Description: 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.
Review Quotes: "Raja's account of Palmyrene history studies the city's glorious civilization of the first three centuries of our era in the context of the site's earlier settlement and especially of its later reception and also of the tragic events which occurred in Syria over the last decennium. The book is a vital contribution to the ongoing debates about Palmyra's place within multiple social, cultural, and political networks of the ancient world." -- Ted Kaizer, Durham University
"Raja's tightly-researched narrative makes Palmyra's people and their desert city stand out in vivid intercultural colors." -- Bert Smith, University of Oxford"Pearl of the Desert, though brief, is a fascinating exploration of an important but relatively unexplored city in the Syrian desert, its place between two powerful empires, and its people. For readers who want to know more, Raja has provided a 40-page bibliography with a wide variety of further reading options." -- Owain Williams, Ancient History 52