More than 1 billion euros were donated after Paris’ cathedral was grievously damaged by fire in April. By comparison, just a few million euros were given after catastrophic flooding in Cité des Doges.
US marines walk through the rebuilt palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, in the ancient town of Babylon, in April 2003. The ruins suffered serious damage when American troops set up a military base amid the ruins during the Iraq War.
Reuters/Jerry Lampen
A scholar analyzed data about UNESCO World Heritage sites to explain why European cultural relics like Notre Dame are so beloved, while splendid monuments elsewhere remain relatively unknown.
In the wake of the Notre Dame fire, critics argue the money donated to the Paris cathedral would have been better directed elsewhere.
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Over the last 50 years, the warehouse infrastructure of Paris has been decimated. In the wake of the Notre Dame fire, transforming the cathedral into a warehouse isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem.
Antoine Arnault (second from left), son of Bernard Arnault and member of the LVMH board of directors, visited the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral the day after the fire.
Christophe Petit Tesson/AFP
The biggest names in France’s luxury industry have given millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame. Questioning why they would do so overlooks the deep historical and religious roots of the industry.
Notre Dame circa 1475.
Master of Anthony of Burgundy/Public domain
The coercive Christian rule under which Notre Dame was sanctioned drove a wide exploitation of nature. Let it stand as a reminder of our environmental sins and a call to action.
For individuals engaged in corruption, the luxury sector is an attractive vessel to launder illicit funds.
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Data from 32 high-income and emerging economies show a strong correlation between luxury item expenditure and societal corruption.
Professional mountain climbers installing synthetic, waterproof tarps over the gutted, exposed exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral.
AP Photo/Thibault Camus
The influence of Notre Dame Cathedral extended into every part of the life of Paris. The cathedral school was the training ground for medieval thinkers and the place of birth of the first university.
Notre-Dame de Paris in all its digital splendour – virtual reality and immersive mediation.
Art Graphique & Patrimoine
After the tragic fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, planning for an ambitious reconstruction is already underway – and the latest digital technologies will be at the forefront.
The gargoyles that sit on Notre Dame today were installed as a nod to the cathedral’s past.
Noemiseh91/Wikimedia Commons
The Notre Dame Cathedral was long a powerful symbol of church authority - but it wasn’t static. The design kept changing to keep up with the changing times.
On a cold December night, the symbol of Russia’s imperial prowess went up in flames.
Wikimedia Commons
The fire that devastated the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on April 15 is a historic event that reminds us of the symbolic power of national monuments.
Parisians watch as their beloved Notre Dame burns.
EPA-EFE/Julien de Rosa
Words are as important as pictures for helping us come to terms with such a huge cultural loss.
The grief expressed at the Notre Dame fire is not just because it is a beautiful building – some places become more important to us because of history, culture and our own memories of them.
Julien De Rosa/EPA/AAP
Images of Notre Dame on fire have elicited an outpouring of grief around the world and online. This response raises the question of why we feel more connected to some heritage places than others.
The spire collapses while flames are burning the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
Ian Langsdon/EPA
With modern technology, it is entirely possible for the cathedral to be recreated with near-accuracy to the original. We can do this and keep the original building’s spirit and feeling.
Professeure de management stratégique, directrice des programmes du MSc Arts & Creative Industries Management à Paris et de la partie française de l'Institut Franco-Chinois de Management des Arts et du Design à Shanghai, Kedge Business School
Senior Lecturer in Architectural HIstory and Theory, UNSW & Honorary Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage (ACAHUCH), UNSW Sydney