Marcus Ulpius Iarhai

Marcus Ulpius Iarhai was a wealthy and influential businessman from Palmyra. By the 1st century Palmyra had evolved into a prominent city basing its development on the caravan trade. The family to which Marcus belonged derived its wealth from agricultural and pastoral holdings near Palmyra. Iarhai was also engaged in caravan commerce as it is confirmed in the caravan inscriptions in his honor.

“To Marcus Ulpius Iarhai son of Hairan, son of Abgar, the patriot, the merchants who have returned from Scythia on the ship of Honainu son of Haddudan son of…, having helped and assisted them with great willingness (dedicated this) in his honour, in the month Dystos in the year 468 (AD 157)”.

Inscriptions like this one demonstrates that citizens of Palmyra participated in the remote trade with India, as well as in the caravan trade to the Gulf.