Roman Palmyra: Identity, Community, and State Formation

Palmyra, an oasis city-state on the desert frontier between Rome and Parthia, developed a unique identity shaped by mutual cooperation between sedentary urban populations, village communities, and pastoralists. Unlike traditional dichotomies of settled versus nomadic lifestyles, Smith's analysis reveals a mixed economy supported by social and cultural kinship based on tribal values, as evidenced by genealogical inscriptions and Safaitic texts. The city's state formation process, marked by the establishment of civic institutions like the Temple of Bel and the 'four tribes,' reflected both Greco-Roman influences and distinct Palmyrene developments. This study provides a nuanced understanding of how Palmyra's frontier setting influenced its community dynamics and political evolution during the first three centuries CE.

Fischer-Genz, B. (2014). Roman Palmyra: Identity, Community, and State Formation. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 2(1), 65–66. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.2.1.0065