Terms and Concepts
Oasis
A fertile spot in a desert where water is found
What were the names of the two important trade routes that were accessible from Palmyra?
The Silk Road and The Spice Route
Name 4 items that would have been traded along the silk road
Silk, textiles, spices, grains, animal hides, woodwork, metalwork, religious objects, art work and precious stones
Name two economic buildings found in Palmyra
The Agora and Tariff Court
Name 4 natural threats to the site of Palmyra
1. Natural disasters e.g., earthquakes
2. Acid rain
3. Sunlight and exposure
4. Animals
5. Climate and weather
6. Soil Erosion
What does the term caravan?
A group of traders, pilgrims or others engaged in long distance travel.
Which two places heavily influenced Palmyra both culturally and politically?
Rome and Parthia
Who was responsible for the caravan's security?
The Strategoi - a group of archers mounted on camels
- Set out services that were taxed e.g., prostitution
- Regulations on trade
- Taxes on imports and exports
- Publicly display these regulations and prevent disputes between tax collectors, merchants, tradesman and citizens who paid taxes
Name 7 human threats to the site of Palmyra
1. War and acts of terror
2. Tourism
3. Flash photography and human touch
4. Looting
5. Vandalism
6. Poor Excavation
7. Litter
8. Encroaching modern towns and infrastructure
Semitic language that related to Hebrew and Phoenician
Aramaic
What are the two fertile zones surrounding Palmyra that provide it with fertile soil?
Euphrates River and the Mediterranean Coast
Name 2 of the advantages of travelling by camel
Goods transported by camel were taxed less
They eat anything
They provided milk
Accustomed to the desert conditions
Could go up to a week without water
Name the three different types of tombs from in Palmyra
1. Tower Tombs
2. Underground hypogeum
3. Tombs in the shape of a temple
Explain the differences between the terms conservation, reconstruction and restoration
Conservation: documenting, analysing, cleaning and stabilising a site to prevent further deterioration = preserve site in its existing state
Reconstruction: rebuilding a site as it was at the time of excavation or according to archaeologists interpretation
Restoration: the repair of a damaged object or site e.g., replacing missing parts
What does the term Wadi mean?
A dried river valley in desert areas but it can fill quickly after rain
In 14AD, Palmyra became a tributary of the Roman Empire. What does this mean?
They had to pay tribute to Rome
What does caravanserais mean?
They were 'stopping-off places' along the Silk Road where members of the trading caravan and their pack animals could rest and recover after a long journey and enjoy a feed
Name the two social buildings found in Palmyra and explain what occurred within
1. The Theatre: entertainment such as musical performances, lectures and plays of different genres
2. The Baths of Diocletian: roman style bath-house including bathing, socialising, massages, exercising and business deals
Name the 3 projects working on digital reconstruction of Palmyra
1. The New Palmyra Project
2. The Institute for Digital Archaeology
3. The German Archaeological Institute
What does the term Tadmor mean?
An ancient Semitic city in Syria. Tadmor translate to 'Palm Tree; upright' - it is now known as Palmyra
One of the earliest contacts with Rome dates to the 1st century BC. What was this?
Roman general Pompey established the province of Syria in 64BC
Name a natural, geographical, human and political difficulty with travelling along the Silk Road.
Natural: poor weather, hunger and exhaustion
Geographical: High mountain ranges, deserts and rivers
Human: Robbers in the mountains, desert bandits
Political: Heavy tributes on route along the Euphrates River
Name the three coins that made up the main currency of Palmyra
1. The denarius
2. The as
3. The modius
Name 3 of the 6 Syrian cities that have been placed on the World Heritage in Danger List
1. Aleppo
2. Northern Syria
3. Crac de Chevaliers
4. Palmyra
5. Damascus
6. Bosra