1. The Destruction Of Nimrud, 2015
Another act of cultural destruction saddened the world recently, when in the latest attack against art and antiquities, the Islamic State which controls swathes of Iraq and Syria – began demolishing the 3,000-year-old Assyrian city of Nimrud using bulldozers, culminating in its detonation and complete destruction with dynamite. IS said that ancient shrines and statues are “false idols” that have to be destroyed, but it has also been suggested that in fact IS is attempting to sell off art and antiquities to fund its activities in iraq and Siria.There have been fears that Islamic State would target Nimrud, after it used drills and sledgehammers to vandalise museums and antiquities in Mosul and Nineveh, which is only 30 kilometres to the north. These abhorrent acts of hatred implemented via a cocktail of modern technology and ignorance saw to the demise of this beautiful and important archaeological site, and Artlyst fears that there will be more destruction to follow – probably the ultimate expression of art hatred.