Queen Zenobia's Last Look Upon Palmyra,
by Herbert Schmalz

Zenobia (Arabic: زنوبيا‎, 240-after 274) was a Syrian queen who lived in the 3rd century. She was a queen of the Palmyrene Empire and the second wife to King Septimius Odaenathus. Upon his death she became the ruler of the empire. In 269, she conquered Egypt, expelling the Roman prefect, Tenagino Probus, whom she beheaded when he led an attempt to recapture the territory. She then proclaimed herself queen of Egypt. She ruled Egypt until 274, when she was defeated and taken as a hostage to Rome by Aurelian. Zenobia appeared in golden chains in Aurelian’s military triumph parade. Impressed by Zenobia, Aurelian freed her and granted her an elegant villa in Tibur (modern Tivoli, Italy). She became a prominent philosopher, socialite and Roman matron. Prominent Romans are counted as her descendants. Image File history File links Herbert_Schmalz-Zenobia. ... Image File history File links Herbert_Schmalz-Zenobia. ... Arabic redirects here. ... For alternate uses, see Number 240. ... Events The Gallic Empire (Gaul and Britain) is reconquered by Roman Emperor Aurelian With the conquests of the Palmyran Empire (272) and the Gallic Empire, the Roman Empire is united again Births Deaths Pope Felix I Cao Fang, emperor of the Kingdom of Wei Categories: 274 ... // Overview Events 212: Constitutio Antoniniana grants citizenship to all free Roman men 212-216: Baths of Caracalla 230-232: Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east 235-284: Crisis of the Third Century shakes Roman Empire 250-538: Kofun era, the first... Cleopatra is one of the most well-known queens regnant A queen regnant (plural queens regnant) is a woman monarch possessing and exercising all of the monarchal powers of a king, in contrast with a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king, and in and of her... Aurelian, personification of Sol, defeats the Palmyrene Empire, and celebrates ORIENS AVG, the Augustus Rising Sun. ... Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), (Arabic: أذينة = little ear Othayna), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a ruler of the Arab kingdom of Palmyra, Syria and later of the short lived Palmyrene Empire, in the second half of the third century, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the... Events Felix I is elected pope. ... Events The Gallic Empire (Gaul and Britain) is reconquered by Roman Emperor Aurelian With the conquests of the Palmyran Empire (272) and the Gallic Empire, the Roman Empire is united again Births Deaths Pope Felix I Cao Fang, emperor of the Kingdom of Wei Categories: 274 ... Lucius Domitius Aurelianus[1] (September 9, 214–September 275), known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270–275), was the second of several highly successful soldier-emperors who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. ... Tivoli, the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km from Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river, where it issues from the Sabine hills. ...

Biography

Family, Ancestry and Early life

Zenobia was born with the name Iulia (or Julia) Aurelia Zenobia. Her name in the Arabic language is Znwbya Bat Zaddai or (الزباء بنت عمرو بن الظرب بن حسان ابن أذينة بن السميدع); in Greek η Ζηνοβία and she is known as Xenobia or Septimia Zenobia (she added that name to her name when she married Septimius Odaenathus). Zenobia would put on official documents, Bat-Zabbai (daughter of Al-Zabba). Zenobia and her mother were called Al-Zabba, meaning "the one with long lovely hair". Arabic redirects here. ...

Her father, Zabaii ben Selim or Iulius (or Julius) Aurelius Zenobius, was a chieftain of Syria in 229 and her mother may have been Egyptian. Her father’s gentilicium Aurelius shows that his paternal ancestors received Roman citizenship under either Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (reigned 138-161), Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180), or Commodus (reigned 180-192). Zenobia was born and raised in Palmyra, Syria. The theory that her mother was Egyptian is based on the fact that Zenobia knew the ancient Egyptian language very well and had a strong predisposition toward the ancient culture of Egypt. Inscriptions found at Palmyra show that Zenobia’s father had a Greek name, Antiochus. However, according to Augustan History (Aurel. 31.2), his name was Achilleus and his usurper was named Antiochus (Zos. 1.60.2). Events Foundation of Jiankang (Nanjing) Sun Quan formally declares himself Emperor of Wu Births Deaths Dio Cassius (approximate date) Categories: 229 ... The toga was the characteristic garment of the Roman citizen. ... Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus Pius (September 19, 86–March 7, 161) was Roman emperor from 138 to 161. ... Events February 25 - Roman emperor Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius on condition that Antonius would adopt Marcus Annius Aurelius Verus. ... Events March 7 - Roman emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. ... Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (called the Wise) (April 26, 121[2] – March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. ... Events March 7 - Roman emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. ... For other uses, see number 180. ... Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus (August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 (also with Marcus Aurelius from 177 until 180). ... For other uses, see number 180. ... Commodus assassinated by a wrestler named Narcissus at the behest of Commodus concubine, chamberlain and Praetorian prefect. ... Look up Usurper in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Zenobia’s near ancestry is not known for certain. However, her father’s paternal ancestry is traceable up to six generations and includes Sampsiceramus, a Syrian chieftain who founded the Royal Family of Emesa (modern Homs, Syria) and Gaius Julius Bassianus, a high priest from Emesa and father of Roman Empress Julia Domna. // The Royal Family of Emesa was a native Syrian Arab[1] dynasty of Priest Kings in Emesa (modern Homs, Syria). ... Homs (Arabic: , transliteration: ) is a western city in Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. ... Gaius Julius Bassianus or Bassus, also known as Julius Bassianus (?-towards 217) was a Syrian who lived in the second and third century. ... Julia Domna (170-217) was member of the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire. ...

