1 00:00:02,467 --> 00:00:04,166 NARRATOR: Palmyra, 2 00:00:04,166 --> 00:00:07,266 a monumental ancient city 3 00:00:07,266 --> 00:00:08,467 at the crossroads of some 4 00:00:08,467 --> 00:00:11,433 of the world's greatest civilizations. 5 00:00:17,367 --> 00:00:19,867 NARRATOR: This spectacular site survives 6 00:00:19,867 --> 00:00:23,066 in remarkable condition since antiquity. 7 00:00:23,066 --> 00:00:24,467 But in our lifetime, 8 00:00:24,533 --> 00:00:27,734 it falls into the hands of an extremist terror group. 9 00:00:33,533 --> 00:00:37,533 NARRATOR: Today, we have unique access to follow investigators 10 00:00:37,533 --> 00:00:41,166 as they return to this once dangerous site. 11 00:00:41,233 --> 00:00:43,700 Equipped with pioneering technology, 12 00:00:43,700 --> 00:00:45,000 they're on a mission to 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,533 piece together this recently shattered city. 14 00:00:47,533 --> 00:00:49,367 [speaks indistinctly] 15 00:00:49,367 --> 00:00:51,900 They put ancient engineering to the test... 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,500 Stop, stop, stop. 17 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:56,533 ...and venture into forgotten tombs 18 00:00:56,533 --> 00:00:59,500 to uncover how thousands of citizens survive 19 00:00:59,500 --> 00:01:00,000 and thrive here two millennia before ISIS arrive. 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,800 and thrive here two millennia before ISIS arrive. 21 00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:07,967 NARRATOR: They discover how one queen is 22 00:01:07,967 --> 00:01:10,533 responsible for both its greatest glory 23 00:01:10,634 --> 00:01:13,433 and it's tragic downfall. 24 00:01:14,367 --> 00:01:16,367 To solve these mysteries, 25 00:01:16,367 --> 00:01:19,500 we digitally reconstruct the city at the height of 26 00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:20,533 its glory. 27 00:01:20,533 --> 00:01:24,367 We open long-lost tombs, come face-to-face 28 00:01:24,367 --> 00:01:26,000 with the people who live 29 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,066 and die here and reveal the secrets 30 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:30,000 of the lost Empire of Palmyra. 31 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,634 of the lost Empire of Palmyra. 32 00:01:39,867 --> 00:01:43,000 Palmyra lies in the remote heart of Syria. 33 00:01:44,367 --> 00:01:46,266 Known as the Pearl of the Desert, 34 00:01:48,166 --> 00:01:51,900 its grand ruins survive for almost 2,000 years, 35 00:01:53,467 --> 00:01:56,533 inspiring legends of its awesome power. 36 00:01:59,867 --> 00:02:00,000 But in the last decade, 37 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,533 But in the last decade, 38 00:02:04,734 --> 00:02:07,533 it has come under fire from the militant group, ISIS. 39 00:02:13,166 --> 00:02:14,867 In 2015, 40 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:17,533 ISIS stormed Palmyra and its museum, 41 00:02:18,367 --> 00:02:21,500 smashing artifacts and demolishing monuments in 42 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:24,233 a bid to wipe out its non-Islamic heritage. 43 00:02:26,367 --> 00:02:29,367 Courageous archaeologists race to remove what they 44 00:02:29,367 --> 00:02:30,000 can in the days before ISIS arrives, 45 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,066 can in the days before ISIS arrives, 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,166 transporting statues and other relics 47 00:02:36,166 --> 00:02:38,266 to Syria's capital, Damascus, 48 00:02:38,333 --> 00:02:41,066 but not everything is saved. 49 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:46,634 The terrorists destroy many temples, tombs, and treasures. 50 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,634 NARRATOR: Now, with ISIS gone, 51 00:02:56,634 --> 00:03:00,000 our cameras have exclusive access to follow investigators 52 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:00,266 our cameras have exclusive access to follow investigators 53 00:03:00,333 --> 00:03:02,533 as they return to explore this still 54 00:03:02,533 --> 00:03:06,600 perilous site and help reconstruct this lost wonder as 55 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,333 it was almost 2,000 years ago. 56 00:03:13,367 --> 00:03:16,433 Palmyra is once a magnificent city. 57 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,734 The main colonnaded street stretches for over half a mile. 58 00:03:27,867 --> 00:03:30,000 In its center sits an ornate structure called a tetrapylon. 59 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,734 In its center sits an ornate structure called a tetrapylon. 60 00:03:35,367 --> 00:03:39,166 To the north and west, an extravagant bathhouse 61 00:03:39,166 --> 00:03:41,634 and temples, and in the south, 62 00:03:41,734 --> 00:03:44,600 an impressive theater to entertain Palmyra's 63 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,533 30,000 residents. 64 00:03:47,700 --> 00:03:52,066 Now, experts want to solve an enduring riddle. 65 00:03:52,066 --> 00:03:55,233 What are the origins of this remote desert city? 66 00:04:02,734 --> 00:04:06,433 Ahmad Deeb has been fascinated by Palmyra most of his life. 67 00:04:23,467 --> 00:04:26,900 NARRATOR: Ahmad is on a mission to discover the city's origins. 68 00:04:28,100 --> 00:04:30,000 Studying an ancient ruin ravaged by time is tough. 69 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,467 Studying an ancient ruin ravaged by time is tough. 70 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,634 Piecing together a site battered by 71 00:04:35,734 --> 00:04:38,634 recent conflict is an even greater challenge. 72 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,900 Ahmad searches for any surviving clues of the city's builders 73 00:04:50,266 --> 00:04:52,533 and soon spot something intriguing. 74 00:05:07,266 --> 00:05:09,634 NARRATOR: Palmyra has all the hallmarks of 75 00:05:09,734 --> 00:05:14,166 a Roman city, almost 1,500 miles from Rome. 76 00:05:15,467 --> 00:05:17,433 Grand civic buildings, 77 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,467 colonnaded streets, 78 00:05:20,467 --> 00:05:21,900 temples, 79 00:05:23,266 --> 00:05:24,533 and a theater. 