Ancient arch of Palmyra to be recreated in Trafalgar Square and Times Square

The famous arch is all that remains of the Temple of Bel in Syria, which was reduced to rubble by Isis militants in August, who murdered its curator and packed the site with explosives.

But the 15-metre arch, which many fear will soon be destroyed, is to be recreated in London and New York, using the world's largest 3D printer.

The project is funded by the institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA), who say it is a 'call to action', to draw attention to what is happening in Syria, Iraq, and now Lybia.

IDA executive director Roger Michel said: 'We are saying to them if you destroy something, we can rebuild it again. The symbolic value of these sites is enormous, we are restoring dignity to people,' reports The Times.

He added: 'We selected the arch as a specific tribute to the last remaining portion of the ancient site. sadly, I don' think it will be around for very long.'

Isis overran Palmyra in May, then in August murdered Khaled Asaad, 82, who worked as head of antiquities there for more than 50 years. They beheaded him and strung his body up.

The terrorists went on to destroy the nearby Temple of Baalshamin in the complex and then blew up the larger Temple of Bel days later at the end of August.

The whole of Palmyra, including the four cemeteries outside the walls of the ancient city, has been listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1980.

UNESCO, the U.N. heritage agency, has called the destruction an 'intolerable crime against civilisation.'

Isis has also destroyed a number of other historic sites in neighbouring Iraq as it tries to erase pre-Islamic history because the group condemns the worship of idolatry.

However, the IDA - based at Oxford and Harvard universities and with an advisory board including mary beard -  is undertaking a project to capture 1million 3D images of the world's most endangered sites so they could be recreated if destroyed.

They have issued 5,000 low-cost cameras to volunteers to help with the project so the historic sites can be digitally recorded. 

The arch at Palmyra was damaged before it could be captured to the IDA are using images from archaeological surveys, aerial shots, and even some taken by tourists to create the proposed models.

These will be made using a huge 3D printer, a technology that they hope will one day be capable of recreating the entire temple.

The printer will make the model in parts, made of powderstone - a lightweight composite that will not damage the York paving slabs in the iconic Trafalgar Square.

Parts will be made in Shanghai, taken to Italy to be finished, then brought to Britain where they can be put together like a Lego set in the shadow of Nelson's column.

It will be constructed in a day and will be on show for a week, but Mayor Boris Johnson, is said to have asked about keeping the model in the square permanently. 

(dailystar.co.uk)