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8. Palmyra
8.巴尔米拉（Palmyra）
Trade has always been a great source of wealth and knowledge for human civilization. Cities like Palmyra (“place of palms”), situated in the desert of present day Syria, are perfect examples. Built by the Romans when they seized control of the region in the first century AD, Palmyra acted as a central hub for trade within the Silk Road network.
贸易一直是人类文明的遗产和知识的主要来源。像巴尔米拉（Palmyra又译：帕尔米拉Place of palms：棕榈树之城）这样坐落在沙漠里的城市（如今的叙利亚所在地），就是完美的例证。公元1世纪，罗马人控制这片地区的时候建立了巴尔米拉，那时的巴尔米拉是古丝绸之路上最繁荣、最有文化底蕴的一座绿洲城市，也是地中海地区和古代东方的贸易中转站。
All goods coming to the West from China and India went through this city, which charged the traders as much as 25% for this privilege. Palmyra offered in return security, water, food, shelter and shade for travelers who were happy to pay to have access. Its design and architecture show the mercantile nature of the city — by connecting the Temple of Ba’al, Diocletian’s Camp, the Theater and the Agora with colonnaded streets some 1100 meters long, shade was provided for all sorts of traders and craftsmen.
所有中国和印度的商品要运输到西方都必须经过巴尔米拉，于是巴尔米拉便收取贸易者25%的中转费。当然，作为回报，巴尔米拉也会替支付中转费的商队保护货物的安全，为商队提供水，食物，暂住居所以及乘凉的荫蔽。这座城市的设计和建筑也彰显了它的商业性质——用大概1100米长的廊柱街道连接起巴力寺（Temple of Ba’al），戴克里先营（Diocletian’s Camp），剧院和集市，为来往的商人和工匠们提供荫蔽。
Palmyra had been a semi-independent city state influenced by Roman rule. When the city’s ruler, Odaenathus, was assassinated, his wife Zenobia came to power. Under her dominion, the city began to expand its rule throughout the Middle East, triggering a conflict with Rome. After Zenobia’s defeat and capture in 272 AD, she was paraded in golden shackles by Emperor Aurelian through the city of Rome, while Palmyra was sacked and never truly recovered.
巴尔米拉曾是罗马帝国统治下的一个享有自治权的城市。巴尔米拉的统治者，奥登纳图斯（Odaenathus）被暗杀后，他的妻子塞诺维娅（Zenobia）掌权。在她的带领下，巴尔米拉开始拓展在整个中东地区的统治，从而引发了与罗马的冲突。塞诺维娅战败并于公元272年被捕，她被皇帝奥勒利安（Aurelian）用金锁链铐着在罗马城中游行，从此巴尔米拉就被遗弃了，并且再也不复往日的繁荣。
