•Lying at the east end of Souk al Hamidiyeh, it is a place of magnificent beauty.

•Its history goes back three thousand years. This location was first used as a temple dedicated to the worship of Hadad, who is the Aramean deity representing sun and thunder. Later on, in the 1st century AD, a large temple was built by the Romans and was dedicated to the Roman god of gods, Jupiter.

•When the Roman capital moved from Rome to When the Roman capital moved from Rome to Constantinople in 330 Christianity began to spread in the Constantinople in 330 Christianity began to spread in the empire and was soon considered the official religion. It empire and was soon considered the official religion. It was then that the Emperor Theodosius abolished pagan was then that the Emperor Theodosius abolished pagan worship and made it the cathedral of the city, and it was worship and made it the cathedral of the city, and it was

dedicated to John the Baptistdedicated to John the Baptist . .•Arab conquest in 636 did not affect it, it remained a Arab conquest in 636 did not affect it, it remained a

church although the Muslims built a mud brick structure church although the Muslims built a mud brick structure against the southern wall so that they could pray. against the southern wall so that they could pray. Through time Christians became few and Muslims were Through time Christians became few and Muslims were increasing, so it was changed into a mosque. It was increasing, so it was changed into a mosque. It was worked on by Architects from Constantinople, Egypt, and worked on by Architects from Constantinople, Egypt, and

DamascusDamascus..  

•It now holds the Shrine of John the Baptist's head, and It now holds the Shrine of John the Baptist's head, and there are many rumors to explain how it came to be there are many rumors to explain how it came to be here. One is that Herod sent it to Damascus so that the here. One is that Herod sent it to Damascus so that the Romans could be sure of his execution, while another is Romans could be sure of his execution, while another is that when the Arabs took over the church, John the that when the Arabs took over the church, John the Baptist's blood bubbled and when the church was Baptist's blood bubbled and when the church was demolished his head was found underneath it with skin demolished his head was found underneath it with skin and hairand hair..

•The plan of the mosque is quite simple, there is a The plan of the mosque is quite simple, there is a magnificent courtyard which is heavily decorated by magnificent courtyard which is heavily decorated by mosaics. In the middle of the courtyard are the Dome of mosaics. In the middle of the courtyard are the Dome of the hours, the ablutions fountain, and the beautifully the hours, the ablutions fountain, and the beautifully

decorated Dome of the treasuredecorated Dome of the treasure.. 

•This mosque is one of the few mosques This mosque is one of the few mosques that has three minarets, Minaret of the that has three minarets, Minaret of the Bride (9th and 12th centuries), Minaret of Bride (9th and 12th centuries), Minaret of Qat Bey (15th century), and the Minaret of Qat Bey (15th century), and the Minaret of

Jesus (13th century)Jesus (13th century)..

  Palmyra (Tadmor in Arabic) is in the heart of Syrian Desert, Palmyra (Tadmor in Arabic) is in the heart of Syrian Desert,

and is often described as the bride of the desert. Its and is often described as the bride of the desert. Its magnificent remains tell of a heroic history during the reign of magnificent remains tell of a heroic history during the reign of

Queen ZenobiaQueen Zenobia . .The Oasis, as it is sometimes called, is located near a hot-The Oasis, as it is sometimes called, is located near a hot-

water spring called Afqa, which make it an ideal halt for water spring called Afqa, which make it an ideal halt for caravans moving between Iraq and Al-Sham (present day caravans moving between Iraq and Al-Sham (present day Syria, Lebanon, Holy Land and Jordan), trading in silk from Syria, Lebanon, Holy Land and Jordan), trading in silk from China to the Mediterranean. This strategic location made China to the Mediterranean. This strategic location made Palmyra prosper in a well-established kingdom from the 2nd Palmyra prosper in a well-established kingdom from the 2nd

century BCcentury BC . .Palmyra HistoryPalmyra History

Called Tadmor by the Arabs, Palmyra appeared for the first Called Tadmor by the Arabs, Palmyra appeared for the first time in the 2nd millennium BC in the archives of Mari and in time in the 2nd millennium BC in the archives of Mari and in an Assyrian text. It was also mentioned in the Bible as a part an Assyrian text. It was also mentioned in the Bible as a part

of Solomon's territoryof Solomon's territory..  

The Seleucids practically ignored Tadmor and it became The Seleucids practically ignored Tadmor and it became independent. It flourished through trade with Persia, the Indian independent. It flourished through trade with Persia, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula. In 41 BC it had subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula. In 41 BC it had become rich enough to attract the Romans and Anthony become rich enough to attract the Romans and Anthony attempted to occupy it but failed because of the Palmyreans attempted to occupy it but failed because of the Palmyreans

escaping to the other side of the Euphratesescaping to the other side of the Euphrates..  It was fully occupied by the Romans under Tiberius, Augustus' It was fully occupied by the Romans under Tiberius, Augustus'

successor and was integrated into the Province of Syria successor and was integrated into the Province of Syria between 14-37 AD. During the next 100 years of Roman rule between 14-37 AD. During the next 100 years of Roman rule Palmyra prospered greatly as a trade route linking the East Palmyra prospered greatly as a trade route linking the East Asian empires of Persia, India, China, and the Parthians who Asian empires of Persia, India, China, and the Parthians who

were Rome's enemy for a long timewere Rome's enemy for a long time..

Palmyra's greatest days however were after the Palmyra's greatest days however were after the murder of Odeinat, when his wife Zenobia started murder of Odeinat, when his wife Zenobia started ruling Palmyra on behalf of her son Vaballath. ruling Palmyra on behalf of her son Vaballath. Zenobia with the help of her Prime Minister Longings Zenobia with the help of her Prime Minister Longings extended Palmyra power to the west and took over extended Palmyra power to the west and took over Bosra and occupied as far as Egypt (269-270), then Bosra and occupied as far as Egypt (269-270), then she headed for the north and attempted to take she headed for the north and attempted to take Antioch. This sudden expansion posed a threat for the Antioch. This sudden expansion posed a threat for the Romans, and after two years in 272 of being flexible Romans, and after two years in 272 of being flexible Aurelian retaliated and took back Antioch then Emesa Aurelian retaliated and took back Antioch then Emesa (Homs) and then Palmyra itself. Zenobia tried to (Homs) and then Palmyra itself. Zenobia tried to escape but was captured and was taken back to Rome escape but was captured and was taken back to Rome as a prisoneras a prisoner..

Later in the Byzantine period a few churches Later in the Byzantine period a few churches were built and added to the much ruined city. were built and added to the much ruined city. It was then taken by the Arabs under Khalid It was then taken by the Arabs under Khalid Ibn Al Walid who was leader of the Arab army Ibn Al Walid who was leader of the Arab army under the Caliph Abu Bakr. It played a minor under the Caliph Abu Bakr. It played a minor defensive role during the Islamic periods defensive role during the Islamic periods although the Umayyads built the two Qasr Al although the Umayyads built the two Qasr Al Heirs. Later Temple of Bel was fortified and Heirs. Later Temple of Bel was fortified and the Arab Castle of Fakhredin Al Maany was the Arab Castle of Fakhredin Al Maany was built. Since then it has had no major roles and built. Since then it has had no major roles and

the ruins have fallen victim to natural erosionthe ruins have fallen victim to natural erosion..