Ancient Palmyra after the Syrian Civil War

Deep in the Syrian desert lie the ruins of Ancient Palmyra, one of the most culturally significant sites of ancient times. Palmyra served as an important stopover on the ancient caravan route connecting Persia, India, and China and was influenced by a handful of ancient empires, including the Romans, Greeks, and Persians. Ancient Palmyra’s most famous ruler, Queen Zenobia, once conquered Palmyra along with Egypt and other territory in Asia Minor, famously rebelling against the Roman Empire and declaring independence in 269. Over the years, Palmyra has tragically endured many destruction campaigns, including at the hands of the Romans, Timurids, and most recently the Islamic State. ISIS seized control of Palmyra from 2015 to 2017, finally driven out by Assad forces in March 2017. Once among the most impressive sites of its kind, many of Palmyra’s ruins, including the Temple of Bel, were reduced to rubble by the Islamic State during their occupation of Palmyra. Despite the damage this ancient site has endured, some of Palmyra’s ruins still stand today. Join me, as we venture to Palmyra, drive through Palmyra city, witness what remains of the ancient ruins, explore Palmyra’s ancient tombs, and meet those who care for Palmyra’s ruins still today. #syria #palmyra #travel