80 00:05:26,700 --> 00:05:30,000 Ancient texts reveal that by the 1st century CE, 81 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,467 Ancient texts reveal that by the 1st century CE, 82 00:05:30,467 --> 00:05:33,433 this area is part of the Roman Empire, 83 00:05:34,867 --> 00:05:36,700 and Palmyra becomes one of 84 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:39,433 the key cities on its eastern frontier. 85 00:05:40,533 --> 00:05:42,800 But Ahmad suspects its people have 86 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:45,367 roots here before this Roman takeover. 87 00:05:47,266 --> 00:05:50,166 He heads to the ruins of the main temple of the city. 88 00:05:53,467 --> 00:05:55,266 Before the ISIS attacks, 89 00:05:55,333 --> 00:05:57,634 this temple is a jewel in the desert, 90 00:06:00,266 --> 00:06:03,734 but today, it's shattered into millions of pieces. 91 00:06:06,467 --> 00:06:08,500 Ahmad looks for fragments, 92 00:06:08,500 --> 00:06:10,367 which he hopes may hold clues about 93 00:06:10,433 --> 00:06:13,066 the origins of the people who live in Palmyra, 94 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:14,800 known as Palmyrenes. 95 00:06:16,734 --> 00:06:18,500 He eventually finds some pieces, 96 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:21,000 which reveal Roman-style decoration 97 00:06:23,367 --> 00:06:26,000 and figures in Roman military dress. 98 00:06:27,867 --> 00:06:30,000 But other carvings now likely buried deep in 99 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:30,634 But other carvings now likely buried deep in 100 00:06:30,634 --> 00:06:34,367 the rubble are special, as they show male figures 101 00:06:34,367 --> 00:06:35,467 wearing trousers, 102 00:06:37,867 --> 00:06:39,433 and women in veils, 103 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:42,800 distinctly un-Roman fashions. 104 00:06:43,867 --> 00:06:46,634 These depictions suggest the Palmyrenes are 105 00:06:46,634 --> 00:06:49,066 not originally Roman, 106 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:50,900 and that's not the only clue. 107 00:06:53,367 --> 00:06:55,367 Before its destruction, 108 00:06:55,433 --> 00:06:59,800 the temple's floor plan is a colossal 27,000 square feet. 109 00:07:01,100 --> 00:07:03,600 Grand columns surround it, 110 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,066 just like a typical Roman temple. 111 00:07:07,066 --> 00:07:10,734 But unusually, the roof is flat with openings, 112 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,634 perhaps so that rituals can be performed here. 113 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:17,634 Further breaking with Roman convention, 114 00:07:17,734 --> 00:07:20,533 the temple's entrance is not on the short end, 115 00:07:20,533 --> 00:07:22,066 but on the long side. 116 00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:27,367 And within is an altar dedicated to 117 00:07:27,367 --> 00:07:29,900 three mysterious Gods. 118 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,734 Who are they, and what can they tell us 119 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,233 about the origins of the Palmyrenes? 120 00:07:40,367 --> 00:07:43,734 Many artifacts rescued from the clutches of ISIS are 121 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,634 now securely held here, in the National Museum of Damascus. 122 00:07:51,467 --> 00:07:53,367 Dima Ashkar 123 00:07:53,367 --> 00:07:55,867 has rare access to surviving relics from 124 00:07:55,867 --> 00:07:58,800 Palmyra's temples and other parts of the site. 125 00:08:01,734 --> 00:08:04,066 She scours the collection for clues to 126 00:08:04,066 --> 00:08:07,433 the identity of the mysterious gods from the main temple 127 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,700 and comes across an incredibly 128 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:14,333 well preserved relief found nearby. 129 00:08:16,533 --> 00:08:19,066 She recognizes two figures on the right, 130 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,233 their large halos evidence of their godly status. 131 00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:40,867 Bel and Aglibol are often worshiped alongside 132 00:08:40,867 --> 00:08:42,867 the Sun God, Yahibol, 133 00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:46,533 who Dima believes is once on the right side of the relief. 134 00:08:47,867 --> 00:08:51,700 They are a unique blend of local and Mesopotamian gods 135 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:55,433 and are very likely the trio worshiped in the main temple. 136 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:04,433 And these are not the only Eastern influences in Palmyra. 137 00:09:05,634 --> 00:09:07,967 Many sculptures depict gods from all 138 00:09:07,967 --> 00:09:10,800 over the Levant, Arabia, and beyond. 139 00:09:11,734 --> 00:09:15,066 Clearly, Palmyra is a mix of cultures, 140 00:09:15,100 --> 00:09:18,433 coexisting and merging their ideas and beliefs. 141 00:09:22,967 --> 00:09:25,467 Ahmad wants to know what brings these different 142 00:09:25,467 --> 00:09:28,233 people here to this remote part of the desert. 143 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:30,000 On the edge of the city, 144 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,266 On the edge of the city, 145 00:09:31,333 --> 00:09:34,100 he finds a stone enclosure full of water. 146 00:09:37,467 --> 00:09:38,800 A natural spring. 147 00:09:42,367 --> 00:09:45,266 Ahmad believes this source may be what first attracts 148 00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:48,333 people here, at least as early as the Bronze Age. 149 00:10:00,266 --> 00:10:02,800 NARRATOR: Desert tribes live here for millennia. 150 00:10:03,967 --> 00:10:07,066 But it is the citizens of the 1st century CE 151 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:09,367 who put Palmyra on the map. 152 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:18,734 The Silk Road is vital for Rome's trade with the East, 153 00:10:18,734 --> 00:10:21,900 but the usual route is blocked by conflict with 154 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,166 Rome's enemies, the Parthians. 