Posted on 10/17/2011 6:11:40 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
HERAT, Afghanistan — In the 1970s, tourists traveled to western Afghanistan to climb on the ruins of an ancient citadel, a fortress resembling a sandcastle that has stood overlooking the city of Herat for thousands of years.
The citadel was crumbling then, but today the newly restored structure, dating back to the days of Alexander the Great, is a hopeful sign of progress in a country beset by war.
Hundreds of Afghan craftsmen worked to restore the ruins’ past glory with help from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and about $2.4 million from the U.S. and German governments.
The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, was among the tourists drawn to Herat decades ago, and on Sunday he celebrated the citadel’s restoration and the opening of a new museum of Afghan artifacts at the site.
“Until 35 years ago, tourists from around the world came here to experience heritage, history and incomparable national landscapes,” Crocker said.
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The current structure was built on the site of an ancient citadel that some historians claim was established by Macedonian warrior-king Alexander the Great around 330 B.C. The battlements and towers that still stand are believed to date from the 14th or 15th century when it was reconstructed after being destroyed by Mongol invaders. Some of the blue tile work from that period can still be seen on some towers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
You may be interested in this.
It is impressive. At least until the Taliban blow it up.
Inspiring.
I’d like to see that.
Me too. So many places like this, Ethiopia and Lebanon that I'd like to see. Maybe some of them will be safe enough one day.
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| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
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Thanks Pan_Yan. Looks like they did a nice job. |
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Remember the Buddhas. Just a whole in the wall now.
Its beautiful. Hard to imagine something like that enduring in Afghanistan.
Another great castle is Krak des Chevaliers. Unfortunately it is in Syria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krak_des_Chevaliers
It’s both impressive and beautiful. I have grave doubts that the country will be able to stable enough for me to visit within my lifetime. Pity.
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