The temple of Baal-Shamin

Today there is yet more bad news from the ancient and sublime Syrian city of Palmyra. 

Islamic State (IS) militants are reported to have blown up the temple of Baal-Shamin which dates from first century AD. Baal-Shamin was Lord of the Heavens in the semitic pantheon, and responsible for rain and thus fecundity. I count myself truly blessed to have seen this beautiful building as dawn broke over the city.

Such wanton destruction of religious sites is, of course, nothing new and hardly unknown in our own land. Our island is scattered with the ruins of mediaeval abbeys and priories torn down at the time of the reformation. Further evidence of those iconoclastic events is provided by the numerous empty niches in and on our great cathedrals and churches where religious statues once stood. 


"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone", comes to mind.