Early morning panorama of Palmyra.

Site of Palmyra*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Syria
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv
Reference	23
Region†	Arab States
Inscription History
Inscription	1980  (4th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Palmyra was in the ancient times an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 120 km southwest of the Euphrates. It has long been a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian desert and was known as the Bride of the Desert. The Greek name for the city, Palmyra (Παλμύρα), is a translation of the Hebrew name, תדמור Tadmor, which means 'palm tree'. Tadmor (in Arabic تدمر) is today the name of a small city next to the ruins, heavily dependent on tourism. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x170, 30 KB)Palmyra panorama composition. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x170, 30 KB)Palmyra panorama composition. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Download high resolution version (1818x1228, 1935 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... As of 2006, there are a total of 830 World Heritage Sites located in 138 State Parties. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Arab world. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Nickname: The Seal of the Damascus Governorate Syria Syria Governorates Damascus Governorate Government  - Governor Bishr Al Sabban Area  - City 573 km²  (221. ... Surfer Rosa The Euphrates (IPA: /juːˈfreɪtiːz/; Greek: EuphrátÄ“s; Akkadian: Pu-rat-tu; Hebrew: פְּרָת PÄ•rāth; Syriac: Prâth; Arabic: الفرات Al-Furāt; Turkish: Fırat; Kurdish: فرهات, Firhat, Ferhat, Azeri: FÉ™rat) is the western of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia (the other... The word Hebrew most likely means to cross over, referring to the Semitic people crossing over the Euphrates River. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Tourists on Oahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the provision of services to support this leisure travel. ...

History

Close-up of ancient Palmyra.

Download high resolution version (853x1280, 232 KB)A closeup composition picture shot in Palmyra File links The following pages link to this file: Tadmor User:Zeledi Categories: GFDL images ... Download high resolution version (853x1280, 232 KB)A closeup composition picture shot in Palmyra File links The following pages link to this file: Tadmor User:Zeledi Categories: GFDL images ...

Ancient

In the mid-first century, Palmyra, a wealthy and elegant city located along the caravan routes linking Persia with the Mediterranean ports of Roman Syria and Phoenicia, came under Roman control. During the following period of great prosperity, the Arab citizens of Palmyra adopted customs and modes of dress from both the Iranian Parthian world to the east and the Graeco-Roman west. For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predominantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Alawite Islam, Druzism, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism Footnotes a Mainly in Antakya. ... Greco-Roman refers to the culture of Ancient Greece and Classical Rome and reflects the essential unity of the Mediterranean world at the time when those cultures flourished, between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD. Categories: Historical stubs | Ancient Rome | Ancient Greece ...

Temple of Bel.

Tadmor is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Second Book of Chronicles 8:4) as a desert city built by the King Solomon of Judea, the son of David. Download high resolution version (1280x853, 210 KB)The Temple of Bel File links The following pages link to this file: Tadmor User:Zeledi ... Download high resolution version (1280x853, 210 KB)The Temple of Bel File links The following pages link to this file: Tadmor User:Zeledi ... Bel, signifying lord or master, is a title rather than a genuine name, applied to various gods in Babylonian relgion. ... 11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum This article is about the term Hebrew Bible. For the Hebrew Bible itself, see Tanakh (Jewish tradition) or Old Testament (Christian tradition). ... The Book of Chronicles is a book in the Hebrew Bible (also see Old Testament). ... Artists depiction of Solomos court (Ingobertus, c. ... Map of the southern Levant, c. ... David and Goliath, by Caravaggio, c. ...

In the First Book of Kings (9:18) is mentioned the city of תמר Tamor or Tamar, also built by Solomon. But it is traditionally read (see Qere) as Tadmor, and several citations in the tractates of the Talmud and of the Midrash refer to that city in the Syrian desert (sometimes interchanging the letters "t" and "d" - "Tarmod" instead of "Tadmor"). (Some modern scholars wrote that it could refer to a place near the Dead Sea.) The Books of Kings (Hebrew: Sefer Melachim ספר מלכים) is a part of Judaisms Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. ... Artists depiction of Solomos court (Ingobertus, c. ... Qere (from Hebrew what is read, pronounced KEH-ray) is a marginal note in a traditional Hebrew text. ... Tract may be a reference to: tract (anatomy), a bundle of nerve fibers following a path through the brain, or a collection of related anatomic structures (e. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text. ... The Dead Sea (‎, yam ha-melaħ, Sea of Salt; Quranic Arabic: , baħrᵘ l- mayitⁱ [3], Death Sea) is a salt lake between the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. ...

