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Site of Palmyra

NHK World Heritage 100 Series

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Narration Text

Caravan Merchants’ Paradise/Site of Palmyra

One of the most difficult challenges for camel-drawn caravan merchants trading along the Silk Road was the journey across the vast Syrian desert. In the middle of it was as an oasis city known as “Palmyra”, the city of date palm trees.

Palmyra from the 1st Century A.D, thrived as a caravan stopover for some 400 years under the patronage of the Roman Empire. The largest building in this city is the Temple of Bel, devoted to the supreme Babylonian God. The temple roof has fallen in but it was originally covered in gold. The craftsmanship here reveals the beauty of a great but bygone age. Groundwater was plentiful under the desert sands. Water was distributed throughout the town via stone pipes. Palmyra was an oasis city with an abundant water supply.

This city square is known as “Agora”, where exotic items including spices, pearls, ivory and silk fabrics were actively traded. The city generated immense wealth through trading fees and taxes. Caravan traders advanced along this main road after entering the city gates.

This approach is about 1.3 kilometres long and is made wide enough for a camel train to travel freely. 750 columns lined both sides of the road to welcome the caravan traders. A small shelf is attached to every column. They were plinths for Statues of people who had contributed to the town’s prosperity. Palmyra provided everything that caravan merchants could want. There were shops for the merchants selling food, clothes, travel items and even souvenirs. These are the remains of a bathhouse furnace.

A large bathtub was used. There was also a sauna. This is the Roman-style Theatre. It is 48 metres wide and had seating around 2,000 people. Temples were even built for merchants who came from different countries. This one enshrines Greek gods, as well Arabian and Persian gods. This international city reached the height of its prosperity in the 3rd century.

However, then Queen Zenobia revolted against the Roman Empire and lost. The Romans destroyed the town what was once a caravan trader’s paradise slowly disappeared into the sand.