Palmyra was an ancient city in central Syria, founded between the 1st and the 2nd century CE. In antiquity, it was located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 180 km southwest of the Euphrates at Deir ez-Zor and was a vital caravan stop for travellers crossing the Syrian desert. The earliest documented reference to the city by its Semitic name Tadmor (meaning "the town that repels" in Amorite and "the indomitable town" in Aramaic) is recorded in 2nd millennium Babylonian tablets found in Mari. Palmyra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discovery of the ruined city by travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries resulted in its subsequent influence on architectural styles. This engraving by L. F. Cassas of mausoleums from Palmyra is from the 18th century.