Difference between revisions of "Zenobia" - New World Encyclopedia
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[[Image:Herbert Schmalz-Zenobia.jpg|thumb|300px|''Queen Zenobia's Last Look Upon Palmyra'',<br />by Herbert Schmalz]] | [[Image:Herbert Schmalz-Zenobia.jpg|thumb|300px|''Queen Zenobia's Last Look Upon Palmyra'',<br />by Herbert Schmalz]] | ||
| − | '''Zenobia''' ({{lang-ar|زنوبيا}}, 240-after 274) was a [[Syria]]n queen who lived in the third century. She was | + | '''Zenobia''' ({{lang-ar|زنوبيا}}, 240-after 274 CE) was a [[Syria]]n queen who lived in the third century of the [[Common Era]]. She was [[Queen regnant|queen]] of the [[Palmyrene Empire]] and the second wife of King Septimius [[Odaenathus]]. Upon his death, she became the ruler of the empire. |
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| + | In 269, Zenobia 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]]. | ||
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| + | Zenobia appeared in golden chains in Aurelian’s military triumph parade, after which Aurelian freed her and granted her an elegant villa in Tibur (modern [[Tivoli, Italy]]). She became a prominent [[philosopher]], [[socialite]], and Roman matron. Several notable Romans are counted as her descendants, and she figures prominently in later literature an legend. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Family, ancestry, and early life=== | ===Family, ancestry, and early life=== | ||
| − | Zenobia was born with the name Iulia ( | + | Zenobia was born with the name Iulia (Julia) Aurelia Zenobia. Her full name in the [[Arabic language]] is al-Zabba' bint Amr ibn Tharab ibn Hasan ibn 'Adhina ibn al-Samida, commonly shortened to Al-Zabba'. In Greek, her name is rendered as Ζηνοβία and in English she is known either as as Xenobia or Zenobia. After her marriage, she was known as Septimia Zenobia, referring to her husband, Septimius Odaenathus. On official documents, she gave her name as Bat-Zabbai (daughter of Al-Zabba'). Zenobia and her mother were both called Al-Zabba', meaning "the one with long lovely hair." |
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| + | Zenobia's, father, Zabaii ben Selim, or Iulius Aurelius Zenobius, was a chieftain of Syria, and her mother may have been Egyptian. Her father’s ''gentilicium'' Aurelius shows that his paternal ancestors probably 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 culture of [[Egypt]]. | |
| − | + | 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]]. | |
| − | + | She also claimed to be a descendant of [[Dido (Queen of Carthage)|Dido]], Queen of [[Carthage]] and the [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] [[Greeks|Greek]] Queen [[Cleopatra VII]] of Egypt. According to the ''[[Augustan History]]'', Zenobia sent an imperial declaration in 269 to the citizens of [[Alexandria]], [[Egypt]], describing the city as “my ancestral city.” Moreover, the historian [[Callinicus (Historian)|Callinicus]] dedicated a 10-book history of Alexandria to a certain "Cleopatra," who seems actually to be Zenobia. | |
| − | Zenobia is descended from the | + | Zenobia is descended from the above named figures through [[Drusilla of Mauretania (born 38)|Drusilla of Mauretania]]. Drusilla was a daughter of King [[Ptolemy of Mauretania]] and his queen, [[Julia Urania]]. 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. |
| − | Zenobia was described as beautiful and intelligent. She had a dark complexion, | + | Zenobia was described as beautiful and intelligent. She had a dark complexion, pearly white teeth, black bright eyes that sparkled, and a beautiful face. Zenobia possessed a strong, melodic voice and many charms. She was well educated and knew Greek, Aramaic, Egyptian, and [[Latin]]. She was very interested in history and knew the works of [[Homer]], [[Plato]], and other writers from [[Greece]]. She also enjoyed hunting animals and drinking. |
===Queen of Palmyra=== | ===Queen of Palmyra=== | ||
| − | Zenobia married King | + | [[Image:Denarius-Zenobia-s3290.jpg|thumb|300px|Zenobia coin reporting her title, ''[[Augusta (honorific)|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]] |
| + | Zenobia married King Septimius [[Odaenathus]] of Palmyra by 258, as his second wife. She had a stepson Hairan, a son from Odaenathus’ first marriage. Around 266, Zenobia and had a son, Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus. | ||
| − | + | In 267, Odaenathus and Hairan 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''. | |
| − | + | ||
| + | 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 army captured and beheaded Probus. She then proclaimed herself Queen of Egypt. | ||
| − | + | After these military successes, Zenobia became known as a "Warrior Queen." In leading her army, she displayed significant prowess: she was an able horsewoman and would several miles with her foot soldiers. | |
| − | + | Zenobia and her large army made expeditions and conquered [[Anatolia]] as far as Ancyra ([[Ankara]]) and [[Chalcedon]], and then continued on to [[Syria]], [[Palestine]], and [[Lebanon]], taking vital [[trade route]]s in these areas from the Romans. | |
| − | + | Roman Emperor [[Aurelian]], who was at that time campaigning with his forces in the [[Gallic Empire]], probably did initially recognize 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 thus left the Gaul 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. | |
| − | Zenobia | + | Zenobia was unable to remove her treasury at Emesa before Aurelian successfully besieged and entered the city. Zenobia and her son escaped 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 killed was Zenobia's chief counselor and Greek sophist, [[Cassius Longinus (philosopher)|Cassius Longinus]]. | |