Zenobia claimed to be a descendant of Dido, Queen of Carthage, the King of Emesa Sampsiceramus and the Ptolemaic Greek Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. According to Augustan History, an imperial declaration in 269 of hers was sent to the citizens of Alexandria, Egypt, describing the city as “my ancestral city”. This declaration only fits Vaballathus, the son of Zenobia. Historian Callinicus dedicated a ten-book history on Alexandria’s history to a ’Cleopatra,’ who can only be Zenobia. For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... cleopatra ruled seneca for 10 years before she ruled Egypt. ... Cleopatra redirects here. ... The Augustan History (Lat. ... Events Felix I is elected pope. ... This article is about the city in Egypt. ... Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus was prince of the Palmyrene Empire. ...

Zenobia is descended from the three above named figures through Drusilla of Mauretania. Drusilla was a daughter of King Ptolemy of Mauretania and Queen Julia Urania of Mauretania. Drusilla’s mother most probably came from the Royal Family of Emesa and Drusilla married into that Royal Family. Drusilla’s paternal grandmother Queen of Mauretania Cleopatra Selene II, was a daughter of Ptolemaic Greek Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. Drusilla’s paternal grandfather African King Juba II of Mauretania claimed to be a descendant of the sister to the General of Carthage, Hannibal (Lucan. Pharsalia 8.287). Hannibal’s family, the Barcids, claimed to be descended from Dido’s younger brother. // Distinguish from Drusilla of Mauretania (born 5). ... Bust of Ptolemy of Mauretania, c. ... Julia Urania was a Syrian woman who lived in the first century and married King Ptolemy of Mauretania, the grandson of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII; Roman Triumvir Mark Antony and King Juba I of Numidia. ... Bold text:For the modern country, see Mauritania. ... // The Royal Family of Emesa was a native Syrian Arab[1] dynasty of Priest Kings in Emesa (modern Homs, Syria). ... Cleopatra Selene II (Greek:η Κλεοπάτρα Σελήνη, 25 December 40 BC-6), also known as Cleopatra VIII of Egypt was a Ptolemaic Princess and was the only daughter to Greek Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman Triumvir Mark Antony. ... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N[1]) ( January 14 83 BC – August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. ... Juba II Juba II (Iuba in Latin; Ιóβας (Ιóβα) or Ιουβας in Greek)[1] or Juba II of Numidia (52-50 BC - 23 AD) was a king of Numidia and then later moved to Mauretania. ... For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Hannibal (disambiguation). ...

Zenobia was described as beautiful and intelligent. She had a dark complexion, her teeth were pearly white, she had black bright eyes that sparkled, and had a beautiful face. Zenobia had a strong and melodic voice and many charms. Zenobia was well educated and knew Greek, Aramaic, Egyptian, and Latin. She was very interested in history and the works of Homer, Plato and other writers from Greece. She also enjoyed hunting animals and drinking. For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Greek poet Homer and the works attributed to him. ... For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ...

Queen of Palmyra

Zenobia married King of Palmyra Septimius Odaenathus by 258 as his second wife. She had a stepson Hairan, a son from Odaenathus’ first marriage. As in 258, there is an inscription ‘the illustrious consul our lord’ at Palmyra, dedicated to Odaenathus who was chief of Palmyra, by Zenobia, who was a supporter of his. Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), (Arabic: أذينة = little ear Othayna), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a ruler of the Arab kingdom of Palmyra, Syria and later of the short lived Palmyrene Empire, in the second half of the third century, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the... Events Sun Xiu succeeds Sun Liang as ruler of the Chinese kingdom of Wu The Goths ravage Asia Minor and Trabzon Gaul, Britain and Spain break off from the Roman Empire to form the Gallic Empire Nanjing University first founded in Nanjing, China Births Emperor Hui of Jin China (approximate...

