Displaced Syrian builds model of Palmyra from memory - in pictures

Ali Saleh accompanied restoration and excavation teams in the ancient city for 25 years

Ali Saleh, 58, a displaced Syrian originally from Palmyra, in Homs governorate, builds a model of an archaeological landmark of his home city, from his workshop in the rebel-held city al-Bab, northwest of Aleppo, in northern Syria. AFP

Ali Saleh shows a model of a gate from his wood and plaster model of the famous ancient city of Palmyra, in central Syria. The archaeological site was severely damaged by ISIS extremists who overran the city in 2015. AFP

Displaced from Palmyra by Syria's 10-year conflict, Ali Saleh builds his model of the ancient city from memory, at al-Bab, northern Syria. He accompanied restoration and excavation teams for 25 years in Palmyra. AFP

An assistant works on Ali Saleh's model of the ancient city of Palmyra, which was first mentioned in records more than 2,000 years ago, in al-Bab, northern Syria. AFP

Ali Saleh, foreground, helped by an assistant, pieces together his model of ancient Palmyra, in al-Bab, northern Syria. His family say he has lost his home and three sons and daughter due to the 10 years of conflict in Syria. AFP

Ali Saleh surveys his model of ancient Palmyra, from his workshop in al-Bab, in northern Syria. Closely linked to the Silk Road, Palmyra changed hands a number of times, becoming part of the Roman empire in the first century. AFP

An assistant working on Ali Saleh's model of ancient Palmyra is pictured through the model's pillars, in al-Bab, northern Syria. AFP

More galleries from The National:

Inside Sharjah's City Centre Al Zahia: largest mall in Northern Emirates

Nordic space architects seek to replicate life on Mars in Dubai desert

Sliding down enormous salt hills in Egypt

Iran shows off new ‘missile city’ hidden underground

Beijing skies turn yellow after biggest sandstorm in a decade