Palmyra was an important crossroads for the Silk Road passageway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Far East. Set at an oasis in what is now the Syrian Desert between Damascus and Dura-Europos, by the second century BC, Palmyra connected the Mediterranean and the Euphrates valley.
Roman Colonnade and Canal at Palmyra. Photo by Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
By the early centuries AD, Palmyra became of vital importance to the Roman control of the region, so important that even after conquering most of Syria, the Romans let Palmyra remain free. But it didn't last: the juicy plum that was Palmyra became a full-fledged Roman colony in AD 217. The Roman colonization of Palmyra transformed the bustling camp into a state-supported Roman city.
Cities of the Silk Road
Palmyra is the latest in About.com's Cities of the Silk Road project.
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