Palmyra

Palmyra

(Palmyrene) تدمر (Arabic)
The ruins of Palmyra in 2010
Shown within Syria
Alternate name	Tadmor
Location	Tadmur, Homs Governorate, Syria
Region	Syrian Desert
Coordinates	34°33′05″N 38°16′05″E / 34.55139°N 38.26806°E / 34.55139; 38.26806Coordinates: 34°33′05″N 38°16′05″E / 34.55139°N 38.26806°E / 34.55139; 38.26806
Type	Settlement
Part of	Palmyrene Empire
Area	80 ha (200 acres)
History
Founded	2nd millennium BC
Abandoned	1932 (1932) AD
Periods	Bronze Age to Modern Age
Cultures	Aramaic, Arabic, Greco-Roman
Site notes
Condition	Ruined
Ownership	Public
Management	Syrian Ministry of Culture
Public access	Inaccessible (in a war zone)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Site of Palmyra
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv
Designated	1980 (1980) (4th Session)
Reference no.	23
Region	Arab States
Endangered	2013 (2013)–present.

Palmyra (/ˌpɑːlˈmaɪrə/; Palmyrene: Tadmor; Arabic: تدمر‎‎ Tadmor) is an ancient Semitic city in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and the city was first documented in the early second millennium BC. Palmyra changed hands on a number of occasions between different empires before becoming a subject of the Roman Empire in the first century AD.

The city grew wealthy from trade caravans; the Palmyrenes were renowned merchants who established colonies along the Silk Road and operated throughout the Roman Empire. Palmyra's wealth enabled the construction of monumental projects, such as the Great Colonnade, the Temple of Bel, and the distinctive tower tombs. The Palmyrenes were a mix of Amorites, Arameans, and Arabs. The city's social structure was tribal, and its inhabitants spoke Palmyrene (a dialect of Aramaic); Greek was used for commercial and diplomatic purposes. The culture of Palmyra was influenced by Greco-Roman culture and produced distinctive art and architecture that combined eastern and western traditions. The city's inhabitants worshiped local deities and Mesopotamian and Arab gods.