Homage to Khaled al-Asaad, known as "Mr. Palmyra"

Among the thousands who have been killed in the conflict in Syria in recent years, the death of Khaled al-Assad certainly struck a chord with archaeologists, curators and lovers of history the world over. Captured by the so-called Islamic State when it overran the city of Palmyra this past Spring, Mr. al-Assad reportedly refused the divulge the whereabouts of ancient artefacts and was beheaded by IS for his steadfastness.

This Boston Globe reported this week that the city's Museum of Fine Arts is honouring Mr. al-Assad by putting on display a relief bust made in Palmyra in Roman times. A funerary sculpture, the bust features a woman and dates from the 2nd century CE.

A fitting tribute to a man whose lifelong efforts to preserve, document and study Palmyra's ancient historical heritage earned him the moniker "Mr. Palmyra".