155 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,533 The Palmyrenes have a plan. 156 00:10:28,533 --> 00:10:30,000 Their camels take western goods through the desert 157 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,900 Their camels take western goods through the desert 158 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,734 to the River Euphrates, 159 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,634 where they're sent on to the East. 160 00:10:37,867 --> 00:10:42,233 And they return with spices, silk, and precious gems 161 00:10:44,066 --> 00:10:45,533 to be sent on to Rome. 162 00:10:48,734 --> 00:10:51,467 Palmyra becomes a melting pot of different 163 00:10:51,467 --> 00:10:54,433 people who come here to do business. 164 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:00,000 Palmyra booms over the next two centuries 165 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,533 Palmyra booms over the next two centuries 166 00:11:02,533 --> 00:11:04,734 and reaches its population's peak. 167 00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:07,900 But there's a mystery. 168 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,100 How does this enormous city get the water it needs 169 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:14,867 to survive 170 00:11:14,867 --> 00:11:17,533 and supply its many flowing fountains? 171 00:11:19,367 --> 00:11:22,266 And what can these mysterious piles of rubble 172 00:11:22,266 --> 00:11:26,734 tell us about the lives and deaths of the Palmyrenes? 173 00:11:36,367 --> 00:11:39,734 NARRATOR: Palmyra, deep in the Syrian desert. 174 00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:45,367 Archaeologist Ahmad Deeb wants to find out how its 30,000 175 00:11:45,367 --> 00:11:48,000 citizens survive in this arid landscape 176 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:49,800 with limited local water. 177 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,533 He hunts for clues to this Roman city's water supply. 178 00:11:56,900 --> 00:11:59,734 It's no easy mission, as so much has 179 00:11:59,734 --> 00:12:01,880 been recently razed to the ground by ISIS. 180 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:02,533 been recently razed to the ground by ISIS. 181 00:12:04,467 --> 00:12:05,967 But he soon discovers something 182 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,967 that retains a distinctive shape. 183 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:27,967 NARRATOR: These fountains are a clue that pressurized water 184 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:28,867 flows here. 185 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:31,880 But the Efqa Spring is lower in altitude 186 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:33,734 But the Efqa Spring is lower in altitude 187 00:12:33,734 --> 00:12:37,533 than the city, and water can't flow uphill. 188 00:12:37,533 --> 00:12:40,266 So there must be another hidden source. 189 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:46,333 A maze of underground channels lies deep beneath the city. 190 00:12:50,166 --> 00:12:53,333 An incredible engineered network of aqueducts 191 00:12:53,367 --> 00:12:56,900 feeds Palmyra with fresh drinking water. 192 00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:01,880 A tank on a nearby hill stores the water, 193 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,533 A tank on a nearby hill stores the water, 194 00:13:03,533 --> 00:13:06,100 which then flows through pipes downhill 195 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:08,333 for almost a mile 196 00:13:10,467 --> 00:13:12,533 It bursts out at high pressure 197 00:13:12,533 --> 00:13:15,734 into cascading fountains throughout the city. 198 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:22,333 Where does this supply of flowing water come from? 199 00:13:27,634 --> 00:13:29,734 Ahmad examines satellite imagery from 200 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,880 the area around Palmyra to find out. 201 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:32,433 the area around Palmyra to find out. 202 00:13:43,867 --> 00:13:46,166 NARRATOR: This line of dots is, in fact, 203 00:13:46,166 --> 00:13:47,734 a series of manholes, 204 00:13:48,634 --> 00:13:51,166 clear evidence of an underground aqueduct 205 00:13:51,166 --> 00:13:52,533 leading to the city. 206 00:13:55,734 --> 00:13:58,233 Ahmad follows the aqueduct for mile afrrer mile. 207 00:14:00,166 --> 00:14:01,880 and discovers it suddenly disappears underground. 208 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,266 and discovers it suddenly disappears underground. 209 00:14:04,900 --> 00:14:07,467 He wants to know where this subterranean water 210 00:14:07,467 --> 00:14:08,634 is coming from. 211 00:14:11,634 --> 00:14:15,066 Ahmad launches a drone to get a bird's eye view... 212 00:14:22,100 --> 00:14:24,634 ...and it soon reveals something distinctive, 213 00:14:26,467 --> 00:14:30,533 hills scarred with deep wadis, or river canyons. 214 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:37,000 This region is dry today but always has wet seasons 215 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,734 where huge amounts of rain scour out these wadi canyons. 216 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,367 Some water collects underground at the foot 217 00:14:45,367 --> 00:14:48,634 of the hills to create permanent natural springs. 218 00:14:50,266 --> 00:14:52,166 The clever Palmyrenes exploit 219 00:14:52,166 --> 00:14:54,967 these springs and use gravity alone 220 00:14:56,166 --> 00:14:59,166 to channel at least 260,000 gallons 221 00:14:59,233 --> 00:15:01,880 of fresh water to Palmyra each day 222 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:02,867 of fresh water to Palmyra each day 223 00:15:02,867 --> 00:15:04,533 so the city's residents can 224 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,266 enjoy a sophisticated Roman lifestyle. 225 00:15:10,367 --> 00:15:12,100 They develop innovative ways 226 00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:14,533 to harness additional fresh rainwater. 