India Buddhist cave

Destroying what your enemy holds dear is the legacy of humanity.  Think of the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, the ancient manuscripts in the libraries of Timbuktu, the destruction of Iroquoian wampum belts, Taliban’s blowing up of the magnificent Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001.  And, of course, ISIS’ destruction of archaeological sites in Iraq and Syria.   The reasons for destroying your enemy’s cherished cultural sites and artifacts are varied, but for the most part such acts center around tearing out the heart of the people.   

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-we-have-civic-responsibility-protect-cultural-treasures-during-wartime-180954887/