Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Profiles Palmyra's origins, its relationship with Rome, its culture, and more *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram[a] had given him, and settled Israelites in them. Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath." - The Bible's reference to Palmyra (as Tadmor) in II Chronicles 8 Recently, the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra has become a major source of news because the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has embarked on a campaign to destroy the temples and art of the pre-Islamic city. For many people throughout the world, ISIS's campaign was the first time they heard about the city, but Palmyra's importance and history can be traced back to well before the Roman Empire. In fact, Palmyra was unique among the many important cities of the ancient world because, like Carthage before it, it was a city that was also a culture. Palmyrene culture, from the arts to religion, borrowed from numerous other peoples throughout the ancient world to create a culture that was uniquely "Palmyrene." Palmyra became a city like no other, and its culture shined bright for several centuries before it was finally extinguished. The people of Palmyra truly developed a vibrant culture that eventually placed the city among some of the greatest of the ancient world. Palmyra's influential position in world history was largely due to its economic prowess, which was achieved not through conquest or exploration but through its position as the preeminent trading center in the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern regions. Donkey and camel caravans brought precious commodities from both the west and east through the gates of Palmyra, which eventually resulted in the city becoming an oasis of wealth in the middle of the Syrian desert. For hundreds of years, Palmyra's wealth was a testament to its greatness, and its leaders displayed their political acumen by playing the middleman between the powerful Roman and Parthian Empires. As a result, the Palmyrenes built an eclectic culture that was as sophisticated as any of their contemporaries, but eventually the leadership of Palmyra overestimated their power and the greatness of their city quickly came crumbling down. Ancient Palmyra: The History and Legacy of One of Antiquity's Greatest Cities looks at the influential Semitic settlement that flourished for thousands of years. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Palmyra like never before, in no time at all.