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Palmyra is perhaps Syria’s most famous tourist attraction. Although it is thought to have been founded some 4,000 years ago, very little of its history is known until the time of the Roman Empire, when it became a border city between the Empire and the kingdom of the Parthians. Palmyra earned the coveted status of a “Roman colony” during the rule of the Emperor Caracalla. Palmyra is best known in history for its mythical queen, Zenobia, who led the city and its empire from 266 AD until her fall in 268 A.D. Her ambition, courage and extraordinary life made her an important female historical figure. It is little wonder she became synonymous with Palmyra, and the subject of legend in both Western and Oriental literature. Palmyra has attractions other than the historical, too – it is surrounded by the fragile ecosystem of the Syrian steppe, and its ruins, particularly when bathed in the golden light of sunset, present a stunningly beautiful sight for visitors.
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