Syrian Arch of Triumph Replica on Display in City Hall Park

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — A replica of an historic Syrian arch destroyed by ISIS militants was set up in City Hall Park as an anti-terrorism symbol on Monday.

The Arch of Triumph was blown up by ISIS in the ancient Roman city of Palmyra last year. The Institute for Digital Archaeology used 3D imaging technology, based on photographs of the original, to create a detailed replica of the 2,000-year-old arch.

It’s “a symbol that we will not stand for acts of terrorism, we will not stand to have people murdered and thrown out of their countries,” Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen said in a ceremony unveiling the arch Monday, according to the New York Daily News. “We in New York have always been a city of inclusion and tolerance and welcoming people, and a city where we like to marry the old and the new. So what could be more appropriate than to have this symbol of freedom in front of City Hall?”

In the wake of the Chelsea bombings, this arch stands represents bravery and liberty. It stands at 25 feet tall and is made of nearly 30,000 pounds of Egyptian marble.

"Over the past few years, extremists have sought to rewrite culture narrativse by destroying iconic structures. However, in doing so, they have unwittingly served an important purpose," Roger Michel, the Executive Director for the Institute of Digital Archaeology, said. "They have reminded people how much they cherish their community identity - and of the unique ability of structures to embody it."

Photo courtesy of Institute for the Study of the Ancient World/Flickr