Restoration of Palmyra’s Arch of Triumph will be implemented in three stages: Russian rock industry association

MOSCOW, (ST)- The restoration works for the Arch of Triumph in the historical Syrian city of Palmyra will be implemented in three successive stages, according to “Anastasia Volodarskaya”, the executive director of a Russian Association for rock cutting and building stones industry.

 The General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums announced on Friday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of the Russian Stone Industry seeking the assistance of Russian experts and specialists to restore the Arch of Triumph in Palmyra, which was destroyed by “Daesh terrorist organization in October 2015.

In a statement to journalists, Volodarskaya said that the restoration project is divided into three successive stages; the first starts with documenting the current situation of the arch, the second includes examining the fragmentation caused to the arch and its elements using up-to-date 3D techniques and the third includes restoration works.

 Palmyra’s Arch of Triumph was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus between the years 193 and 211 AD. It is located at the beginning of the Street of the Colonnade. Its ruins have been one of the main attractions of Palmyra until Daesh destroyed it. The arch was decorated with ornate stone carvings, including reliefs depicting plants or geometrical designs.

Hamda Mustafa