Historical Trajectories of Palmyra’s Elites through the Lens of Archaeological Data

The Palmyra Portrait Project, led by Professor Rubina Raja, has collected almost four thousand portraits, and collated data on over three hundred recorded tombs from the site of Palmyra, Syria. Combined with archaeological evidence for building activity, trade, historical events that affected city, it is possible to trace highs lows this trading oasis reveal growth decline Palmyra’s elites. study discusses factors events, such as wars or plagues might have caused changes elite’s activities during these specific periods.