First look inside one of world’s most magical ancient ruins – now utterly destroyed by ISIS Palmyra before and after ISIS PALMYRA, Syria – The Syrian city of Palmyra stood for decades as a shining example of ancient civilization, a caravan stop on the Silk Road that served as the capital of Queen Zenobia’s empire. The city’s meticulously preserved Greco-Roman ruins landed it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, making it a top tourist attraction in the Middle East and a mecca for archaeologists and historians. Now the city once known for its priceless ancient art and artifacts has been ravaged...