Located in the Syrian city of Palmyra. The museum’s collections comprise historical artifacts dating primarily from the 2nd and 3rd century AD, a golden age for this desert caravan city, and provide significant insight into the religious and commercial life of the time. Also on display are examples of a decorative style unique to Palmyra in which both Classical and Sassanian elements were mixed with local artistic traditions. The historical city and museum were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.
Source: Palmyra Archaeological Museum | Virtual Museum Of Syria
⚠ Alert
The museum was trashed and some of its best-known artifacts and statues were smashed by the militants, who cut off the heads and hands of statues and demolished others. Among the best-known statues destroyed was the famous Lion of Allat, a 2000-year-old statue which previously greeted visitors and tourists outside the Palmyra museum. The statue, which used to adorn the temple of Allat, a pre-Islamic goddess in Palmyra, was defaced by IS militants and knocked over by bulldozers.
The museum was trashed and some of its best-known artifacts and statues were smashed by the militants, who cut off the heads and hands of statues and demolished others. Among the best-known statues destroyed was the famous Lion of Allat, a 2000-year-old statue which previously greeted visitors and tourists outside the Palmyra museum. The statue, which used to adorn the temple of Allat, a pre-Islamic goddess in Palmyra, was defaced by IS militants and knocked over by bulldozers.
The statue of Al-lāt (equated with Athena) found in its temple (destroyed in 2015)
Source: Palmyra Archaeological Museum | Virtual Museum Of Syria