Syria's communities and civilizations – history, sites and heritage
Palmyrenes
Self-designation: TDMR / TDMWR (Tadmor)
التدمريون
Civilizations and historical peopleshistorical
Palmyra (Tadmor), an oasis city already named in the Mari archives, grew rich from caravan trade between the Roman Empire, Persia, India and China. Its Aramaic-speaking citizens created a distinctive art and briefly an empire under Zenobia before Aurelian levelled the city in 273. This is a historical civilization.
The city appears as 'Ta-ad-mi-ir' in 18th-century BC Mari tablets and came under Roman control in the mid-1st century AD. Its art and architecture combined Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences; the Temple of Bel was dedicated in AD 32.
Sources and details
Palmyrenes spoke Palmyrene Aramaic and used Greek for commerce and diplomacy; they worshipped Semitic, Mesopotamian and Arab deities such as Bel, Baalshamin, Nabu and Allat. Odaenathus defeated Shapur I in the 260s, and Zenobia rebelled against Rome and established the Palmyrene Empire.
The Islamic State destroyed the Temple of Baalshamin (23 August 2015), the cella of the Temple of Bel (30 August 2015), the Monumental Arch and several tower tombs, and smashed around 200 artefacts in the Palmyra Museum. The Hypogeum of Yarhai (AD 108) is reconstructed in the National Museum of Damascus.
Sites connected with this community 12
- National Museum of DamascusDamascus, Damascus · Museums
Holds the Hypogeum of Yarhai and the restored Lion of Allat.
- Arch of PalmyraHoms · Archaeological sites
Monumental Arch, destroyed 2015.
- Lion of Al-lātHoms · Attractions
Lion of Allat, restored statue now in the National Museum of Damascus.
- PalmyraHoms · Archaeological sites
Site of Palmyra (UNESCO).
- Palmyra AgoraHoms · Archaeological sites
Agora of Palmyra.
- Palmyra MuseumPalmyra (Tadmur), Homs · Museums
Palmyra Museum, where IS smashed about 200 artefacts.
- Roman Theatre at PalmyraHoms · Archaeological sites
Theatre of Palmyra.
- Temple of Al-LatHoms · Archaeological sites
Temple of Allat.
- Temple of BaalshaminHoms · Archaeological sites
Temple of Baalshamin, destroyed August 2015.
- Temple of BelHoms · Archaeological sites
Temple of Bel, dedicated AD 32, cella destroyed 2015.
- Temple of NabuHoms · Archaeological sites
Temple of Nabu.
- Tower of ElahbelHoms · Archaeological sites
Tower tomb of Elahbel in the Valley of the Tombs.
These categories describe history, language and faith – not exclusive identities. Many Syrians belong to several, and some names refer to civilizations of the past.