Two defaced busts from the second and third century are displayed inside the Colosseum in Rome, along with other reproduced artifacts that were damaged by the Islamic State.
Although the fighting in Syria and Iraq has not ceased, efforts are already being made to repair (and even rebuild) important artifacts and archaeological sites that have been damaged and destroyed by the Islamic State. Thanks to improved technologies in high definition photography, 3D scanning, and 3D printing, historians, archaeologists, and craftsmen are hopeful that they can restore and rebuild some of what has been lost in war.
Already there are artifacts that have been recreated or restored, some of which are on display at the Colosseum as part of an exhibition, “Rising From Destruction: Ebla, Nimrud, Palmyra.”
This is not the first attempt to resurrect ancient art from the ashes of war.
Last month, a replica of an ancient arch from Palmyra, destroyed a year ago, was erected in City Hall Park in New York. That model was made using 3-D scanning, but it is smaller than the original, and less finished, some officials here suggested.
The atrocious murders aside, I think ISIS destroying these types of artifacts is one of the greatest threats to humanity that they pose. The attempts to destroy culture is the root of the ISIS agenda; if you can destroy art, literature, and all manner of cultural items, you effectively erase humanity. I’m glad to see mesures taken to restore history.
If you can destroy or change a culture you can destroy or change a people. I think it is very interesting that the broken originals are being displayed next to replicas. It shows determination to cling to cultural heritage, even if it is under attack. Culture is within people, not artifacts.