-old triumphal arch destroyed by the Islamic State group in Syria has risen again -- in replica -- in London's Trafalgar Square.
The Arch of Triumph in Palmyra formed part of one of the world's most extensive ancient archaeological sites. The ancient city, a UNESCO world heritage site, was among Syria's main tourist attractions before the civil war erupted in 2011.
ISIS militants overran Palmyra in May 2015, demolishing Roman-era monuments including the archway and two large temples dating back more than 1,800 years -- and posting videos of their destruction online. Syrian government forces retook the city last month and authorities have begun assessing the damage to its ancient monuments.
Built under the Roman emperor Septimius Severus between A.D. 193 and A.D. 211, the arch towered over the colonnaded streets of the ancient city, which linked the Roman Empire to Persia.
The six-meter (20-foot) Egyptian marble replica -- about two-thirds the size of the original -- was created by the Institute for Digital Archaeology from photographs of the original site using 3-D imaging technology and computer-aided carving tools.
