The fighting in the Middle East has claimed countless lives, and each day, the numbers grow even higher. Foreign and domestic soldiers, civilians, and hostages have all had their lives taken or changed as a result of all the conflicts, and it's virtually impossible to turn on the news without hearing of yet another tragedy abroad. But these wars haven't just claimed lives — they've also erased important artifacts from our world's history.
It's hard to imagine how we would react if treasured monuments from our nation's history were destroyed. These structures contain so much history, and this incredible time capsule under the Washington Monument just proves it. However, people all across the Middle East are experiencing the destruction of some of their countries' most ancient buildings that have stood for thousands of years… all thanks to the senseless violence that is occurring there. These treasures may not glitter as much as all this gold that was found in a ship that sank in 1715, but they contain more history than any textbook you'll ever find.
Take a look at all these incredible historic structures in the Middle East that have either been damaged or completely destroyed thanks to all the fighting there. Even though they're not people, their destruction is a terrible tragedy for everyone whose lives had been affected by them and all the children of the future who will only be able to know them through old photographs.
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1. The Buddhas of Bamiyan (Afghanistan)
The Buddhas that were carved out of sandstone over 1,500 years ago had survived just about everything up until they were destroyed by the Taliban in the early 2000's for being "idolatrous." The two structures were some of the tallest Buddhas in the world, standing at 174 and 115 feet, and there have since been efforts to rebuild them.
2. Bosra (Syria)
Long ago, this was the Arabian capital of the Roman empire. Although it is now filled with ruins, Bosra was inhabited for 2,500 years, and its main attraction was the massive theater that sits in the center of the city. While not completely destroyed, the town has been significantly damaged thanks to mortar shelling.
3. Nimrud (Iraq)
This ancient Assyrian city was home to statues, jewels, and monuments before it was destroyed by looting around 2003. Since then, many of the pieces that were stolen from the site have been relocated to museums around the world so they can be better protected.
4. Khaled Ibn Al-Waleed Mosque (Syria)
This beautiful mosque is one of the most famous in Syria both for its design and for its role as a hub in the battle of Homs. Sadly, a good portion of the mosque's interior has been burned, and its mausoleum has been completely destroyed.
5. Cyrene (Libya)
Named for the Greek huntress who was married to Apollo, this ancient Greek city was established in 630 BC, and for ages, they were the best preserved ruins of the time period. But since Libya's revolution began, large parts of Cyrene have been demolished by property developers.
6. Crac des Chevaliers (Syria)
This castle dates all the way back to the 11th century and became a World Heritage Site in 2006 after centuries and centuries of surviving just about anything you could throw at it. But in 2013, that all changed when its walls were damaged by airstrikes from the regime due to the rebels positioning themselves within the building.
7. Citadel of Aleppo (Syria)
This citadel has been around to see at least four millennia, and it barely looks any different from how it did in the 16th century. The recent conflict in the country has made the citadel a popular place to fight, and as a result, multiple buildings have been completely destroyed in the past few years.
8. The Great Mosque of Samarra (Iraq)
This unique mosque features a 170-foot minaret called the Malwiya Tower, which contains ramps that spiral upwards that worshippers can climb. But in 2005, a bombing destroyed the top of the minaret and surrounding walls.
9. Palmyra (Syria)
This incredible place has been around since the BC era, and its architecture is considered some of the best of the time. The militant group ISIS is now in control of Palmyra, and they've already destroyed a few important shrines in the city.
10. Norias of Hama (Syria)
At over 65 feet in diameter, these wheels are massive structures designed for an irrigation system in the 5th century. Seventeen of them somehow managed to last to the present day, but fighters in the Syrian conflict burned several of them in 2014.
11. Armenian Genocide Museum (Syria)
Between 1915 and 1923, up to 1.5 million people were killed as a result of the Armenian Genocide. The museum served as a way to memorialize the victims and included a church. ISIS destroyed the beautiful memorial in 2014.
12. Quaid e Azam Residency (Pakistan)
This building was once the home of Pakistan's first governor general, and it was built over 120 years ago. In 2013, a separatist group attacked the wooden structure with rockets, and although it was destroyed, a new building is in the process of being constructed on the site.
13. Old Beirut (Lebanon)
Once called "the Paris of the Middle East," this city full of historic buildings is now a shadow of its former self thanks to various wars and urban development. Nowadays, only a third of the 1,200 original buildings still stand where they once were.
14. Museum of Islamic Art (Egypt)
This impressive museum was first built in 1881 and eventually grew to hold over 100,000 pieces of art that span the entire history of Islam. Recently, the Cairo museum spent eight years undergoing millions of dollars' worth of renovations, but right as it opened again, a nearby car bomb severely damaged the building and forced it to close once more.
15. Bridge of Deir ez-Zor (Syria)
Built over the Euphrates River, this French bridge was once a great spot for pedestrians and sight-seers alike. It was recently destroyed by shelling due to its key role as a supply line for those fighting in Syria.
16. Old City, Sanaa (Yemen)
This location has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986… and the site of numerous suicide bombings claimed by ISIS. Air strikes from Saudi Arabia have also caused considerable damage to this historic location, which will never be the same again.
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