ISIS Blows Up Roman Ruins in Palmyra after Beheading 82-year Old Archaeologist

As many feared would happen, the Islamic State (ISIS) has destroyed treasured archaeological ruins from the Roman era at Syria’s Palmyra site. The demolition of the artifacts on Sunday follows the beheading of 82-year old archaeologist Khaled Asaad and the hanging of his body on the famed Roman columns at the site. Fears that wanton destruction of the archaeological treasures would ensue have been rife since ISIS captured Palmyra last May. Many of the moveable artifacts were taken from the site and stored by the Syrian government when it became apparent that Palmyra would fall to the terrorists. But Sunday’s target, the Temple of Baal Shamin, considered to be a pagan site, was blown up by ISIS.