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AP®︎/College Art History
Course: AP®︎/College Art History > Unit 9
Lesson 2: Central AsiaBamiyan: Ten years on
Explore the rich history and cultural significance of the Bamiyan Buddhas, monumental statues carved into the cliffs of central Afghanistan. Discover their creation, destruction, and the ongoing efforts to preserve this iconic heritage site. Dive into the world of Buddhist art and its impact on society.
Want to join the conversation?
- Who blew them up, and why did they blow them up?(5 votes)
- The Taliban blew the statues up in 2001 because they saw the statues as icons. Icons and idolatry (worship of icons) are forbidden in Islam. If you look at the Islamic art videos on Khan Academy, very few show depictions of humans or animals.
So the Taliban thought they had a religious duty to destroy the statues. Of course very few Muslims agree with this and the new Afghan government is looking to rebuild the statues with the help of the International community.(16 votes)