Ancient Ruins of Palmyra

Ancient Ruins of Palmyra

Palmyra, also known as "Tadmor," was an important ancient city in central Syria, located 215 kilometers northeast of Damascus and 120 kilometers southwest of the Euphrates River. The ancient ruins of Palmyra were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. Spread across the 6-square-kilometer site of Palmyra are the grand remnants from the reign of Queen Zenobia—towers, ramparts, tombs, and temples. Most unforgettable is the majestic Temple of Bel, standing tall on the horizon. The sunlight reflecting off the limestone ruins blends with the temple, seemingly creating an irresistible sense of power.

Another masterpiece is the 1.2-kilometer-long colonnaded street that runs east to west through the city, dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The main roadway is 11 meters wide, flanked by 6-meter-wide side paths. Although the original splendor of the ancient city is no longer fully visible, walking through it feels like stepping into a time tunnel. If you listen quietly, the towering stone columns and every piece of stone scattered across the desert seem to tell the rise and fall of an ancient civilization. Though now partially ruined, the 1,600-meter-long colonnade still reveals the grandeur of Palmyra in its heyday.