The Ancient City of Palmyra: The Pearl of the Desert

Palmyra is an ancient city located in modern Syria which served as the capital of the Palmyrene Kingdom during the 3rd century AD. In May 2015, this city made the headlines and grabbed the attention of the world when it was seized by the militant group known as ISIL/ISIS. The group then proceeded to destroy a number of important ancient structures in the city, including the Temple of Bel and the Monumental Arch (known also as the Arch of Triumph or the Arch of Septimius Severus).

In late March 2016, Palmyra was recaptured by the Syrian Army. Preliminary assessments have revealed that the historical site is still largely intact, and authorities are now beginning to make more detailed evaluations regarding the damage the city has suffered over the last 10 months.

A view of Palmyra in 2006. (CC BY 2.0)

Palm Tree City Prospers

Palmyra is located in the Syrian Desert to the northeast of the country’s capital, Damascus, in what is today the Homs Governorate. The city’s name is said to have been the Greek translation of its original Aramaic name, Tadmor, which means ‘palm tree’.

Palmyra was first been mentioned in the archives of Mari, which date to the 2nd millennium BC. Additionally, Palmyra was mentioned in the Bible as a desert city fortified by King Solomon. Nevertheless, it was only around the 3rd century BC that the city started to acquire prominence.