History
Palmyra was in the ancient times an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 120 km southwest of the Euphrates. It has long been a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian desert and was known as the Bride of the Desert. The Greek name for the city, Palmyra is a translation of its original Aramaic name, Tadmor, which means 'palm tree'. Tadmor is today the name of a small city next to the ruins, heavily dependent on tourism.

The city was first mentioned in the archives of Mari in the 2nd millennium BC. It was another trading city in the extensive trade network that linked Mesopotamia and northern Syria. Tadmor is mentioned in the Bible (2 Chr 8.4) as a desert city that was fortified by King Solomon.

A photo gallery of images from Tadmor - Palmyra

Josephus on Tadmor
"When he had therefore built this city, and encompassed it with very strong walls, he gave it the name of Tadmor; and that is the name it is still called by at this day among the Syrians; but the Greeks name it Palmyra." (Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. 8.6.153-154)

Tadmor in Assyrian Records
"Tadmor...It is mentioned in the Assyrian records of Tiglath-pileser as tadmar sa mat amurri, "Tadmor of the Amurru country" (ANET, 275).

The city is mentioned as part of Solomon's building program immediately after the recounting of his conquest of Hammath-zobah in Syria. Therefore the identification of Tadmor as the city mentioned in the Assyrian records, later known as Palmyra, is clear." (ABD 6.307, Sidnie Ann White, "Tadmor," 1992)

Greco Roman Period
When the Seleucids took control of Syria in 323 BC, the city was left to itself and it became independent. The city flourished as a caravan halt in the 1st century BC. In 41 BC, the Romans under Mark Antony tried to occupy Palmyra but failed as the Palmyrans escaped to the other side of the Euphrates. The Palmyrans had received intelligence of the Roman approach.

Palmyra was made part of the Roman province of Syria during the reign of Tiberius (14–37).

It steadily grew in importance as a trade route linking Persia, India, China, and the Roman empire. In 129, Hadrian visited the city and was so enthralled by it that he proclaimed it a free city and renamed it Palmyra Hadriana.

Scriptures
2 Chronicles 8:4 And Solomon built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.

1 Kings 9:17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether, And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land