227 00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:22,066 High in the mountains, 228 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:24,433 they build dams across the rivers 229 00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:28,533 to slow and regulate water flow. 230 00:15:31,166 --> 00:15:31,880 They create walled fields inside 231 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,634 They create walled fields inside 232 00:15:33,734 --> 00:15:37,166 the wadis to capture the rich sediments 233 00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:39,867 and provide the perfect soil for crops. 234 00:15:42,367 --> 00:15:45,367 And for farms and houses out of town, 235 00:15:45,367 --> 00:15:48,100 they construct cisterns to collect 236 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:50,266 and retain water for when it is needed. 237 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,533 These water control and capture techniques allow 238 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:01,433 a huge area around Palmyra to be transformed into farmland. 239 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,266 The Palmyrenes not only survive but thrive in 240 00:16:07,333 --> 00:16:10,367 the desert thanks to these techniques, 241 00:16:10,367 --> 00:16:14,066 and their ingenuity doesn't stop there. 242 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:16,967 How do Palmyra's citizens create one of 243 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:20,467 the grandest cities of the ancient world? 244 00:16:20,467 --> 00:16:22,000 And how do they do this 245 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,433 hundreds of miles from any other civilization? 246 00:16:38,266 --> 00:16:40,367 NARRATOR: Palmyra, 247 00:16:40,367 --> 00:16:42,166 a vast city 248 00:16:43,367 --> 00:16:46,333 crammed full of incredible ancient wonders. 249 00:16:48,734 --> 00:16:53,266 Houmam Saad has been studying Palmyra for over 20 years 250 00:16:54,266 --> 00:16:56,467 and has a unique bond with the site. 251 00:17:08,367 --> 00:17:11,000 NARRATOR: Houmam ventures into the ruins. 252 00:17:12,533 --> 00:17:16,166 Many of Palmyra's most impressive monuments were badly 253 00:17:16,166 --> 00:17:18,367 damaged by Islamic extremists, 254 00:17:18,367 --> 00:17:22,367 ISIS, during a four-year reign of terror that sees them 255 00:17:22,367 --> 00:17:25,266 capture much of Syria and Iraq. 256 00:17:25,333 --> 00:17:28,367 Houmam wants to study these ruins to find out how 257 00:17:28,367 --> 00:17:31,467 the Palmyrenes create a city as grand as Rome 258 00:17:32,734 --> 00:17:34,467 in this isolated desert. 259 00:17:35,734 --> 00:17:38,266 He examines the stone used to create 260 00:17:38,333 --> 00:17:39,533 most of the buildings here, 261 00:17:41,367 --> 00:17:43,734 a beautiful local limestone. 262 00:17:45,367 --> 00:17:47,900 The Palmyrenes choose it not only for 263 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,734 its striking appearance but also its structural properties. 264 00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:56,600 The stone is almost as hard as marble, 265 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:58,967 and its natural strength is the key 266 00:17:58,967 --> 00:18:01,066 to how so much survives, 267 00:18:01,100 --> 00:18:02,680 even withstanding demolition by ISIS. 268 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:03,433 even withstanding demolition by ISIS. 269 00:18:10,266 --> 00:18:11,867 NARRATOR: Archaeologists are now trying to 270 00:18:11,867 --> 00:18:15,066 piece together these particular stones 271 00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:16,634 to rebuild one of the most 272 00:18:16,734 --> 00:18:19,800 impressive structures that ISIS does destroy. 273 00:18:23,734 --> 00:18:27,800 A spectacular arch once towers over the heart of Palmyra, 274 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,680 over 40 feet tall 20 feet wide. 275 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:33,734 over 40 feet tall 20 feet wide. 276 00:18:33,734 --> 00:18:36,467 It appears like a typical Roman arch, 277 00:18:37,734 --> 00:18:40,367 but pulling the stones apart 278 00:18:40,367 --> 00:18:43,800 reveals a fascinating piece of ancient engineering. 279 00:18:45,166 --> 00:18:48,000 The blocks are all irregular shapes. 280 00:18:49,734 --> 00:18:52,734 And instead of a triangular keystone, 281 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,333 an 8-foot lintel caps the arch like a doorway. 282 00:18:57,266 --> 00:19:01,500 Why do the Palmyrenes make their arch this unusual way, 283 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:02,680 unlike any others across the Roman Empire? 284 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,433 unlike any others across the Roman Empire? 285 00:19:07,467 --> 00:19:10,266 Egyptian archaeologist, Adel Kelany, 286 00:19:10,333 --> 00:19:12,266 wants to solve this mystery 287 00:19:12,266 --> 00:19:14,367 using ancient building techniques. 288 00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:19,266 A Roman arch stays up because it's made of 289 00:19:19,266 --> 00:19:22,533 wedge-shaped stones locked in place with a keystone. 290 00:19:25,066 --> 00:19:27,734 But the Palmyrenes reject the Roman arch 291 00:19:27,734 --> 00:19:29,734 in favor of a different style. 292 00:19:31,367 --> 00:19:32,680 Adel examines a photo of the Palmyra arch, 293 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,467 Adel examines a photo of the Palmyra arch, 294 00:19:35,266 --> 00:19:38,266 taken before the ISIS destruction, 295 00:19:38,333 --> 00:19:41,333 for clues to the ancient engineers' design. 296 00:19:50,500 --> 00:19:52,734 NARRATOR: Unlike in a Roman arch, 297 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,066 the blocks are square cut rather than wedge-shaped, 298 00:19:58,500 --> 00:20:02,100 and they extend horizontally into the walls on either side. 299 00:20:03,266 --> 00:20:05,467 Adel believes these uniquely shaped 300 00:20:05,533 --> 00:20:08,533 blocks could be the engineer's secret. 301 00:20:17,266 --> 00:20:20,467 NARRATOR: Adel's team tests his theory by building 302 00:20:20,533 --> 00:20:23,634 a 1/8 scale replica of the Palmyra arch. 303 00:20:27,367 --> 00:20:29,734 It soon starts to become clear just 304 00:20:29,734 --> 00:20:32,233 how clever the Palmyrene engineers are. 305 00:20:33,967 --> 00:20:37,000 Each stone overhangs the one before 306 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,900 to form the curve of the arch. 307 00:20:40,166 --> 00:20:43,734 Some are long to act as counterbalance, 308 00:20:43,734 --> 00:20:45,634 and as more stones are added, 309 00:20:45,734 --> 00:20:47,800 they hold in place the blocks below. 