Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

PALMYRA

SYRIA

appearance in past years with the huge mass
of concrete at back must have been
misleading to visitors and clearly had
nothing to do with the original lion. The
new bearing construction of the statue fits
into the thickness of a wall made of new
limestone blocks, forming a uniform
surface at back. The concrete wall to which
all the stone blocks were anchored is
connected integrally with stainless steel
reinforcement with the foundation, thus

guaranteeing full and permanent stability
of the structure. After color merging with
the patinated yellow color of original blocks,
this bearing wall attracts virtually no at-
tention. The improvised wall, erected of new
blocks, and the reconstruction of the
missing curls of the mane ensure viewers'
capability to appreciate the integrated and
harmonious composition of an ancient
sculpture and leave no doubt as to which
elements were original.


Fig. 3. The Lion of Allat after conservation
(Photo B. Markowski)

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