The ancient Semitic city of Palmyra is located in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. This city has been dated as far back as the Neolithic period through numerous archaeological artifacts. Written documents mention the city for the first time in the early second millennium B.C.E. Palmyra was ruled by various empires. The city became a subject of the Roman Empire in the first century C.E. Click here to enlarge.