Syrian Desert

• The Syrian Desert, also known as the Syrian Steppe, extends across southeastern Syria, northeastern Jordan, northern Saudi Arabia and western Iraq. It consistes of Desert, semi-Desert and Steppe.
• Its western boundary is the Orontes Valley and the Harrat al-Shamah Black Desert. Its eastern boundary is the river Euphrates and its southern boundary merges into the Deserts of the Arabian Peninsular.

Ancient Cities

• Palmyra
  • Palmyra was an ancient City built on an Oasis on the Caravan Route through the Syrian Desert between Damascus and the Euphrates.
• Dura Europos
  • Dura Europos was a Roman Border Fortress, known as ‘The Pompeii of the Syrian Desert’, in the Province of Syria. It is located in modern Syria, near Salhiye, on the banks of the Euphrates.

Camel Caravans

• The Camel Caravans were known as the ‘fleets of the desert’. Strabo (c.64BCE-c.24CE) wrote that they were organised like an army.
• The caravan could involve hundreds, sometimes thousands, of camels. A 10,000 camel caravan would extend up to 28 miles (45km) in length and usually moved in a long thin line astern.

Syrian Desert