Source: Teixidor, The Pantheon of Palmyra 1979.

Under Roman influence (Zenobia came to power in the 3rd century CE), the city followed a hybrid western-eastern religious practice which was heavily influenced by Semitic practices. The principle deity was Bel (Ba'al), the original inhabitant of the very famous Temple of Bel at the site (it was recently destroyed by ISIS extremists). Bel/Baal appears frequently in Semitic communities in this role. By the first century CE, Bel was joined by Yarhibol (the Sun god) and Aglibol (the Moon god), both of which seem to have been local oasis deities. These three are called the Palmyrian Triad.

In addition to these were many, many other cults large and small. Palmyra has produced a great deal of inscriptions, many of them pertaining to religious practice. From inscriptions on blocks at the "first" temple of Bel we hear about Manawat, an Arabian goddess; Herta and Nanai, Babylonian goddesses; and the Caananite Reshef. Another god, Elqonera, has been identified as being roughly synonymous with the Greek deity Poseidon (see Teixidor 1979, p.26f).

The western neighborhood of the city was an Arab enclave, and located there was a temple to Allat which was excavated in the 1970s. This temple was probably the cultic center of the Arab population at Palmyra and Allat was called "The Lady of the Temple" there. Along with here there were also other gods (Shamash, e.g.). Elsewhere in the city, Allat was frequently assimilated with the Phoenician goddess Astarte (who is also assimilated with Aphrodite elsewhere). Ishtar also appears frequently. This is a good example of the sort of bridging effect Palmyra had between east and west and between the religious pantheons of different cultures that touched upon or passed through her walls. The city was a crossroads of ideas as well as people.

There are many other gods mentioned in the Teixidor book, including tutelary and 'oriental' deities and sub-deities. His last chapter discusses an enigmatic "anonymous" god, dedications to whom begin to appear under the High Empire (about the 2nd c. CE). They always mention the god "whose name is blessed forever."