Zenobia coin reporting her title, Augusta and showing her diademed and draped bust on a crescent with the obverse showing a standing figure of Ivno Regina, Juno, holding a patera in her right hand, a sceptre in her left, a peacock at her feet, and a brilliant star to the left

Around 266, Zenobia and Odaenathus had a son, his second child, Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus. Her son Vaballathus (Latin from Arabic وهب اللات, Wahballāt "Gift of the Goddess") inherited the name of Odaenathus’ paternal grandfather. Image File history File links Zenobia. ... Image File history File links Zenobia. ... Augustus (plural augusti) is Latin for majestic or venerable. The feminin form is Augusta. ... Events Ireland - Rule of High King Cormac mac Airt ends (approximate) Births Deaths Categories: 266 ... Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus was prince of the Palmyrene Empire. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ...

In 267, Zenobia’s husband and stepson were assassinated. The titled heir, Vaballathus, was only a year old, so his mother succeeded her husband and ruled Palmyra. Zenobia bestowed upon herself and her son the honorific titles of Augusta and Augustus. Events Goths launch one of the first major barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire. ...

Zenobia conquered new territories and increased the Palmyrene Empire in the memory of her husband and as a legacy to her son. Her stated goal was to protect the Eastern Roman Empire from the Sassanid Empire, for the peace of Rome, however, her efforts significantly increased the power of her throne. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty (Persian: []) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian Empire (226–651). ...

In 269, Zenobia, her army, and the Palmyrene General Zabdas violently conquered Egypt with help from their Egyptian ally, Timagenes, and his army. The Roman prefect of Egypt, Tenagino Probus and his forces, tried to expel them from Egypt, but Zenobia's forces captured and beheaded Probus. She then proclaimed herself Queen of Egypt. Events Felix I is elected pope. ...

After these initial forays, Zenobia became known as a "Warrior Queen". In leading her army, she displayed significant prowess: she was an able horse rider and would walk three or four miles with her foot soldiers.

Zenobia with her large army made expeditions and conquered Anatolia as far as Ancyra or Ankara and Chalcedon, then to Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon. In her short lived empire, Zenobia took the vital trade routes in these areas from the Romans. Roman Emperor Aurelian, who was at that time campaigning with his forces in the Gallic Empire, probably did recognise the authority of Zenobia and Vaballathus. However this relationship began to degenerate when Aurelian began a military campaign to reunite the Roman Empire in 272-273. Aurelian and his forces left the Gallic Empire and arrived in Syria. The forces of Aurelian and Zenobia met and fought near Antioch. After a crushing defeat, the remaining Palmyrenes briefly fled into Antioch and into Emesa. This article is about two nested areas of Turkey, a plateau region within a peninsula. ... Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the countrys second largest city after İstanbul. ... Chalcedon (Χαλκηδών, sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon; see also list of traditional Greek place names) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari (modern Üsküdar). ... A 2003 satellite image of the region. ... A trade route is the sequence of pathways and stopping places used for the commercial transport of cargo. ... Lucius Domitius Aurelianus[1] (September 9, 214–September 275), known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270–275), was the second of several highly successful soldier-emperors who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. ... The Gallic Empire (in Latin, imperium Galliarum) is the modern name for the independent realm that lived a brief existence during the Roman Empires Crisis of the Third Century, from 260 to 274. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ...

Zenobia was unable to remove her treasury at Emesa before Aurelian successfully entered and besieged Emesa. Zenobia and her son escaped from Emesa on camel back with help from the Sassanids, but they were captured on the Euphrates River by Aurelian’s horsemen. Zenobia’s short lived Egyptian kingdom and the Palmyrene Empire had ended. The remaining Palmyrenes who refused to surrender were captured by Aurelian and were executed on Aurelian’s orders. Among those who were executed was Zenobia's chief counselor and Greek sophist, Cassius Dionysius Longinus. For the song River Euphrates by the Pixies, see Surfer Rosa. ... Cassius Dionysius Longinus (c. ...

