Destruction of One of the Seven Wonders of the World
US marines offer Babylon apology
Babylon was home to one of
the ancient world's Seven Wonders
By Jonathan Charles
BBC World affairs correspondent
14 April, 2006
A senior US marine officer says he is willing to apologise for the damage caused by his troops to the ancient Iraqi site of Babylon.
US forces built a helicopter pad on the ancient ruins and filled their sandbags with archaeological material in the months following the 2003 invasion.
Colonel Coleman was chief of staff at Babylon when it was occupied by the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
Babylon's Hanging Gardens were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Roof collapsed
Col Coleman told the BBC that if the Iraqis wanted an apology for the destruction caused by his men he was willing to give one.
The 2,000 troops who were deployed there did immense damage as they set up camp amidst the ruins of old temples.
A helicopter pad was constructed at the site. The vibration from landings led the roof of one building to collapse.
The soldiers also filled their sandbags with archaeological artefacts, just because they were lying around and easy to pick up.
The head of the Iraqi State Board for Heritage and Antiquities, Donny George, is angry and says the mess will take decades to sort out.
Col Coleman argues that whatever his troops did, the alternative would have been far worse.
If they hadn't moved in, Babylon would have been left at the mercy of looters, he says.
A 16th century depiction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (by Martin Heemskerck ). You can see the Tower of Babel in the background.
Link:
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 2
Babylon was home to one of
the ancient world's Seven Wonders
By Jonathan Charles
BBC World affairs correspondent
14 April, 2006
A senior US marine officer says he is willing to apologise for the damage caused by his troops to the ancient Iraqi site of Babylon.
US forces built a helicopter pad on the ancient ruins and filled their sandbags with archaeological material in the months following the 2003 invasion.
Colonel Coleman was chief of staff at Babylon when it was occupied by the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
Babylon's Hanging Gardens were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Roof collapsed
Col Coleman told the BBC that if the Iraqis wanted an apology for the destruction caused by his men he was willing to give one.
The 2,000 troops who were deployed there did immense damage as they set up camp amidst the ruins of old temples.
A helicopter pad was constructed at the site. The vibration from landings led the roof of one building to collapse.
The soldiers also filled their sandbags with archaeological artefacts, just because they were lying around and easy to pick up.
The head of the Iraqi State Board for Heritage and Antiquities, Donny George, is angry and says the mess will take decades to sort out.
Col Coleman argues that whatever his troops did, the alternative would have been far worse.
If they hadn't moved in, Babylon would have been left at the mercy of looters, he says.
A 16th century depiction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (by Martin Heemskerck ). You can see the Tower of Babel in the background.
Link:
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 2
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 11:21 PM
1 Comments:
When I saw this article I could not belive it was true! How can as many as thousands of soldiers totally vandalise one of the seven wonders of the world?! Like if they were in Egypt, would they then put up a camp by the pyramids and blow off the top so they could use it as a helicopter landing base?
They can stick their "apology" up their ***. They should immediately try to fix what they broke instead of coming with empty words. Then at least they would be good for something in Iraq. I am so sorry for all the thigs they have done down there, for going to war based upon nothing but lies, for occupying a country that had done the US no harm for many years, for killing all these innocent people and now this. Destroying a world cultural treasure. I have no words for the harm I feel regarding this. They should all be held responsible!
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