Final answer:
The Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, were destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, who viewed them as idols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, were once the largest standing Buddha figures in the world, tracing back to the 6th century CE. These exceptional statues, measuring 35 and 53 meters in height, represented a remarkable blend of Greek and Indian artistry, typical of the region's cultural heritage. Unfortunately, the statues met a tragic fate when they were destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban, who considered them to be idols and were outraged by international funds being directed toward their preservation. The destruction involved heavy artillery and dynamite, despite the statues being a treasured part of the world's cultural heritage. This act of cultural vandalism sparked worldwide condemnation. Post-destruction, various proposals have been made to reconstruct the statues using remnants of the original stones.