Zenobia and Vaballathus were taken as hostages to Rome by Aurelian. Vaballathus died on his way to Rome. In 274, Zenobia appeared in golden chains in Aurelian’s military triumph parade in Rome. Aurelian, out of clemency, impressed by her beauty and dignity, freed Zenobia. Aurelian granted her an elegant villa in Tibur (modern Tivoli, Italy). Events The Gallic Empire (Gaul and Britain) is reconquered by Roman Emperor Aurelian With the conquests of the Palmyran Empire (272) and the Gallic Empire, the Roman Empire is united again Births Deaths Pope Felix I Cao Fang, emperor of the Kingdom of Wei Categories: 274 ... Tivoli, the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km from Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river, where it issues from the Sabine hills. ...

She lived in luxury and she became a prominent philosopher, socialite and Roman matron. Zenobia married a Roman governor and senator whose name is unknown. They had several daughters, whose names are also unknown, but who are known to have married into Roman noble families. There is a claim, after Aurelian’s defeat Zenobia committed suicide, however, this is not likely. She would have further descendants surviving in the 4th century and 5th century. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ...

The evidence of a descendant of Zenobia can be confirmed by an inscription found in Rome. The inscription Lucius Septimia Patavinia Balbilla Tyria Nepotilla Odaenathiania contains the names of her first husband Septimius Odaenathus. He probably was named in the honor of Zenobia's first husband. (After the deaths of Odaenathus and his sons, Odaenathus had no descendants). Another possible descendant of Zenobia is Saint Zenobius of Florence, a Christian bishop who lived in the 5th century. Septimius Odaenathus, or Odenatus (Greek: (Hodainathos), (Arabic: أذينة = little ear Othayna), the Latinized form of Odainath, was a ruler of the Arab kingdom of Palmyra, Syria and later of the short lived Palmyrene Empire, in the second half of the third century, who succeeded in recovering the Roman East from the... Saint Zenobius ( San Zenobio or San Zanobi) (337 – 417) is venerated as the first bishop of Florence. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ...

Zenobia in Literature and The Theatre

• Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Monk's Prologue and Tale", in The Canterbury Tales, vv. 359-486
• Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Blithedale Romance features a character named Zenobia.
• Louis de Wohl's The Living Wood contains many references to Zenobia.
• Beloved, by Bertrice Small, is a fictitious retelling (historical novel) of Zenobia's life. ISBN 0-345-32785-3
• The Chronicle of Zenobia: the Rebel Queen[1], by Judith Weingarten (Pegasus 2006).
• Haley Elizabeth Garwood, 'Zenobia' (2005, IBSN 0-9649721-3-5)
• Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, contains a manipulative character named Zenobia Pierce
• Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein, contains a character with the middle name Zenobia, daughter of Anne (by Valentine Michael Smith)
• "Rites of Passage," by William Golding contains an actress by the name of Zenobia
• "Hand maiden of Palmyra," by Fleur Reynolds. Erotic novel featuring Queen Zenobia.
• In the 1977 Sinbad Film, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, the main villain is a sorceress named Zenobia.
• In 2007, Mansour Rahbani, a Lebanese composer and producer, produced a musical named Zenobia. The musical is a fictitious retelling of Queen Zenobia's life.
• Zenobia has been the heroine of two operas, Pasquale Anfossi's Zenobia in Palmira (1789) and Rossini's Aureliano in Palmira (1813).

Bertrice Small is an American author of historical and erotic romance novels. ... Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 – August 11, 1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. ... Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Sir William Gerald Golding (19 September 1911 – 19 June 1993) was a British novelist, poet and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate best known for his novel Lord of the Flies. ... Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger is a 1977 fantasy movie, the final installment of Ray Harryhausens Sinbad Trilogy and the penultimate movie in which Harryhausen would use the stop-motion technique which he had pioneered since the late 1940s. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Portrait of composer. ... Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (February 29, 1792 — November 13, 1868) was an Italian musical composer who wrote more than 30 operas as well as sacred music and chamber music. ...

External Links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Zenobia

• Cleopatra Selene
• Zenobia and Longinus
• Vaballathus and Zenobia
• Zenobia: empress of Palmyra (267-272)
• Zenobia as a third-century queen of Palmyra

Primary Sources

• Trebellius Pollio, Tyranni triginta xv, xvi, xxx
• Augustan History, Scriptores Historiae Augustae
• Flavius Vopiscus, Divus Aurelianus xxii-xxx, xxxiii-xxxiv

The Augustan History (Lat. ...

Secondary Sources

• The Monkes Tale - Geoffrey Chaucer, Notes to the Canterbury Tales