Pearl of the Desert

The time is ripe for a book on the archaeology and history of Palmyra, as well as an account of the site in the history of research in general and an analysis of the current situation, including the destruction and illicit trafficking of cultural goods from Palmyra. These three main aspects (archaeology and history of the site, history of research, current developments) will together highlight the ways in which this fascinating site has again and again become a focus in world history.