|
The ruined city of Palmyra (‘City of Palms’)
is located at an oasis deep in the Syrian desert, about 150
miles from Damascus. Despite it’s remote location Palmyra
(or Tadmor, ‘City of Dates’ as it is known locally),
is the most splendid tourist site in Syria.
What's the history here?
Although the Roman ruins at Palmyra date from the 2nd century
AD, there is archaeological evidence of Neolithic settlement
as long ago as the 19th century BC. From about 1000 BC, Palmyra
was an Assyrian caravan town. About 1000 years later it became
a Greek outpost about, until it was finally annexed by the
Romans in 217 AD.
Because of it is situated at an oasis, the town was always
an important staging post on the main trading route between
China or India and Europe. Under the Romans it became incredibly
wealthy from heavy taxation imposed on the caravans which
passed through, bearing exotic goods such as silk, perfumes,
olive oil, wine, wool and figs.
The most famous ruler of Palmyra was the formidable Queen
Zenobia, who ruled the town after the suspicious death
of her husband in 266 AD. She claimed descent from Cleopatra,
Queen of Egypt, and was reputed to have been extraordinarily
beautiful – as well as ruthlessly ambitious. Her armies
seized all of Syria, Egypt, Arabia and Anatolia from the Romans,
and even went so far as to declare her independence from Rome.
The Emperor Aurelian was unable to bear such open effrontery,
and in 271 he laid siege to Palmyra. Zenobia refused to surrender
and managed to flee the town – only to be captured by
the Romans at the Euphrates. The warrior queen was paraded
through Rome in chains, where she ended her days.
Two years later, the inhabitants of Palmyra rebelled again.
This time Aurelian was taking no prisoners: the city was ransacked
and torched, and the people slaughtered. In 1089 a devastating
earthquake completed the job Aurelian had started, and reduced
what remained of the once grand city to ruins.
What's there to see & do?
Archaeologists have excavated parts the vast site, and many
of the artifacts they uncovered can be seen in the museum
at Palymra. A number of the grand buildings have been restored,
but although there’s no overall entry fee to the whole
site you have to pay separately to visit the most impressive
structures:
- The Temple of Bel and its enormous square courtyard.
- The Colonnade was once the main street of Palmyra.
At one end stands the partially restored Monumental Arch.
- The Theatre complex, incorporating a market place
and banquet hall, is situated on the south of the Colonnade.
|
