Once a thriving ancient metropolis in the middle of Syria, Palmyra, according to the Bible, was built by Solomon. This influential city – a caravan stop for travelers crossing the Syrian Desert – became a Roman province under Tiberius and was the most powerful commercial center in the Middle East between the 1st and the 3rd centuries. But when the Palmyrenes tried to break away from Rome, they were overcome by Emperor Aurelian; their defeat marked the end of the city’s splendor. The magnificent monuments, a skillful blend of Greco-Roman architecture and local influences, stretch over several miles and are – or were – among the most significant of the Ancient world.