A unique fusion of architectural styles

In ancient times, Palmyra was located on one of the most frequently used caravan routes between Damascus and the Euphrates, which turned the Syrian oasis city into an important trading center. The preserved ruins are unique in their fusion of Roman-Greek architecture with the styles of local cultures. For example, the Temple of Bel has traditional Middle Eastern architectural characteristics and was dedicated to the Mesopotamian deity Bēl. Syria became a Roman province as early as 64 BC with the conquest by Pompey the Great. However, it retained a great deal of internal autonomy, with its own senate and tax system. Emperor Hadrian (117–138 AD) promoted Hellenism, which also led to numerous new building projects in Palmyra. 

Palmyrene Empire

During the Crisis of the Third Century, the Palmyran ruler Septimius Odaenathus founded the kingdom of Palmyra in 260 AD. His wife, Queen Zenobia, even separated it from Rome after his death, creating the brief Palmyrene Empire (270–273), which included the province of Syria Palaestina as well as Aegyptus, Arabia Petraea and Asia. After the first major destruction of the city during the reconquest under Emperor Aurelian, Diocletian had many buildings rebuilt from 300 AD. Among the most important of today's ruins are the Great Colonnade, the Roman Theatre, the Agora, the Baths of Diocletian and the Tetrapylon (Roman arched monument) at the intersection of Palmyra's main streets. Palmyra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.

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