Ain Dara
Near Aleppo, Aleppo Governorate
Syria
Description of the Site
This site was dominated by a large temple complex; it has been dated to the Iron Age by archaeologists, approximately 3,000 years old. Ain Dara was located on a hill approximately 40 kilometers from the city of Aleppo.
It was known by archaeologists and the public for its beautiful and detailed statues of lions and architecture, as well as its important place in comparative religious history and archaeology. Research published in the Biblical Archaeology Review suggested that their are design similarities between Ain Dara and Solomon’s Temple. Comparative research with other ancient religious sites has also been done about the footprint iconography at Ain Dara.
It was confirmed by various news outlets that a large portion of the temple was severely damaged in January 2018, reportedly as a result of Turkish airstrikes in the immediate vicinity.
The Threat
The site has been threatened by the military violence and destruction which has engulfed Syria since 2011.
Efforts to Save Ain Dara
No definite protection efforts have been announced in the weeks following the attack, but monitoring and reporting on the temple and the surrounding area continues.
Update: The UK-based nonprofit Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, dedicated to documenting human rights abuse and other destruction in Syria, has also documented and is bringing attention to the damage of Ain Dara.
Additional Info
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