310 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:53,066 The Palmyra arch is built like a wall without supports, 311 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:54,634 right up to the top. 312 00:20:57,367 --> 00:20:59,367 They complete the curved shape with 313 00:20:59,367 --> 00:21:01,734 the addition of a wide lintel 314 00:21:01,734 --> 00:21:02,680 that provides downward pressure to 315 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,266 that provides downward pressure to 316 00:21:04,333 --> 00:21:06,066 hold the whole structure together. 317 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:11,166 The Palmyrenes likely invent this clever method 318 00:21:11,233 --> 00:21:12,867 as the true arch technique 319 00:21:12,867 --> 00:21:14,867 has not yet traveled to their remote part of 320 00:21:14,867 --> 00:21:15,900 the Roman world. 321 00:21:17,166 --> 00:21:20,266 It's an effective and practical solution. 322 00:21:29,367 --> 00:21:31,266 NARRATOR: This isn't the Palmyrenes' 323 00:21:31,333 --> 00:21:32,680 only engineering innovation. 324 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:33,734 only engineering innovation. 325 00:21:33,734 --> 00:21:35,533 They have another clever trick 326 00:21:35,533 --> 00:21:38,100 for their homes and commercial buildings. 327 00:21:39,533 --> 00:21:42,467 Houmam examines the walls of an ancient shop in 328 00:21:42,467 --> 00:21:44,100 central Palmyra. 329 00:21:57,166 --> 00:22:01,367 Opus Palmyrenum is a unique building method. 330 00:22:01,367 --> 00:22:02,680 Quarrymen use large picks 331 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,367 Quarrymen use large picks 332 00:22:04,433 --> 00:22:06,467 to cut thin sheets of stone. 333 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,333 They are far lighter than solid blocks 334 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,467 and are more easily transported 335 00:22:14,467 --> 00:22:16,900 and lifted into position using cranes. 336 00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:24,734 Two walls are then secured together with mortar to give 337 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,433 the appearance of solid stone at a fraction of the cost. 338 00:22:30,867 --> 00:22:32,680 This helps the Palmyrenes construct 339 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:32,900 This helps the Palmyrenes construct 340 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,166 homes and shops quickly and cheaply, 341 00:22:36,233 --> 00:22:38,433 and the city expands rapidly. 342 00:22:39,734 --> 00:22:43,734 These expert engineers are masters at inventing solutions, 343 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:48,066 which mimic Roman monumental style and make 344 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:51,000 the most of their limited local resources. 345 00:22:52,166 --> 00:22:55,634 Palmyra grows to over three square miles 346 00:22:55,734 --> 00:22:57,634 by the 3rd century CE, 347 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,433 a shining beacon in the desert. 348 00:23:02,367 --> 00:23:02,680 What is life like here? 349 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,333 What is life like here? 350 00:23:05,367 --> 00:23:07,867 And how does Palmyra transform into 351 00:23:07,867 --> 00:23:10,333 the capital of a vast empire? 352 00:23:23,266 --> 00:23:25,634 NARRATOR: Palmyra, 353 00:23:25,734 --> 00:23:27,900 a monumental stone city, 354 00:23:29,867 --> 00:23:33,233 a triumph of engineering, which, before its destruction 355 00:23:33,266 --> 00:23:36,800 by ISIS, rivals even the grandeur of Rome. 356 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,266 Ahmad Deeb is on a quest to 357 00:23:42,266 --> 00:23:44,734 piece together the lives of the Palmyrenes. 358 00:23:46,700 --> 00:23:47,680 He explores the columns in the main colonnaded street. 359 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:49,967 He explores the columns in the main colonnaded street. 360 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,233 These are some of the only standing ruins 361 00:23:54,266 --> 00:23:55,967 ISIS does not destroy. 362 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,467 Ahmad spots strange shelves that 363 00:24:00,467 --> 00:24:02,734 protrude from halfway up the columns, 364 00:24:03,900 --> 00:24:06,233 and he suspects what they are for. 365 00:24:13,266 --> 00:24:16,533 NARRATOR: These are plinths for now lost sculptures. 366 00:24:18,533 --> 00:24:20,433 And they're on nearly every column. 367 00:24:24,100 --> 00:24:27,266 This huge colonnaded street runs through 368 00:24:27,266 --> 00:24:28,533 the heart of Palmyra. 369 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,266 It connects the western gate to the Temple of Bel 370 00:24:34,266 --> 00:24:35,333 in the east. 371 00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:41,533 The columns along the street display 372 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:43,233 different bronze statues. 373 00:24:44,467 --> 00:24:47,680 Each statue is a portrait of a person, not a god, 374 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:49,233 Each statue is a portrait of a person, not a god, 375 00:24:49,266 --> 00:24:51,333 a hall of fame, 376 00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:57,533 clearly designed to be seen by all who visit the city. 377 00:24:59,634 --> 00:25:01,900 Who are these people, 378 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:05,433 and what can they reveal about life in Palmyra? 379 00:25:08,467 --> 00:25:12,533 Ahmad investigates the columns for further clues. 380 00:25:17,467 --> 00:25:17,680 He spots something intriguing. 381 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,800 He spots something intriguing. 382 00:25:26,100 --> 00:25:29,367 NARRATOR: These texts are written in both Greek, 383 00:25:29,367 --> 00:25:33,467 the language of the Eastern Roman Empire, and local Aramaic. 