Restoration Project of Palmyra Arch in Syria Suspended, Says Hermitage Director

Specialists from St. Petersburg have suspended the restoration project of the Triumphal Arch in Palmyra, Syria, as reported by Mikhail Piotrovsky, the director of the Hermitage Museum.

"There are computer models, and work has begun to prepare the area for the arch's restoration. We recently discussed financing issues; however, the situation in Syria is such that the area of Palmyra is being bombarded. Therefore, we have suspended it for now. A colossal amount of work has already been done, and the project itself is modern," he stated.

Piotrovsky also expressed concern regarding the fate of other ancient monuments in Syria. "There is now a danger to other monuments in Syria—not only pagan but also Christian. The expedition team of the Institute of Material Culture has documented numerous Christian monuments; Syria is the cradle of Christianity," highlighted the Hermitage director.

It is worth mentioning that the Triumphal Arch dates back to the 3rd century AD, is a symbol of Syria, and is the most famous architectural structure in Palmyra. It was blown up in May 2015 by militants from the Islamic State group. After the explosion, only the external columns of the 1800-year-old arch remain.