Syria contains the ancient city of Palmyra, an oasis settlement famous for its Roman-era ruins. The site lies in central Syria, northeast of Damascus, near the modern town of Tadmur.
Palmyra prospered because its oasis supported a settlement on important routes crossing the Syrian Desert. Its merchants connected the Roman world with Mesopotamia, Arabia, and farther eastern markets. The city developed a distinctive blend of local, Greco-Roman, and Near Eastern artistic traditions.
Important remains include the Temple of Bel, the Great Colonnade, the Roman theatre, monumental arches, and tower tombs. Queen Zenobia of Palmyra led a powerful breakaway state in the third century CE before the Roman emperor Aurelian defeated her forces in 272 CE.
Palmyra suffered severe damage during the Syrian civil war, including deliberate destruction by the Islamic State. UNESCO placed the site on its World Heritage in Danger list in 2013.