384 00:25:33,467 --> 00:25:36,800 One text in particular catches Ahmad's eye. 385 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,734 NARRATOR: The name of the person memorialized here, Sallamathos, 386 00:25:54,734 --> 00:25:57,734 son of Males, does not sound Roman. 387 00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:00,467 And the same is true of most 388 00:26:00,467 --> 00:26:02,533 of the inscriptions on the other columns. 389 00:26:04,467 --> 00:26:08,266 They each honor local people who pay for public works 390 00:26:08,266 --> 00:26:11,066 or protect the trade on which the city relies. 391 00:26:12,634 --> 00:26:15,634 This reveals that it's Palmyrene locals, 392 00:26:15,734 --> 00:26:17,680 not their Roman overlords, who ensure the smooth 393 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:18,867 not their Roman overlords, who ensure the smooth 394 00:26:18,867 --> 00:26:19,867 running of life here. 395 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:23,734 And in return, they have an elite, 396 00:26:23,734 --> 00:26:25,734 revered position in society. 397 00:26:28,266 --> 00:26:31,900 Ahmad investigates what life is like for these elites, 398 00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:34,533 and for the rest of the Palmyrenes living here. 399 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,367 He studies images of strange objects, 400 00:26:39,367 --> 00:26:42,433 known as tesserae, unearthed across the city. 401 00:26:56,734 --> 00:26:59,734 NARRATOR: These small ceramic tokens depict priests 402 00:26:59,734 --> 00:27:02,333 with vines or people serving wine. 403 00:27:05,266 --> 00:27:09,266 These are single-use tickets, or tokens, to dining parties, 404 00:27:09,266 --> 00:27:12,333 which take place in banqueting halls at the temples. 405 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,433 At the annual Festival of Bel, 406 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:32,533 the city's inhabitants take part in a procession along 407 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:33,900 the colonnaded street. 408 00:27:37,634 --> 00:27:39,867 When they arrive at the main temple, 409 00:27:39,867 --> 00:27:43,967 priests gather with bulls to make sacrifices to the gods. 410 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:51,100 The majority of Palmyra's citizens picnic and celebrate 411 00:27:51,100 --> 00:27:54,433 together outside around the courtyard of the sanctuary. 412 00:27:58,166 --> 00:28:01,867 But a select few dine in a private banqueting hall, 413 00:28:01,867 --> 00:28:05,634 enjoying wine and the best of the sacrificial meats. 414 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:15,266 The Palmyrenes enjoy many feasts throughout the year 415 00:28:15,266 --> 00:28:16,634 and life is good 416 00:28:16,734 --> 00:28:17,680 in this desert oasis, 417 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:18,967 in this desert oasis, 418 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:20,967 especially for the lucky elites. 419 00:28:22,467 --> 00:28:26,000 Now, strange structures unearthed outside the city 420 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,800 reveal another aspect to life and death here. 421 00:28:31,100 --> 00:28:34,066 What can these mummified remains reveal 422 00:28:34,100 --> 00:28:37,066 about the beliefs of the Palmyrene people? 423 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,166 NARRATOR: Palmyra is a bustling city, 424 00:28:50,166 --> 00:28:53,266 home to some 30,000 people at its peak 425 00:28:53,266 --> 00:28:55,900 between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE. 426 00:28:58,100 --> 00:29:01,066 Its citizens include a wealthy elite, shown 427 00:29:01,066 --> 00:29:04,000 in statues along the main colonnaded street. 428 00:29:06,166 --> 00:29:08,166 Houmam Saad is on a mission 429 00:29:08,166 --> 00:29:11,266 to unearth more clues about Palmyra's inhabitants. 430 00:29:13,266 --> 00:29:13,440 He ventures to the last surviving relics of 431 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:15,734 He ventures to the last surviving relics of 432 00:29:15,734 --> 00:29:17,734 an area on the edge of the city. 433 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:22,800 Piles of enormous stone blocks 434 00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:24,734 are scattered across the landscape, 435 00:29:26,066 --> 00:29:29,367 the remains of structures destroyed by terror group, ISIS. 436 00:29:33,066 --> 00:29:36,533 Houmam searches for clues to what these buildings were. 437 00:29:38,867 --> 00:29:42,734 He finds an inscription in Greek and Aramaic. 438 00:29:57,166 --> 00:29:59,266 NARRATOR: These are the remains of a colossal 439 00:29:59,266 --> 00:30:03,433 tower tomb, which soars over 65 feet tall. 440 00:30:04,533 --> 00:30:07,734 More than 180 of these giants dot the landscape 441 00:30:07,734 --> 00:30:09,000 around Palmyra, 442 00:30:10,533 --> 00:30:13,266 striking monuments each dedicated 443 00:30:13,333 --> 00:30:13,440 to a different wealthy family. 444 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,000 to a different wealthy family. 445 00:30:17,734 --> 00:30:20,433 Inside, there are several stories, 446 00:30:21,634 --> 00:30:25,867 end each level has rows of niches from floor to ceiling. 447 00:30:25,867 --> 00:30:27,800 Mummies lie inside, 448 00:30:29,734 --> 00:30:32,266 some of the only ones in the Middle East outside 449 00:30:32,266 --> 00:30:33,533 of Egypt. 450 00:30:33,634 --> 00:30:35,734 What can these burials reveal of 451 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:39,100 Palmyrene beliefs about life and death? 452 00:30:42,266 --> 00:30:43,440 ISIS terrorists destroy the towers and their contents. 453 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:45,533 ISIS terrorists destroy the towers and their contents. 454 00:30:47,867 --> 00:30:49,266 They think these symbols of 455 00:30:49,266 --> 00:30:52,734 pre-Islamic belief offend their God, 456 00:30:52,734 --> 00:30:54,634 but luckily, 457 00:30:54,634 --> 00:30:56,867 archaeologists photographed the mummified 458 00:30:56,867 --> 00:30:59,066 bodies in the years before. 459 00:30:59,066 --> 00:31:01,266 These rare images are some of 460 00:31:01,266 --> 00:31:04,433 the only surviving evidence of these curious mummies. 