The daring journey to reach Afghanistan’s famous Buddhas—before they were lost

[Grim Reaper 6]

Bamiyan was worth the risky journey. Built starting in the sixth century, the pair of stone Buddhas, one 125 feet tall and the other 181 feet tall, stood overlooking the valley. They were weathered by age, neglect, and war, but still a striking reminder that the area had once been a bustling stop on the Silk Road and a center of Buddhist study. Bamiyan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had drawn tourists and archaeologists until the country became too unstable to host them.

 

In March 2001, the Taliban placed explosives at the base of the Buddhas and reduced them to a pile of rubble. It took a few weeks for the 1,500-year-old Buddhas to fully collapse. Twenty years later, Maitre believes his photographs were among the last taken of them still standing.

The daring journey to reach Afghanistan’s famous Buddhas—before they were lost (msn.com)

 

[psyche101]

What a huge loss. 

[Grim Reaper 6]

2 hours ago, Scudbuster said:

It's truly sickening treasures like this are lost forever. 

Once again, its that "If you don't believe in my god, you are crap" mentality. 

Actually its far worst than that, this occurred at archeology sites across the entire Middle East. ISIS, destroyed Sumerian, Assyrian, and all other cultural sites. They did this to erase any culture where Allah wasn't worshiped, the cultural destruction is devastating.