The Roman world
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Syria
Roman Syria was a busy province of cities, farms, and desert roads.
More to know
It linked the Mediterranean to trade farther east. Julia Domna came from Emesa. Apollodorus came from Damascus. Palmyra stood in this wider desert world.
What happened here
64 BC
Pompey organizes the east
Pompey settled many lands after wars in the east. Syria became a firm Roman province.
People tied to this place
- PompeyHe was a great general who later lost to Caesar.
- CrassusHe was Rome’s richest man and helped defeat Spartacus.
- GermanicusHe was a popular general in the imperial family.
- Apollodorus of DamascusHe designed great buildings and a famous bridge for Trajan.
- Julia DomnaShe was an empress who loved learning and held the court together.
- CaracallaHe made many free people across the empire into citizens.
- ZenobiaShe was queen of Palmyra and challenged Rome.
- FlammaHe was a famous gladiator who kept choosing to fight.