461 00:31:07,266 --> 00:31:10,367 Lidija McKnight and Jenefer Metcalfe 462 00:31:10,433 --> 00:31:12,467 want to unlock their secrets. 463 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,367 JENEFER: Mummies are absolutely fascinating to study, 464 00:31:16,367 --> 00:31:18,734 to understand an actual ancient culture 465 00:31:18,734 --> 00:31:22,166 in a totally unique way. 466 00:31:22,233 --> 00:31:24,900 NARRATOR: They want to find out why the Palmyrenes mummify 467 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,867 their dead and if they could be 468 00:31:26,867 --> 00:31:30,533 influenced by Egyptian ideas and practices. 469 00:31:30,634 --> 00:31:33,266 It's really interesting to find them in places 470 00:31:33,266 --> 00:31:36,233 that are close to Egypt but not Egypt itself. 471 00:31:38,066 --> 00:31:40,734 NARRATOR: First, the team analyze a CT scan 472 00:31:40,734 --> 00:31:43,440 of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. 473 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:43,533 of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. 474 00:31:45,367 --> 00:31:49,166 We can see that the skull cavity is empty. 475 00:31:49,233 --> 00:31:51,533 The brain's been deliberately removed. 476 00:31:51,533 --> 00:31:53,734 NARRATOR: Brain removal is typical of 477 00:31:53,734 --> 00:31:55,266 Egyptian mummification. 478 00:31:55,266 --> 00:31:57,166 The brain rots quickly. 479 00:31:57,166 --> 00:31:59,600 It is carefully extracted with a special hook 480 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:00,734 via the nostrils. 481 00:32:00,867 --> 00:32:04,867 The Egyptians also remove abdominal organs, preserving 482 00:32:04,867 --> 00:32:07,266 and often storing them in special vessels called 483 00:32:07,266 --> 00:32:08,800 canopic jars. 484 00:32:08,900 --> 00:32:11,634 LIDIJA: The Egyptians believed that by preserving the organs, 485 00:32:11,734 --> 00:32:13,440 the person would be a complete body for the afterlife. 486 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,266 the person would be a complete body for the afterlife. 487 00:32:16,266 --> 00:32:18,900 So it was vitally important to their religious beliefs. 488 00:32:19,867 --> 00:32:23,066 NARRATOR: Next, they investigate the mummies from Palmyra. 489 00:32:24,867 --> 00:32:26,266 They want to find out whether 490 00:32:26,266 --> 00:32:28,800 the Palmyrenes also remove these organs. 491 00:32:29,867 --> 00:32:33,066 We do know that from a report that at least one mummy 492 00:32:33,066 --> 00:32:34,467 had its brain removed, 493 00:32:34,533 --> 00:32:38,266 but that was centrally through a hole in the forehead. 494 00:32:38,266 --> 00:32:41,533 NARRATOR: This method causes much greater facial damage, 495 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:45,867 and they discover evidence that the Palmyrenes 496 00:32:45,867 --> 00:32:49,467 do not preserve any of the abdominal organs. 497 00:32:49,467 --> 00:32:52,533 They may have been burnt rather than being retained. 498 00:32:52,533 --> 00:32:55,266 NARRATOR: The Egyptians take great care to keep the body 499 00:32:55,266 --> 00:32:58,800 intact as a physical home for the soul in the afterlife, 500 00:33:00,166 --> 00:33:02,367 a belief which doesn't appear to be shared 501 00:33:02,367 --> 00:33:03,634 by the Palmyrenes. 502 00:33:04,867 --> 00:33:06,734 The skin of the Palmyrene mummies 503 00:33:06,734 --> 00:33:10,266 also appears to be drier and more brittle. 504 00:33:10,266 --> 00:33:11,900 It is evidence they may 505 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:13,440 use less sophisticated preservation techniques. 506 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:14,533 use less sophisticated preservation techniques. 507 00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:18,066 But the Palmyrenes certainly seem to put 508 00:33:18,066 --> 00:33:21,066 great care into the final stage of the process. 509 00:33:22,634 --> 00:33:26,600 Chinese silk, also discovered by archaeologists inside 510 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:30,533 the tombs, suggests the mummies are wrapped luxuriously. 511 00:33:32,266 --> 00:33:33,867 All this evidence shows 512 00:33:33,867 --> 00:33:36,900 the wide scope of Palmyra's cultural influences. 513 00:33:38,867 --> 00:33:41,166 They share similar mummification techniques 514 00:33:41,166 --> 00:33:43,440 with Egypt but have a set of beliefs of their own. 515 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:44,900 with Egypt but have a set of beliefs of their own. 516 00:33:47,266 --> 00:33:49,467 It is impossible for researchers to draw 517 00:33:49,533 --> 00:33:53,233 firm conclusions about these beliefs without more evidence. 518 00:33:54,467 --> 00:33:58,066 But one thing is clear, wealthy Palmyrenes honor 519 00:33:58,066 --> 00:33:59,967 their dead in a unique way, 520 00:33:59,967 --> 00:34:02,800 with techniques and materials imported 521 00:34:02,900 --> 00:34:04,533 to their cultural crossroads. 522 00:34:09,066 --> 00:34:12,734 Wealthy families each build their own tower tomb, 523 00:34:12,734 --> 00:34:13,440 into which they place their dead relatives. 524 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:15,533 into which they place their dead relatives. 525 00:34:19,734 --> 00:34:23,066 These tombs line the main road into town 526 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:26,634 and are admired by all who pass, 527 00:34:26,734 --> 00:34:29,166 but only family members may enter. 528 00:34:31,266 --> 00:34:33,467 They carefully wrap the deceased 529 00:34:35,266 --> 00:34:37,367 and then seal their resting place 530 00:34:37,367 --> 00:34:39,734 with a stone likeness of their face. 531 00:34:42,266 --> 00:34:43,440 When descendants pay visits, 532 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:44,266 When descendants pay visits, 533 00:34:44,266 --> 00:34:47,367 they light candles and make offerings 534 00:34:47,367 --> 00:34:48,634 to assert their right to 535 00:34:48,734 --> 00:34:51,533 the same wealth and power as their ancestors. 536 00:34:54,266 --> 00:34:57,000 Houmam's survey of Palmyra reveals one final 537 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,634 secret of Palmyrene burial traditions. 