Islamic extremists demolished the ziggurat built in the Assyrian empire 2,900 years ago.
The base of a temple in Nimrud, the former capital of ancient Assyria, was one of the highest surviving buildings of that period. Only the Egyptian pyramids were higher than the ruined ziggurat. The ancient structure was bulldozed and pushed into the ancient bed of the Tigris river.
Scientists received sad news about the destruction of the cultural heritage from Iraqi sources in September, but they were asked not to disclose the information. Now news about another act of vandalism by ISIS has been confirmed by satellite images.
The ziggurat in Nimrud was a conical-shaped manmade hill built by king of Assyria Ashurnasirpal II (883-859BC). It was faced with baked mud bricks, some of which were inscribed. The ziggurat was the only remains of the temple destroyed long ago. In April 2015, ISIS destroyed the northwest palace of Ashurnasirpal II, sledgehammering and drilling magnificent statues and then blowing up the remains.
The Nimrud area became a combat zone last week. According to preliminary information, battles didn’t further damage the town’s historic and cultural heritage. The town is now controlled by government forces.
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