Tadmor is also mentioned as built by Solomon in Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews - Book VIII, along with the Greek name of Palmyra. Josephus, also known as Flavius Josephus (c. ...

Tadmor is the name of Palmyra in modern Hebrew. The exact etymology of the name "Palmyra" in this case is unknown, although some scholars believe it was related to the palm trees in the area. Others, however, are less certain, and believe it may have come out of an incorrect translation of the name "Tadmor"; c.f. Colledge, Seyrig, Starcky, and others.

The city was first mentioned in the archives of Mari in the 2nd millennium BC. It was another trading city in the extensive trade network that linked Mesopotamia and northern Syria. Terry Jones and Alan Ereira write in 'Barbarians', p. 183: This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

"There had been a temple at Palmyra, for instance, for 2000 years before the Romans ever saw it. Its form, a large stone-walled chamber with columns outside, is much closer to the sort of thing attributed to Solomon than to anything Roman. It is mentioned in the Bible as part of Solomon's Kingdom. In fact, it says he built it (2 Chronicles 8 v. 4)."

Greco-Roman & Persian Periods

Palmyrene deities. From left to right: the lunar god Aglibôl, the supreme god Beelshamên, the sun god Malakbêl, 1st century, found near Bir Wereb, Wadi Miyah, Syria. Louvre Museum.

Parthian calvaryman (escorting a camel caravan, detail). He wears large chaps over decorated trousers, as well as a polylobed dagger (Akinakes) on the right side. Palmyra relief.

When the Seleucids took control of Syria in 323 BC, the city was left to itself and it became independent. The city flourished as a caravan halt in the 1st century BC. In 41 BC, the Romans under Mark Antony tried to occupy Palmyra but failed as the Palmyrans escaped to the other side of the Euphrates. The Palmyrans had received intelligence of the Roman approach. This proves that at that time Palmyra was still a nomadic settlement and its valuables could be removed at short notice. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1250x974, 1827 KB) Summary Palmyrene deities. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1250x974, 1827 KB) Summary Palmyrene deities. ... Palmyrene deities: from left to right: the lunar god Aglibôl, the supreme god Beelshamên, the sun god Malakbêl, 1st century CE, found near Bir Wereb, Wadi Miyah, Syria, Louvre Museum. ... Palmyrene deities: from left to right: the lunar god Aglibôl, the supreme god Beelshamên, the sun god Malakbêl, 1st century CE, found near Bir Wereb, Wadi Miyah, Syria, Louvre Museum. ... Palmyrene deities: from left to right: the lunar god Aglibôl, the supreme god Beelshamên, the sun god Malakbêl, 1st century CE, found near Bir Wereb, Wadi Miyah, Syria, Louvre Museum. ... The main courtyard of the Louvre. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 727 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (803 × 662 pixel, file size: 395 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 727 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (803 × 662 pixel, file size: 395 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Chaps are sturdy leather coverings for the legs. ... Bold text This article is about the weapon. ... The acinaces, also spelled akinakes (Greek ἀκινάκης) or akinaka (unattested Old Persian *akīnakah) is a type of sword or dagger used by the Ancient Persians. ... Seleucus I Nicator (Nicator, the Victor) (around 358–281 BC) was one of Alexander the Greats generals who, after Alexanders death in 323 BC, founded the Seleucid Empire. ... (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium) The 1st century BC started on January 1, 100 BC and ended on December 31, 1 BC. An alternative name for this century is the last century BC. The AD/BC notation does not use a year zero. ... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N[1]) ( January 14 83 BC – August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. ...

Jones and Erieira note that Palmyran merchants owned ships in Italian waters and controlled the Indian silk trade. "Palmyra became one of the richest cities of the Near East.""The Palmyrans had really pulled off a great trick, they were the only people who managed to live alongside Rome without being Romanized. They simply pretended to be Romans."

