Hatra
A fortified Parthian-era city that withstood Roman sieges for centuries, only to be deliberately smashed by Islamic State militants in 2015.
No public photograph yet
We couldn't find a freely licensed image of Hatra. If you own a photograph of this place and would be willing to share it, we'd love to hear from you.
Share a photoHistory & haunting lore
Founded around the 3rd century BCE, Hatra grew into a heavily fortified caravan city and capital of the first Arab kingdom, its concentric walls and more than 160 towers successfully repelling Roman invasions in 116 and 198 CE. At its center stood a monumental temple complex blending Hellenistic, Roman, and Parthian architectural styles, a fusion that made Hatra one of the most significant surviving examples of a crossroads civilization before it was ultimately destroyed by the Sasanian king Shapur I around 240 CE.
Hatra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, but in March 2015 Islamic State militants occupying the region filmed themselves bulldozing walls and smashing the site's ancient statues and reliefs with sledgehammers and assault rifles, an act UNESCO condemned as 'cultural cleansing' and a war crime. UNESCO placed Hatra on its List of World Heritage in Danger later that year, and after Iraqi forces recaptured the area in 2017, assessments found that while the main temple structures had survived, much of the site's interior carving and statuary had been irreparably damaged. Restoration efforts continue with international support.
Current site status
UNESCO World Heritage Site (in Danger); damaged, restoration ongoing