The documentary "Lost Empire of Palmira" explores the ancient city of Palmira, located in the heart of Syria and known as the "pearl of the desert." The city's grand ruins, which have survived for almost 2,000 years, were attacked and destroyed by ISIS in 2015 in an attempt to wipe out its non-Islamic heritage.
The documentary follows investigators as they return to the site, equipped with pioneering technology, to piece together the recently shattered city. They use ancient engineering techniques and venture into forgotten tombs to uncover how thousands of citizens survived and thrived in Palmira two millennia before ISIS arrives.
The documentary digitally reconstructs the city at the height of its glory and reveals the secrets of the lost empire of Palmira. Experts aim to solve the enduring riddle of the city's origins, and ancient texts suggest that Palmira was part of the Roman Empire by the first century CE, but its people had roots in the area before Roman takeover. The Temple of the city, which was a jewel in the desert, held clues about the origins of the Palmarin people.
The documentary also uncovers the story of one queen who was responsible for both the city's greatest glory and its tragic downfall.