Palmyra was made part of the Roman province of Syria during the reign of Tiberius (14–37). It steadily grew in importance as a trade route linking Persia, India, China, and the Roman empire. In 129, Hadrian visited the city and was so enthralled by it that he proclaimed it a free city and renamed it Palmyra Hadriana. Map of the Roman Empire, with the provinces, after 120. ... Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16, 42 BC – March 16 AD 37), was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37. ... Events First year of tianfeng era of the Chinese Xin Dynasty. ... Events March 18 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius will and proclaims Caligula Roman Emperor. ... Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 –– July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English, was emperor of Rome from 117 A.D. to 138 A.D., as well as a Stoic and Epicurean philosopher. ...

Beginning in 212, Palmyra's trade diminished as the Sassanids occupied the mouth of the Tigris and the Euphrates. Septimius Odaenathus, a Prince of Palmyra, was appointed by Valerian as the governor of the province of Syria. After Valerian was captured by the Sassanids and died in captivity in Bishapur, Odaenathus campaigned as far as Ctesiphon (near modern-day Baghdad) for revenge, invading the city twice. When Odaenathus was assassinated by his nephew Maconius, his wife Septimia Zenobia took power, ruling Palmyra on the behalf of her son, Vabalathus. Zenobia rebelled against Roman authority with the help of Cassius Dionysius Longinus and took over Bosra and lands as far to the west as Egypt, establishing the short-lived Palmyrene Empire. Next, she attempted to take Antioch to the north. In 272, the Roman Emperor Aurelian finally retaliated and captured her and brought her back to Rome. He paraded her in golden chains but allowed her to retire to a villa in Tibur, where she took an active part in society for years. This rebellion greatly disturbed Rome, and so Palmyra was forced by the empire to become a military base for the Roman legions. Diocletian expanded it to harbor even more legions and walled it in to try and save it from the Sassanid threat. The Byzantine period only resulted in the building of a few churches and much of the city was in ruin. Head of king Shapur II (Sasanian dynasty A.D. 4th century). ... The Tigris is the eastern member of the pair of great rivers that define Mesopotamia, along with the Euphrates, which flows from the mountains of Anatolia through Iraq. ... Surfer Rosa The Euphrates (IPA: /juːˈfreɪtiːz/; Greek: EuphrátÄ“s; Akkadian: Pu-rat-tu; Hebrew: פְּרָת PÄ•rāth; Syriac: Prâth; Arabic: الفرات Al-Furāt; Turkish: Fırat; Kurdish: فرهات, Firhat, Ferhat, Azeri: FÉ™rat) is the western of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia (the other... Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), Palmyrene אחינל = little ear), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a famous prince of Palmyra, in the second half of the 3rd century AD, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the Persians and restoring it to the Empire. ... Valerian on a coin celebrating goddess Fortuna, associated with health and wealth. ... Ruins of Bishapur Sassanian relief, Bishapur Bishapur (or Bishâpûr) is an ancient city situated south of modern Faliyan, Iran on the ancient road between Persis and Elam. ... Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), Palmyrene אחינל = little ear), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a famous prince of Palmyra, in the second half of the 3rd century AD, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the Persians and restoring it to the Empire. ... Ctesiphon, 1932 Ctesiphon (Parthian and Pahlavi: Tyspwn as well as Tisfun, Persian: ‎, also known as in Arabic Madain, Maden or Al-Madain: المدائن) is one of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamia and the capital of the Parthian Empire and its successor, the Sassanid Empire, for more than 800 years... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... This article is about the Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. ... Vabalathus was son of Septimius Odaenathus prince of Palmyra and his wife Septimia Zenobia. ... Cassius Dionysius Longinus (c. ... For the town in Jordan, see Bozrah. ... Early morning panorama of Palmyra. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ... Events Roman emperor Aurelian reconquers the kingdom of Palmyra (Egypt and large parts of Asia Minor), forcing queen Zenobia to flee to Parthia. ... Lucius Domitius Aurelianus[1] (September 9, 214–September 275), known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270–275), was the second of several highly successful soldier-emperors who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. ... Tivoli, the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km from Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river, where it issues from the Sabine hills. ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (c. ... Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ...

