cultural sites damaged by ISIS

The Islamic state group ISIS(Islamic state of Iraq and syria)destroyed and damaged many historical site during their war. Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria continue their war on region's cultural heritage attacking historical site with bulldozers  and explosives. ISIS controls the large part of Iraq and Syria. There's little to stop its militants from plundering and destroying sites under their control

In a region know as the cradle of civilization. The group claims the destruction of ancient site relegiously motivated motivated;its militants targeted well- know ancient sites alongwith the  graves and shrines belonging to other Muslim sects, citing idol worship to justify their action deliberate destruction and theft of cultural heritage has been condected by ISIL since 2014 in Iraq and Syria and to a lesser extent to libya.

A guide to  cultural site that ISIS has destroyed and damaged so far:

• Palmira: 
  
  
  Palmyra or palmira is an UNESCO World heritage site. It also called "pearls of the desert". Palmyra famous for its well known greco-roman ruins.
• In 3rd century AD Palmyra had become a prosperous regional center.it reached the apex of its power in 260s , when the Palmyra king odaenathus defeated Persian emperor shapur first.
  
• In 273 AD , Roman emperor Aurelian destroyed the city, which was later restored by Diocletian at a reduced size. The Palmyrenes converted to Christianity during the fourth century and after Islam.
• Before 273AD, Palmyra enjoyed autonomy and was attached to Roman Providence of Syria.
  

• The city grew wealthy from trade caravans,the palmyrenes became renowned as merchants who established colonies along silk route and operated throughout the Roman empire.

•   It contains monument ruins of great city, once one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world.
• Art and architectural, from the 1st and 2nd centuries, combine greco- roman techniques with local tradition and Persian influence .
• More then about 160000 tourists visited Palmyra every year before the Syrian conflict.
  

   In 2013,following 2011 outbreak of the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS,it was added to the list of endangered world heritage sites.
                      The national museum of Damascus was totally destroyed by ISIS and 2000 years old limestone lion of Al- lat statue, a 15 ton piece sculpture that had been broken into piece sculpture that had been broken into pieces by ISIS. Many statues which are totally destroyed by ISIS was restored by an Italian experts,who reconstructed these statue by using 3-d printing and nylon powder. The ISIS group destroyed such ancient wonders as the temple of Bel , the temple of Baal shamin, the arch of triumph,and columns in the valley of the tombs. 
        

Mar Elian Monastery :

UNESCO strongly condemns the destruction of Mr Elian Monastery located in syrian town of al-Qaryatayn. The monestry is a major pilgrimage site in Syria.for Christian community, with yearly festivals in honour of saint Elian drawing thousands of visitors.it was an important pilgrimage site and sheltered hundreds of Syrian Christians. Bulldozers were reportedly used to topple its walls, and ISIS posted pictures of the destruction on Twitter.

Dura-Europs:-

it is located near the village of salhiye in today's syria In 113 BC, Parthians conquered the city, and held it, with one brief Roman intermission (114 AD), until 165 AD.It was looted and mostly destroyed between 2011 and 2014 by the islam ic state  during the Syrian civil war. it was founded in 303 BC with the name Dura by Seleucus Necator on the intersection of an east-west trade route and the trade route along the Euphrates.
Mari: An ancient site of bronze age located on the western bank of the Euphrates river near Syria's border with Iraq. Isis destroyed this historical site very badly, severely looted, satellite imagery shows over 1,200 pits dug into once- intact site.
Large number of paintings and artifacts were discovered when archaeological digs began in 1930.
Hatra :

Isis militants captured this UNESCO World heritage site in year 2014.Is bulldozed many ancient sculpture, artifacts and looted pre- Islamic sites .Hatra, located 110km south- west of Mosul,was a very important religious centre of parthian empire in 1st and 3rd AD.The remains of the city , especially the temples where Hellenistic and roman architecture blend with eastern decorative features, attest to the greatness of its civilization.
Mosul museum and libraries:

Mosul's libraries and universities were began to looted and destroyed completely by ISIS. Many old hand written manuscript were stolen,and thousand of books are disappeared. Mosul's central public library was destroyed by explosives and Mosul's university's library was burned.
Mosque of prophet yunus:

the mosque was built by ayyubids in 1226 CE and  is located in a town called halhul, north ofhebron. It is built on mount nabi yunus , the highest peak in the westBank, palestine.mosque of prophet yunus was destroyed by ISIS and levant after they destroyed and looted the graves of prophet yunus.
ISIS declaring "the mosque had become the place of apostasy,not prayer". When ISIS militants destroyed the mosque , explosion damaged nearby homes.ISIS also destroyed the 1400 years old imam yahya abul qusim mosque in Mosul.

ISIS aims to create an Islamic state called a caliphate across Iraq,Syria and beyond.