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Site of Palmyra (UNESCO/NHK)
An oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus, Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. From the 1st to the 2nd century AD, the art and architecture...
Article
Enemies of Rome in the 3rd Century CE
It has been said that the greatest enemy of Rome was Rome itself, and this is certainly true of the period known as the Crisis of the Third Century (also known as the Imperial Crisis, 235-284 CE). During this time of almost 50 years, over...
Definition
Desert Kites
Desert kites are mega-constructions that consist of two long walls converging upon an enclosed space that has on its periphery small stone constructions called cells. Seen from the sky, their shape suggests that of a windborne kite; they...
Image
Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady
This funerary bust of a Palmyrene lady dates from c. 175-200 CE and is made of limestone. It is originally from Palmyra, Syria. (Inscribed in Aramaic: ‘Aqmat, daughter of Hagagu, descendant of Zebida, descendant of Ma'an. Alas!") The inhabitants...
Video
The Warrior Queen Zenobia of the Palmyrene Empire
The warrior queen Zenobia of the Palmyrene Empire ruled her kingdom for three years until the Roman Emperor Aurelian stopped her in her tracks. The Palmyrene Empire was an empire that broke away from the Roman Empire during the instability...
Definition
The Crisis of the Third Century
The Crisis of the Third Century (also known as the Imperial Crisis, 235-284 CE) was the period in the history of the Roman Empire during which it splintered into three separate political entities: the Gallic Empire, the Roman Empire, and...
Definition
Kingdom of Nabatea
The Nabatean Kingdom was a powerful political entity which flourished in the region of modern-day Jordan between the 4th century BCE and c. 106 CE and is best known today for the ruins of its capital city of Petra. Although it is clear that...
Definition
Gertrude Bell
Gertrude Bell (l. 1868-1926) was an archaeologist, travel writer, explorer, and political administrator responsible for creating the borders of the countries of the Near East after World War I and, especially, for the foundation of the modern...
Definition
Cniva
Cniva (also given as Kniva, c. 250 CE to possibly 270 CE) was the king of the Goths who defeated Emperor Decius (249-251 CE) at the Battle of Abritus in 251 CE. Little is known of him other than his campaign in 251 CE, in which he successfully...
3D Image
Palmyra Castle
Photogrammetry of Palmyra Castle generated from HD video footage of a para-glider circling the castle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-zl2d5YUWI Fakhr-al-Din al-Ma’ani Castle or Palmyra Castle is a castle in the province of Homs...