SAEDNEWS: Syria and Iraq have been engulfed in civil wars and terrorist attacks in recent years. Some of the ancient sites in these countries have been destroyed forever. Below, you can see images of these lost treasures.
According to the History and Culture Service of Saed News, citing Karnaval, war is the most terrifying event humanity has repeatedly witnessed throughout history—a catastrophe whose damage may never be repaired. Perhaps “irreparable” is the most fitting word to describe the consequences of war. After all, can a lost human life ever be restored? Can a child’s fears, born not of dolls but of devastation, ever be undone? And there are countless more such questions…
In recent years, Syria and Iraq have been engulfed in civil war and terrorist attacks. Beyond political news and human tragedies, a significant part of history is disappearing—history now being rewritten in the colors of war. Countless archaeological treasures in these countries have been destroyed, erasing physical links to civilizations that thrived thousands of years ago. What once displayed the grandeur of ancient societies is now reduced to mere piles of rubble. Join us on a sorrowful journey through Syria and Iraq as we explore the historic sites lost forever to conflict.
Perhaps the most historically significant and beautiful site destroyed during the Syrian war is the 4,000-year-old city of Palmyra, located in Homs Province. Palmyra was home to Arameans, Amorites, Arabs, and a small Jewish community. Known as the “Pearl of the Desert” for its beauty, it once shone on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Much of Palmyra dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, and it was a major cultural hub in the ancient world, a center of art and architecture blending Greek, Roman, local traditions, and influences from ancient Persia. Today, however, little remains of its splendor. Of the thousands of imposing columns that withstood the passage of time, only a few stand, and the city no longer welcomes travelers. The majesty of Palmyra now lies buried beneath rubble.
The Great Mosque of Aleppo, the city’s largest and oldest mosque, traces its current structure to the 11th–14th centuries, built atop land that once housed a Catholic cemetery. Despite its centuries of history, it suffered irreparable damage in 2013. The mosque’s iconic minaret, constructed in 1090, was destroyed by gunfire. The Syrian National Coalition condemned the destruction as a crime against human civilization.
The waterwheels of Hama are among the last of their kind in the world, with only 17 remaining. The Hama wheel, spanning 20 meters, is the largest. Situated on the Orontes River, it was once a globally renowned archaeological marvel. Its mechanism is unique, drawing mechanical power not from any engine but—according to archaeologists—from animals. Evidence suggests these waterwheels were built during the Byzantine period. In 2014, several shells struck the site, destroying it entirely.
The historic Al-Madina Souq, or Aleppo Souq, lies in the city center and was once the world’s largest covered market, stretching 13 kilometers through narrow, winding alleyways. Historically, it was a hub for luxury imports like raw Iranian silk, Indian spices, and more, while locals came to buy fine wool, agricultural goods, and other essentials. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, the market now lies in ruins. Much of it was destroyed on September 25, 2012, leaving only remnants of the bustling marketplace that once thrived there.
