Who better than Paul Veyne to guide us through the remains of a now-forbidden city?

Once a thriving ancient metropolis in the middle of Syria, Palmyra, according to the Bible, was built by Solomon. This influential city – a caravan stop for travelers crossing the Syrian Desert – became a Roman province under Tiberius and was the most powerful commercial center in the Middle East between the 1^st and the 3^rd centuries. But when the Palmyrenes tried to break away from Rome, they were overcome by Emperor Aurelian; their defeat marked the end of the city’s splendor. The magnificent monuments, a skillful blend of Greco-Roman architecture and local influences, stretch over several miles and are – or were – among the most significant of the Ancient world.