The Guardian Spirit of Palmyra, Khaled Al-As’aad

ST_ She was really distressed by the scene of her father’s execution by ISIS, yet she showed patience and dignity. Her name is Zenobia, a small modern queen of a new Palmyra. She is the eldest daughter of Khaled Al-Asa’ad named after the well-known Palmyrene queen. Zenobia declared to Syriatimes “The beheading scene was very painful and tragic, yet a necessary element in the documentation process of ISIS crimes against a devoted guru of Archeology and moreover against human world heritage”. “His loss is not only, a father’s loss, it is a loss for all Syrians and all experts in academia and humanity.” She acknowledged with tears.

The 18th of August marks a very distressing occasion for all Syrians; yet a source of pride; in commemoration of Mr. Khaled Al-Asa’ad assassination; the Arabic Cultural Center of Abou Roumani hosted the occasion along with Mada Cultural Project, through displaying a documentary entitled “Palmyra Admirer”, directed by Ghassan Shmit, on Khaled Al-Asa’ad documenting his life and death, but most significantly his passion for his beloved Palmyra.

The Syrian archaeologist, who held the position of head of antiquities at the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for over 40 years;  was publicly beheaded by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on 18 August 2015, at the age of eighty three.

Al-Asa’ad was born in Palmyra in 1932, and lived there most of his life. He held a diploma in history and was educated at the University of Damascus.  Al-Asa’ad was father to eleven children: six sons and five daughters.

He worked with American, Polish, German, French and Swiss archaeological missions.  He was also fluent in Aramaic and regularly translated texts until 2011. He has many publications concerning Palmyra and queen Zenobia, e.g. Nouvelles découvertes archéologiques en Syrie [New archaeological discoveries in Syria] (in French, 1980), Palmyra and the Aramaeans. ARAM periodical. 7. Oxford: The ARAM Society for Syro-Mesopotamian Studies (1995).

He was as well, awarded a number of titles like Order of Civil Merit in 2015, a Syrian decoration. Outside Syria he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 1998. On 17 October 2015, the President of Italy inaugurated the rehabilitated Arsenali della Repubblica in Pisa which was renamed after Al-Asa’ad.

Moreover, many cultural sites and museums in the world flew flags at half-mast, after his tragic murder by ISIS.

The occasion which was in honor of the martyr Khaled Al-asa’ad, transformed to become a moment of grief sharing with his family members who were among the attendance.  A moment of deep emotions and reflection over the resemblance of Palmyra, Zenobia and Khaled Al-Asa’ad common fatal death. The spirit of Khaled Al-Asa’ad will eternally guard Palmyra, his beloved city.

Interviewed and Edited by: Lama Alhassanieh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JlMuST7jG0