Syria was home to a lot of the most valuable and treasured historical sites in the world. Sadly, most of these have been destroyed by ISIS forces in an anti iconoclastic purge.

Joseph Eid, an AFP news agency photographer for who took photos of the site about two years ago, has released before and after photos of the sites showing the extent of the damages.

ALSO READ: The beauty of Boston in photos

Mamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s antiquities director says that a third or more of the destroyed cella will be restored.

1. The Temple of Bel:

The Temple of Bel dates as far back as 32AD.

2. Palymra museum:

3. The Temple of Baal Shamin:

4. Triumph’s Arch: