Until 1 pm today, a replica of the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra was under a cover at City Hall Park when there was a large unveiling for the public. The 20 foot tall, 30 ton marble replica of the Syrian arch was installed yesterday.
The original Roman arch was destroyed by ISIS in October 2015 and this model was recreated through painstaking analysis of numerous photographs. The Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA), the Oxford based organization behind the installation, is also working on 3D modeling many of the archeological treasures in the Middle East and North Africa under the initiative the Million Image Database, in partnership with UNESCO.
Here’a video from IDA of the installation yesterday:
The arch installation in City Hall Park is possible through the cooperation of The Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management. Stay tuned for more coverage from the unveiling today!
Next, read about the Top 10 Secrets of City Hall and see the 10 outdoor art installations not to miss in NYC this month. See 8 other monumental arches that have been in NYC before.