What is the Future of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra?

September 2024 | Vol. 12.9

By Maamoun Abdulkarim and Jacques Seigne

During the summer of 2015, ISIS terrorists detonated explosives within the Sanctuary of Bel, completely destroying the cella. The greatest damage was to the temple in the center of the courtyard. The four walls of the cella collapsed as a result of a large explosion, as did the portico’s columns, with some fragmenting. 

The overall destruction wrought by ISIS while it was in control of Palmyra in 2015 and again in 2016 had a disastrous effect on the World Heritage Site and its local residential community. The tragedy took two forms: firstly, in the physical damage to the archaeological and architectural fabric of the ancient city of Palmyra, and secondly, through the disruption of civic society as the community of more than 40,000 fled from the adjacent modern town of Tadmor. It is now the responsibility of the national authorities, with the assistance of international partners, to establish a plan to reunite the local population with their city so that they can help in the rehabilitation of the monuments that were damaged or destroyed during the war.

The Temple of Bel after its destruction by ISIS. Photo by Y. Ubleman and H. Saad, courtesy of Iconem and DGAM.

Any substantive action to restore the monuments in Palmyra cannot realistically take place until the city’s citizens have returned. This community is crucial to the success and sustainability of any strategic planning, not only because they are a source of labor and practical expertise, but also because of their collective memory and ownership of the site; they are a part of its story. Their contribution will be necessary for rebuilding Palmyra’s infrastructure and services, and they will play a fundamental role in reviving the Palmyrene oasis, particularly through maintaining the water system and palm and olive trees that have always given life to the settlement.

Palmyra was liberated in 2017, but due to Syria’s challenging economic and political situation, there have been no national initiatives to address the site’s conservation and social needs. Given the current situation in Syria, the residents’ return will be far from easy, but not impossible. Aside from a return of the local population, the rehabilitation of the Temple of Bel and the wider site will require the assistance of many experts in the field of historic building restoration, working under the guidance of the national archaeological authorities, UNESCO, and its partners such as ICOMOS (The International Council on Monuments and Sites) and ICCROM (The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property). Participation of the international scientific community will not only ensure a wide range of conservation expertise but will also draw on historical precedents for the restoration of cultural heritage after war and conflict, including the experience of several European cities such as Berlin, Dresden, and Warsaw. Sadly, due to the current national and global situation, no international initiatives are in the pipeline.

The Façade of the Cella of the Temple of Bel before its destruction. Photo taken in 2011 by M. Abdulkarim.

Back of the Cella of the Temple of Bel in 2011, including the surviving part of the portico, before its destruction in 2015. Photo taken in 2011 by M. Abdulkarim.

Interior of the Cella of the Temple of Bel, Palmyra. Photo taken in 2004 by Gianfranco Gazzetti / GAR, CC By-SA. Cropped and adjusted for color.

In the name of an obscure and dubious ideology, ISIS rendered a unique witness of human achievement into rubble. We estimate only 20% of the Temple of Bel’s stonework remained whole and unbroken. So what should be done? Its reconstruction, envisaged by some, is neither urgent nor a necessity, if indeed it is desirable.

The nature of the destroyed architectural elements inside the temple. Photo taken in 2016 by M. Abdulkarim.

The Temple was never fixed in time but evolved over the centuries. Before the blast, it had undergone many alterations. From a 1st century C.E. place of worship, itself modified during and after initial construction, it was later looted by the Roman army, transformed into a church, and then adapted as a mosque before becoming the focus of admiring tourists from across the world. Each century has added to or subtracted from its majestic edifice, leaving different marks of positive ownership or neglect. Today’s temple is, therefore, the sum of all these parts, bearing the stories of conception, evolution, and abandonment on its stones and engraved on its walls. The marks left in August 2015 by fundamentalist extremists, incomprehensible and unforgivable as they appear to us, are only another stage in the life of an exceptional, unique monument. It is too early to speak of restoration, even less of a comprehensive anastylosis made impossible by the extent of the destruction.

Should we leave it in its current state, as a witness to the tragic events experienced by Palmyra and the Middle East at the beginning of the 21st century? The authors answer an emphatic “no,” and for two reasons. First, we have a duty to secure the upstanding remains of the monument, ensuring that the damage wrought by the explosion does not lead to further collapse. We need to make sure these surviving remnants are safe and secure. Second, we also need to record, gather, and conserve the fragments of the temple that were scattered by the blast. The risk of not doing so is to lose those pieces to robbery, to natural processes of erosion, or to unwitting damage.

The door of the cella miraculously survived the explosions set by ISIS. Photo taken by M.Abdulkarim in 2016.

Ensuring the future stability of the monumental portal of the cella, so far miraculously preserved, urgently requires the installation of shoring to prevent collapse. In turn, the assembly of such temporary support must be preceded by the archaeological clearance of rubble to ensure that it is properly anchored and effective. Furthermore, the cella’s exceptional decor should be protected from the impact of poor weather and theft. Many decorative elements that can be seen among the rubble are too fragmented and can only be partially reconstituted rather than reintegrated into the monument, but all must be retained and conserved as witnesses to the extraordinary survival of ancient architecture. Partial excavation is therefore a necessity and should be implemented alongside the rapid reconstruction of a site museum, its safe storage area, and restoration workshops.

Possible future presentation of the Temple of Bel remains. Computer-aided image by J. Seigne and N. Nony, 2023.

Finally, if the restoration of the Temple of Bel as it was before 2015 is not possible or is deemed inappropriate, there remains a fundamental need to address the site’s current ruinous state. Recording, cleaning, salvaging, and storing archaeological remains are the minimum actions demanded by this World Heritage Site. Left as it is, many broken architectural elements would decay or disappear over time due to human and environmental factors. The future preservation of Palmyra and the Temple of Bel is a responsibility shared among citizens, organizations, and governmental bodies after the devastating destruction of ISIS’s occupation. But national efforts should be supported by the international community. This globally significant place is a part of our legacy. It illuminates the region’s cultural richness and tells the story of past greatness and recent tragedy. It is a global icon, recognized not simply as a magnificent, ancient city, but also as a symbol of humankind’s destructive actions during war and conflict. As such, the world, and its future generations, are watching to see what will happen next. Palmyra has witnessed the worst of times — the authors’ plea is for global cooperation and a shared ambition to protect the Temple of Bel and the site of Palmyra, ensuring the return of a far more positive narrative. Excavating now-exposed areas of the Temple of Bel precinct could provide valuable insights about the site’s Bronze Age and Iron Age history, which to this point remains shrouded in mystery. The generation of such knowledge may serve as a partial antidote to the tragedy wrought by ISIS.

Maamoun Abdulkarim is Professor in the Department of History at the University of Sharjah.

Jacques Seigne is Emeritus Research Director at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS).

Their article, “The Future of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra after its Destruction”, recently appeared in the Bulletin of the American Society for Overseas Research.

How to cite this article:

Abdulkarim, M. and J. Seigne. 2024. “What is the Future of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra?” The Ancient Near East Today 12.9. Accessed at: https://anetoday.org/palmyra-temple-of-bel/.