A replica of the famous Palmyra arch, which dated back to the 3rd century AD and was destroyed by Daesh - also known as ISIL - last year, has been unveiled in London's Trafalgar Square.





The project���commissioned by�Oxford and Harvard�Universities���used state of�the art 3D technology to�map the�arch's dimensions�from thousands of�images, before�master craftsmen carved the 20ft replica from�Egyptian marble.


Prior to�the outbreak of�conflict in�Syria in�early 2011, the site of�Palmyra was one of�the most popular tourist destinations in�the Middle East. Only a single arch of�the ancient ruins of�the Temple of�Bel remained after�Daesh terrorists destroyed it in�September last year.

Sputnik caught up�with Londoners in�Trafalgar Square to�find out�their reactions to�the newly resurrected Arch of�Triumph:
"I came here [to Trafalgar Square] today just to�see this wonderful arch, and it gives me the willies to�stand in�front of�it now. It's crazy to�think what people can do: this arch is actually a pile of�rubble in�Syria, but�then again it's here in�London, beautiful as�it used to�be," said Amid,�46.


"I like�it..�it�gives you hope, you know? Palmyra was under�the Islamic State's control but�now it's more or less free, and we are rebuilding all the�things they destroyed there,"

said Laura, 31.

"I don't think it [the arch] really�suits this�square�� I mean the colors and the architecture of�Trafalgar Square�� but�it's still important to�raise awareness of�what's going on�in Syria. It could be the first step to�finally find a solution to�the awful situation there, and to�the migration crisis,"�Helen, 66 commented.
"I feel that the technology aspect is interesting: they actually printed�this using old pictures. Apart from�the Syrian war, it's just amazing how this could be used in�the future, for�tourism and stuff like�that," said Robert, 25.


The project has given hope to�those who want to�see the ancient ruins rebuilt, and�new�technology�promises to�make that possible.� The project's designer Giacomo�Massari�said in�an interview with�Euronews:

"We sometimes think about�if we were in�the position of�the Syrian people��We would like�to have this. Our monuments, as�Italians, also are very important for�us these kinds�of monuments and the relation that we have with�our place."

The construction of�the resurrected �Arch of�Triumph' coincides with�World Heritage Week, and�is�later�set to�travel�on�to New York, Dubai�and�eventually�Syria.
By Sputnik