Palmyra museum to be rebuilt with international support - As-salamu alaykum
As-salamu alaykum. The Palmyra archaeological museum, badly damaged during the Syrian conflict, is set to be restored with funding from an international Swiss-based foundation, its director said. The site suffered major losses in 2015 when extremist forces destroyed the Temple of Bel and other monuments and killed the site's head of antiquities. Palmyra also endured air strikes during the war, and many residents of the nearby town fled and have not yet returned.
The foundation's executive director said they are prepared to rehabilitate the museum, recover its collection and begin restoring parts of the site, including the guesthouse and the footbridge to the fortress. The guesthouse will host archaeologists working on the 2,000-year-old site. No final cost was given yet.
Right now there are no visitor facilities, though a few pilgrims and tourists still visit what was once one of Syria’s most visited heritage sites. Recent images show the museum’s roof collapsed, a broken Palmyrene sarcophagus and its plaque hanging at an angle. The footbridge remains badly damaged and unsafe.
Final rebuilding costs will be worked out once a museum operator is chosen and plans are agreed with the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums. Much of the old building is expected to remain, with large parts modernised. The foundation recently announced a two-year programme to protect Syrian heritage sites worth $5 million, covering Palmyra and other important sites such as the Crac des Chevaliers and locations in Damascus and Aleppo.
One expert said Palmyra will be a flagship project for the coming years. The foundation, which helps protect heritage in conflict and post-conflict areas, is funded by several nations and private donors. It also helped organise early post-war meetings on Palmyra with international heritage bodies and Syrian authorities.
A conference in Lausanne gathered experts and institutions to plan the next steps. Conservators estimate the museum restoration and artefact protection could take up to three years. They stressed the museum should also serve the local community as a place to gather and host events, and that priority must be given to securing the remaining monuments before full restoration.
Despite the damage, visitors still find the site impressive because of its scale. One speaker compared Palmyra’s loss to visiting a great city missing its most famous landmarks: you can still walk the streets, but the sense of loss is real.
Efforts are also underway to have Palmyra removed from the list of World Heritage in Danger, a move that would recognise improved prospects and could open doors to more funding. Officials said removing the site from that list would signal a new, more hopeful chapter.
May Allah make these efforts successful and protect our shared heritage.
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