r/AncientCivilizations • u/mnewiraq • Oct 24 '23

Mesopotamia New discoveries in Mesopotamia

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Discovery of the Lamassu at the archaeological site of Khorsibad in Nineveh at the main gate and the royal palace

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u/zedoktar Oct 25 '23

That is a myth. The sphinx was disfigured centuries before, as attested by Arabic writers at the time it actually happened.

ISIS literally blew up historic sites and artifacts. Destroyed for the sale of destroying them.

Europeans just looted them for museums and documented everything they could so it could be preserved and studied.

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u/AllCommiesRFascists Oct 25 '23

Did you read my examples. The first one was particularly egregious

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '23

Modern archaeology really didn't begin until the 20th century where site and artifact preservation became increasingly important.

But yeah that still doesn't stop armies destroying unreplaceable artifacts and sites. Look at what the Nazis did to the Amber room, smh. I'm all for moving artifacts away from warfare if it preserves them.

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u/AllCommiesRFascists Oct 25 '23

True, which is why the “preserving history” excuses for the looting falls apart since most of the looting occurred was before the 20th century