Complex sentence: Aurelian spared Antiochus, but razed Palmyra to the ground, the most valuable monuments were taken by the emperor to decorate his Temple of Sol, while buildings were smashed, people were clubbed and cudgeled and Palmyra's holiest temple pillaged.
Split into simpler sentences: Aurelian spared Antiochus, but razed Palmyra to the ground. The most valuable monuments were taken by the emperor to decorate his Temple of Sol, while buildings were smashed, people were clubbed and cudgeled and Palmyra's holiest temple pillaged.