538 00:35:01,867 --> 00:35:04,166 He has been granted unique access 539 00:35:04,233 --> 00:35:05,900 to enter another type of tomb. 540 00:35:07,967 --> 00:35:11,100 The towers can only hold a finite number of bodies. 541 00:35:12,734 --> 00:35:13,440 So over time, the Palmyrenes build these, 542 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,734 So over time, the Palmyrenes build these, 543 00:35:16,734 --> 00:35:18,467 underground tombs, 544 00:35:19,734 --> 00:35:21,800 which hold many more burials 545 00:35:23,066 --> 00:35:26,367 and are just as richly decorated as the tower tombs. 546 00:35:27,734 --> 00:35:30,467 But a clue inside suggests they are 547 00:35:30,533 --> 00:35:34,433 no longer reserved for a single wealthy family. 548 00:35:48,867 --> 00:35:52,533 NARRATOR: These underground crypts mean elaborate burials 549 00:35:52,533 --> 00:35:54,900 are now available to all who can afford it. 550 00:35:56,166 --> 00:35:59,800 The Palmyrenes are businesspeople, even in death. 551 00:36:03,734 --> 00:36:06,000 The funerary inscriptions date up to 552 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,066 the end of the 3rd century CE 553 00:36:09,066 --> 00:36:11,266 but then abruptly stop. 554 00:36:11,266 --> 00:36:13,440 It suggests monumental tomb building suddenly halts. 555 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:15,467 It suggests monumental tomb building suddenly halts. 556 00:36:15,533 --> 00:36:19,734 Is this the end of Palmyra's golden age? 557 00:36:19,734 --> 00:36:22,734 What happens to this once great city? 558 00:36:32,533 --> 00:36:34,634 NARRATOR: Palmyra, 559 00:36:34,734 --> 00:36:36,734 a city which venerates its dead 560 00:36:36,734 --> 00:36:39,166 with extraordinary burial traditions. 561 00:36:41,100 --> 00:36:44,266 Ahmad Deeb investigates what happens to bring 562 00:36:44,266 --> 00:36:46,900 this vibrant culture to a sudden stop. 563 00:36:50,634 --> 00:36:53,734 He examines a column on the main street 564 00:36:53,734 --> 00:36:55,100 and finds one of the last 565 00:36:55,100 --> 00:36:57,533 statue inscriptions written in the city. 566 00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:18,266 NARRATOR: Queen Zenobia is the most famous ruler of Palmyra, 567 00:37:18,266 --> 00:37:20,800 a brave warrior queen 568 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,734 who is responsible for the city's greatest triumph. 569 00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:28,800 Zenobia's husband is the client king of Palmyra. 570 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:31,000 Zenobia's husband is the client king of Palmyra. 571 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:34,066 He dies suddenly in 267 CE, 572 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:37,634 and she becomes regent for their young son. 573 00:37:39,266 --> 00:37:43,000 Zenobia embraces the role -- she is determined to 574 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:47,533 expand Palmyra's territory and challenge her Roman overlords. 575 00:37:51,367 --> 00:37:54,734 Ahmad explores whether Zenobia is successful in this quest. 576 00:37:56,266 --> 00:37:58,333 He examines a rare coin. 577 00:37:59,367 --> 00:38:00,634 It is now faded, 578 00:38:00,734 --> 00:38:03,867 but Ahmad can identify Zenobia's profile. 579 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:15,867 NARRATOR: This is one of the only existing 580 00:38:15,867 --> 00:38:19,166 images of Queen Zenobia from her lifetime. 581 00:38:19,166 --> 00:38:23,233 And coins like this are found in sites all over the Near East. 582 00:38:34,266 --> 00:38:37,467 NARRATOR: The wide distribution of these coins is evidence 583 00:38:37,467 --> 00:38:40,433 that Zenobia conquers much of the Eastern Roman. 584 00:38:41,367 --> 00:38:45,333 She overruns the Romans, from Türkiye to Egypt, 585 00:38:45,367 --> 00:38:48,367 in less than two years of fighting, 586 00:38:48,367 --> 00:38:51,967 a rare and incredible feat against a mighty opponent. 587 00:38:53,100 --> 00:38:57,066 And Palmyra becomes the capital of her vast empire. 588 00:39:01,166 --> 00:39:05,433 But Zenobia's conquering spree does not last. 589 00:39:05,500 --> 00:39:08,333 Ahmad finds a final clue in the city, 590 00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:12,867 evidence of Roman military fortifications. 591 00:39:18,634 --> 00:39:21,467 NARRATOR: These Roman military structures date 592 00:39:21,467 --> 00:39:23,333 to around 290 CE 593 00:39:25,467 --> 00:39:27,967 and suggest a hostile takeover. 594 00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:37,233 Zenobia is a threat to Rome who needs to be eliminated. 595 00:39:38,367 --> 00:39:41,967 Troops tear into Palmyra, attacking the city. 596 00:39:44,367 --> 00:39:48,533 Zenobia's fate is a mystery, but some say she is 597 00:39:48,634 --> 00:39:52,433 taken to Rome, paraded in chains, and then killed. 598 00:39:59,166 --> 00:40:00,867 Following her death, 599 00:40:00,867 --> 00:40:04,066 the Romans turn Palmyra into a military camp. 600 00:40:06,367 --> 00:40:09,467 No longer the capital of a great empire 601 00:40:09,467 --> 00:40:12,233 nor a buzzing Silk Road city, 602 00:40:12,266 --> 00:40:15,467 Palmyra's glorious golden age is over, 603 00:40:15,467 --> 00:40:18,166 and it is gradually abandoned, 604 00:40:18,166 --> 00:40:21,800 eventually becoming a target for ISIS terrorists. 605 00:40:23,266 --> 00:40:27,734 But today, Palmyra is still a globally important site. 606 00:40:46,266 --> 00:40:49,467 NARRATOR: Archaeologists are determined not to let Palmyra's 607 00:40:49,467 --> 00:40:53,066 destruction by ISIS be its final chapter. 608 00:41:03,467 --> 00:41:07,467 NARRATOR: Palmyra will always be a pearl of the desert. 609 00:41:07,467 --> 00:41:10,467 Its people use ingenious engineering to 610 00:41:10,467 --> 00:41:13,433 combine the best of East and West. 611 00:41:14,266 --> 00:41:16,634 They honor locals as heroes 612 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:21,166 and build intricate tombs for their dead. 613 00:41:21,166 --> 00:41:24,634 This is the true story of the epic rise 614 00:41:24,634 --> 00:41:28,800 and fall of the great Empire of Palmyra. 615 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:29,000 and fall of the great Empire of Palmyra.