Who was Zenobia?
Zenobia was a Syrian warrior queen who conquered Egypt during the third century. After eventually being captured and taken to Rome, Zenobia became a prominent figure in Roman society, and today she is a famous figure in Roman history. Her face can be seen on some Roman coins from the third century, and she also appears in several statues kept in various museums which collect Roman artifacts. The exact date of Zenobia’s birth is not known, but it is presumed to be around 240 CE. As a young woman, she married the king of the Palmyrene Empire in modern-day Syria, and when he died, she became the Queen. As Queen of Palmyra, Zenobia launched a number of offensives against neighboring nations, capturing Egypt in 269 and expelling the Roman authorities there. She ruled in Egypt until 274, when she was captured by the emperor Aurelian and brought back to Rome. Zenobia was paraded in gold chains in Rome as part of Aurelian’s victory parade, but apparently the emperor took pity on her, because h
During the third century A.D., Rome was challenged by Persia (Iran). As Roman Palmyra, in Syria’s eastern desert, had twice defeated Persia, Rome permitted Palmyra to gradually change from a merchant republic, governed by a senate, to a kingdom. In A.D. 267 Palmyra’s King Odenathus and his son were assassinated, and within three years the king’s second wife, Queen Zenobia, mother of another young son, had conquered all of Syria and Lower Egypt and sent armies into Asia Minor. Defying Rome, she then named her son August, as a rival of Rome’s Emperor Anatolia. Emperor Anatolia immediately led an army, defeating Palmyra and taking Zenobia prisoner to Rome. Palmyra later failed to overthrow Roman rule in A.D. 273, never returning to the splendor and wealth it had when ambitious Zenobia was queen. Arab and Mongolian armies afterward sacked Palmyra before it disappeared in time, not being rediscovered until the 18th century.
Zenobia was a third century Queen of Palmyra, now spectacular Roman ruins in the Syrian desert. She stood up to the Roman empire, fighting several successful battles and establishing independence for a period of time for her city state. The more positive descriptions of her describe a brave and strong warrior, a wise and charismatic ruler, a woman of integrity, and a dedicated mother. As with all interesting historical figures of the time, there are also negative descriptions aplenty, but it’s the positive aspects that appealed to us!
Rhadamistus, son of King Parsman I of Iberia (Pharasmanes), was known for his ambition, good looks, and valor. Parsman, fearing usurpation by his son, convinced Rhadamistus to make war upon his uncle, King Mithridates of Armenia, Parsmans brother, and father of Rhadamistus’ wife, Zenobia. The Iberians invaded with a large army and forced Mithridates into the fortress of Gorneas (Garni), which was garrisoned by the Romans under the command of Caelius Pollio, a prefect, and Casperius, a centurion. Pollio, swayed by Rhamistus’ bribery, induced the Roman soldiers to threaten capitulation of the garrison. Under this compulsion, Mithridates agreed to surrender to his nephew. Rhadamistus executed Mithridates and his sons despite a promise of non-violence, and became King of Armenia .
