Posted on 07/21/2005 7:16:00 PM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
AFGHANISTAN: ANCIENT FRESCOES DISCOVERED Tokyo, 21 July (AKI) - A Japanese research team has uncovered an ancient Buddhist fresco in the valley of Bamiyan, the site where the Taliban regime destroyed two gigantic statues of Buddha in March 2001.
The fresco was found in a cave that was overlooked in the Taliban's destructive campaign against 'pagan symbols'. The cave is situated in the western part of the Bamiyan Valley, according to officials at Japan's National Institute for Research for Cultural Heritage.
Even though some of the murals are covered in dust, initial exploration indicates that they cover both sides of a cave which is two metres high and three metres long. One of the frescoes shows the figure of Buddha, while the others depict various seated Buddhist divinities.
The style of the drawings indicates that they date from the 17th to 18th centuries.
The Valley of Bamiyan was home to the two priceless giant statues of Buddha - one 38 metres high and 1800 years old, the other 53 metres high and 1500 years old - that, despite numerous appeals from the international community, were demolished by the Taliban in March 2001. In 2003, UNESCO declared the area a world heritage site.
I find it ironic that a Japanese research team seems not to have had a single working flash camera.
Maybe someday we'll get to see pictures.
ITMT thanks for posting this.
ping!
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
"Goes the show the value of the "international community" and UN. Did the international community also plea for the human rights of women living in Afghanistan under Talibal brutality?"
You got right. I too hated to see those statues destroyed, but they were murdering and abusing women every day. Where was the UN then? Of course, you can look at lost of countries arround the world and see abuses and the UN doesn't bat an eye.
They were blown to bits.
Not only that, but when you press the button to open the shutter, the camera makes a noise that sounds like "CRICK!"
CarrotAndStick, Thanks again for visuals and map, Injin, thanks for the history lesson, more people (worldwide) need to know of the consequences that you wrote of.
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