- The Ruins of Palmyra are a Unesco World Heritage Site and are located next to the city of Tadmor in Syria, 150 miles (240km) northeast of Damascus. It was in the Roman Province of Syria.
- Palmyra was built in an oasis on the Caravan Route through the Syrian Desert between Damascus and the Euphrates.
History
- Palmyra was known as ‘The Bride of the Desert’, and also as ‘Tadmur’ in Antiquity.
- The name was derived from the fact that, every evening, the rays of the setting Sun transforms the light on all the buildings into a wonder of yellows, golds, pinks and blues, like a Bride getting dressed for her wedding.
- Due to its position in between the Persian Empire and the Roman Empire, it dominated the Silk Road.
- Palmyra was conquered by Rome in 14 CE and became the eastern outpost with the Persian Empire.
- Under Tiberius (14-37 CE), Palmyra became part of the Province of Syria.
- In 129 CE Hadrian visited Palmyra, and gave it the status of a Free City, renaming it ‘Palmyra Hadriana’.
- The Architectural ornamentation of the city is a synthesis of Roman and Persian styles.
- It retained relative independence under the Roman Empire, but between 260-273 CE it declared independence and became the Palmyrene Empire under Queen Zenobia.
- Aurelian reconquered the city and eventually sacked it.
Roman Sites
- Colonnaded Street
- An impressive colonnaded street over 0.5 mile (1km) long links all the public monuments and is crossed by other colonnaded streets.
- Temple of Ba’al
- Diocletian’s Camp
- Theatre
- The Agora
- other Temples
- urban housing.
- Roman Aqueduct (located outside the city walls)
- Necropolises (located outside the city walls)
Museums
- Archeological Museum of Palmyra
- The Museum holds some of the Finds from Palmyra, others are in the National Museum of Beirut or are distributed amongst Museums around the world.
- Some damage to the Site occurred during the occupation in 2015 CE by forces of ISIL.
Roman Roads
Palmyra, Syria