Pearl of the Desert: A History of Palmyra

'Pearl of the Desert. A History of Palmyra' is the most comprehensive history of this
fabled ancient city in English. Assimilating the rich archaeological and
literary evidence, Rubina Raja unfolds the story chronologically, from
the earliest evidence of settlement in the Bronze Age to Palmyra's rise
as an urban center in the late Hellenistic and Roman periods, its
destruction by Rome in 273 CE, and its survival in the Byzantine and
medieval Islamic periods. The book ends with a discussion of Palmyra's
modern rediscovery and, more recently, its chaotic misfortunes during
the Syrian civil war when it was used as a symbol of, alternately, the
resistance of the rebels, the power of ISIS, and the supremacy of the
Syrian state. After several years of destruction and looting, securing
of the site has begun as well as planning for its restoration. At this
turning point in Palmyra's long history, there is no better time to
assess the past, present, and future of this remarkable city.