Ghazni's ancient tower collapses in Afghanistan

BBC ^ | June 13, 2019 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

An ancient tower in the Afghan city of Ghazni has collapsed, raising questions over the government's ability to protect the country's artefacts.

Footage uploaded to social media shows a fort in the old city crumbling.

The tower was one of dozens already destroyed in the city. Officials blamed heavy rain, but some critics accuse the government of negligence.

Ghazni's Islamic and pre-Islamic architecture is widely admired although war has taken its toll.

Mohammad Saber Mohmand, a spokesman for the ministry of information and culture, told Tolo News the fort was "vulnerable to rainfall and mostly damaged by rain".

"The main highway is located near the fort, which affects the towers," he added.

Ghazni was a thriving Buddhist centre up until the 7th Century. But in 683 AD, Arab armies brought Islam to the region. In the 13th Century it was destroyed by the Mongol armies of Genghis Khan, led by his son Ogedei Khan.

The ancient city has been designated an Asian city of Islamic Culture by the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation.

However, many of the city's ancient buildings have been difficult for outsiders to visit due to the Taliban insurgency.

[SunkenCiv]

YouTube

[SunkenCiv]

[Jonty30]

Who knew it rained in Afghanistan?

[Monkey Face]

It’s quite mountainous and also gets snow. As does Pakistan.

[wastoute]

My buddy said it was the coldest night he ever spent in his life sitting on a mountaintop calling in artillery.

[Monkey Face]

I’ve read a lot of books (action novels) based on the war in Afghanistan, and in most of them, if the actions took place in the winter, they were not only cold but had to deal with snow revealing their hiding places.

But I knew a Pakistani who lived in the north, close to the Afghan border, and he said he loved to play in the snow as a kid. Who knew? Until that moment, not me! ;o]

[Right Wing Assault]

[a fool in paradise]

>>Ghazni was a thriving Buddhist centre up until the 7th Century. But in 683 AD, Arab armies brought Islam to the region.

Convert by the sword.

BBC is slipping to have said that armies brought Islam to a Buddhist nation.

[a fool in paradise]

>>>But in 683 AD

BBC is slipping, didn’t say “current era (CE)”.

[SunkenCiv]

From the look of them, it appears that moisture from an ordinary sneeze would pretty much make one of the towers collapse. OTOH, Islamic craftsmanship built an entire tower out of jam and the thing is still standiing:

The Minaret of Jam

[Monkey Face]

Haha...
Earthquake at the Tower of Jam: Must be jelly ‘cause jam don’t shake like that!

:ducking and running:

[SunkenCiv]

It was built by order of one of the Marmalade Sultans.

[SunkenCiv]

It's surprsingly well preserved.

[SunkenCiv]

And the kingdom, wow, what a spread!

[SunkenCiv]

Okay, I'll stop now. Besides, the whole kingdom is toast.

[left that other site]

Keep it up, and you’ll end up at the bottom of the pectin order.

[Rebelbase]

Standing for 1000 years in a shithole country isn’t bad.

[SunkenCiv]

LOL

[SunkenCiv]

Particularly with the quakes they have from time to time.

[Red Badger]

Into every life a little rain must fall.

Blame It On The Rain

Have you ever seen the rain?

I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen ran.

Who’ll stop the rain?

Let It Rain.....................