One of the greatest Roman cities in the Middle East, Palmyra’s isolated desert location had helped its preservation. During the civil war, that becames its vulnerability. ISIS took and held the city. They dynamited the Temple Of Bal, staged executions in the theatre and decapitated the head of antiquities when he would not reveal where the artifacts had been hidden.
The Temlpe of Bel can be seen in the distance.
Camel owners with no trade, Palmyra.
The Roman theatre, Palmyra.
A general view of Palmyra.
The AD32 Temple of Bel was the centre of religious life at Palmyra. Dynamited by ISIS, 2015.
A late afternoon game of soccer at Palmyra, Syria.
Columns and pedestals petrude from the sand at Palmyra.
Like Cuba, Syria had a large number of classic American cars. How many vehicles, and their own survived, doesn't bear thinking about.
A plane flies over the Roman streets of Palmyra at dusk.
Viewed from the hill in the morning light, the scale of the sight becomes apparent.
Palmyra, Syria, 2005.
The dry desert air helped preserve much of Palmyra, a wealthy silk roads city.
The scale of the Temple of Bel, Palmyra was breath-taking.
A boy rides his family's camel, Palmyra, Syria.
The Triumphal Arch.
Palmyra's Roman ruins were one of the most impressive sights in the Middle East.
Built by the Romans around 500 years before the prophet Muhamad was born.
Another piece of history not lost, but willfully destroyed by illiterate ISIS goons.
The sunsets on Palmyra without even a hint of irony.
Now just a pile of rubble.
The scattered remains of greatest, a fleeting glimpse of man's power, lies in the desert.