Islamic

In 634 the first Muslims arrived in Palmyra. The city was taken by the Muslim Arabs under Khalid ibn Walid in 636. In the 6th century, Fakhreddine al Maany castle was built on top of a mountain overlooking the oasis. The castle was surrounded by a moat, with access only available through a drawbridge. The city of Palmyra was kept intact. After 800 people started abandoning the city. Events The Arabs invade Palestine. ... Khalid bin Walid (AKA:Syaifullah/Sword of Allah);(584 - 642) was a Muslim Arab soldier and general. ... Events April 20 - Battle of Yarmuk - Byzantine Empire loses Syria to the Arabs The Arabs invade Persia Rothari marries queen Gundeparga, becomes king of the Lombards city of Basra Iraq founded by caliph Omar on a canal. ... Fakhr-al-Din II also the Great or Fakhreddine II (1572–April 13, 1635) (Arabic: فخر الدين الثاني بن قرقماز) was a Lebanese prince, son of Prince Qurqumaz from the Maan Druze dynasty and Princess Nassab. ... Events December 25, Rome, coronation of Charles the Great (Charlemagne) as emperor by Pope Leo III. Celtic monks begin work on the Book of Kells on the Island of Iona. ...

Funerary Art

Funerary bust of a woman. Palmyra. Mid-late 2nd century. British Museum.

Palmyrenes constructed a series of large-scale funerary monuments. These structures, some of which were below ground, had interior walls that were cut away or constructed to form burial compartments in which the deceased, extended at full length, was placed. Limestone slabs with human busts (in Roman and Parthian Iranian fashions) in high relief sealed the rectangular openings of the compartments. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1150x1414, 634 KB) Funerary bust of a woman. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1150x1414, 634 KB) Funerary bust of a woman. ... The British Museum in London, England is one of the worlds greatest museums of human history and culture. ...

These reliefs represented the "personality" or "soul" of the person interred and formed part of the wall decoration inside the tomb chamber. A banquet scene as depicted on this relief would have been displayed in a family tomb rather than that of an individual.

Further excavations

Archaeological teams from various countries have been working on-and-off on different parts of the site. In May 2005, a Polish team excavating at the Lat temple discovered a highly-detailed stone statue of the winged goddess of victory Nike. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Gallery

The scene of the theatre Download high resolution version (1280x853, 179 KB)Palmyra, the scene of the theater. ...

The ancient Decumanus Download high resolution version (1280x853, 187 KB)Shot 2005. ... In Roman city planning, a Decumanus Maximus was an east-west-oriented road in a Roman city, military camp, or colonia. ...

The Ibn Ma'an Castle at night Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 805 KB) Summary Taken from downtown Tudmur (Palmyra) February 2005 M. Disdero Licensing Metadata File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Palmyra ...

Sheikh of Palmyra. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

See also

• Tadmor Prison
• Tamara

Tadmor prison is located in Palmyra (Tadmor, or Tadmur is the Arabic name for Palmyra) in the deserts of eastern Syria, approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Damascus. ... Tamara is a female given name of Hebrew, Russian, and Sanskrit origin, meaning palm tree or spice. The short form is Tam or Tammy, or more rarely Mara or Tara. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Palmyra

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Information

• http://i-cias.com/e.o/palmyra.htm

Photography

• A collection of pictures made in 2003 about Palmyra
• A Palmyra gallery dated spring 2005

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Syria

Aleppo · Bosra · Krak des Chevaliers and Citadel of Salah Ed-Din · Damascus · Palmyra Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Aleppo (or Halab Arabic: , ) is a city in northern Syria, capital of the Aleppo Governorate. ... For the town in Jordan, see Bozrah. ... Krak des Chevaliers Gothic cloister by the fortress yard Krak des Chevaliers (also Crac des Chevaliers, fortress of the knights in a mixture of Arabic and French) was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller in Syria during the Crusades. ... The Citadel of Salah Ed-Din (once known as Saone, also known as Saladdin Castle) is a castle in Syria. ... Nickname: The Seal of the Damascus Governorate Syria Syria Governorates Damascus Governorate Government  - Governor Bishr Al Sabban Area  - City 573 km²  (221. ...

Coordinates: 34°33′36″N, 38°16′2″E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...