| − | Zenobia and Vaballathus were taken as hostages to Rome by Aurelian. Vaballathus is presumed to have died on his way to Rome. In 274, Zenobia appeared in golden chains in Aurelian’s military triumph parade in Rome. Aurelian, | + | Zenobia and Vaballathus were taken as hostages to Rome by Aurelian. Vaballathus is presumed to have died on his way to Rome. In 274, Zenobia appeared in golden chains in Aurelian’s military triumph parade in Rome. Aurelian, apparently impressed by her beauty and dignity, freed Zenobia and granted her an elegant villa in Tibur (modern [[Tivoli, Italy]]). |
| − | She lived in luxury and | + | She lived the rest of her life in luxury and became a prominent philosopher, socialite, and Roman matron. She later married a Roman governor and senator whose name is unknown. They had several daughters who are also known to have married into Roman noble families. There is a claim that after Aurelian’s defeat, Zenobia committed suicide. However, this is not confirmed as is considered unlikely. Her further descendants are reported to have survived into the fourth century and later. |
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | + | 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. | |
| − | Zenobia | + | Prominent Romans are counted as Zenobia's descendants, with evidence of this supported 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 fifth century. |
| − | ==Zenobia in literature and the theater== | + | ===Zenobia in literature and the theater=== |
| − | * Geoffrey Chaucer, | + | * [[Geoffrey Chaucer]], speaks of Zenobia in ''The Canterbury Tales'', vv. 359-486 |
* The Irish dramatist [[Arthur Murphy]] wrote a [[tragedy]] entitled ''Zenobia'', which was first produced in 1768. | * The Irish dramatist [[Arthur Murphy]] wrote a [[tragedy]] entitled ''Zenobia'', which was first produced in 1768. | ||
| − | + | * Zenobia was the heroine of [[Alexander Baron]]'s novel ''The Queen of the East''. It is a reasonably persuasive fictional account of her conflict with Emperor Aurelian. | |
| − | * Zenobia was the heroine of [[Alexander Baron]]'s novel ''The Queen of the East'' | ||
*[[Louis de Wohl]]'s ''The Living Wood'' contains many references to 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. | + | * ''Beloved'', by [[Bertrice Small]], is a fictitious retelling (historical novel) of Zenobia's life. |
| − | * | + | * Judith Weingarten wrote ''The Chronicle of Zenobia: the Rebel Queen'', published in 2006. |
| − | * | + | *Haley Elizabeth Garwood published ''Zenobia'' in 2005. |
| − | *'' | + | *''Hand maiden of Palmyra,'' by Fleur Reynolds, is an erotic novel featuring Queen Zenobia. |
| − | + | * In 2007, [[Mansour Rahbani]], a Lebanese composer and producer, produced a musical titled Zenobia, a fictitious retelling Zenobia's life. | |
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| − | * In 2007, [[Mansour Rahbani]], a Lebanese composer and producer, produced a musical | ||
*Zenobia has been the heroine of three operas: [[Tomaso Albinoni]]'s ''Zenobia'' (1694), [[Pasquale Anfossi]]'s ''Zenobia in Palmira'' (1789), and [[Rossini]]'s ''[[Aureliano in Palmira]]'' (1813). | *Zenobia has been the heroine of three operas: [[Tomaso Albinoni]]'s ''Zenobia'' (1694), [[Pasquale Anfossi]]'s ''Zenobia in Palmira'' (1789), and [[Rossini]]'s ''[[Aureliano in Palmira]]'' (1813). | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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ISBN 978-0874365603 | ISBN 978-0874365603 | ||
*Kephart, Matthew, and Emmens, Beth. ''Zenobia''. Staten Island, NY: Berrett-Koehler Publisher, 2007. ISBN 978-1576755495 | *Kephart, Matthew, and Emmens, Beth. ''Zenobia''. Staten Island, NY: Berrett-Koehler Publisher, 2007. ISBN 978-1576755495 | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=morris&book=greek&story=zenobia Zenobia and Longinus] | *[http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=morris&book=greek&story=zenobia Zenobia and Longinus] | ||
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*[http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/ucbio_zenobia.htm Zenobia as a third-century queen of Palmyra] | *[http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/ucbio_zenobia.htm Zenobia as a third-century queen of Palmyra] | ||
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{{credit|243710493}} | {{credit|243710493}} | ||
Revision as of 23:25, 11 November 2008
Zenobia (Arabic: زنوبيا, 240-after 274 C.E.) was a Syrian queen who lived in the third century of the Common Era. She was queen of the Palmyrene Empire and the second wife of King Septimius Odaenathus. Upon his death, she became the ruler of the empire.
In 269, Zenobia 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, after which Aurelian freed her and granted her an elegant villa in Tibur (modern Tivoli, Italy). She became a prominent philosopher, socialite, and Roman matron. Several notable Romans are counted as her descendants, and she figures prominently in later literature an legend.
Biography
Family, ancestry, and early life
Zenobia was born with the name Iulia (Julia) Aurelia Zenobia. Her full name in the Arabic language is al-Zabba' bint Amr ibn Tharab ibn Hasan ibn 'Adhina ibn al-Samida, commonly shortened to Al-Zabba'. In Greek, her name is rendered as Ζηνοβία and in English she is known either as as Xenobia or Zenobia. After her marriage, she was known as Septimia Zenobia, referring to her husband, Septimius Odaenathus. On official documents, she gave her name as Bat-Zabbai (daughter of Al-Zabba'). Zenobia and her mother were both called Al-Zabba', meaning "the one with long lovely hair."
Zenobia's, father, Zabaii ben Selim, or Iulius Aurelius Zenobius, was a chieftain of Syria, and her mother may have been Egyptian. Her father’s gentilicium Aurelius shows that his paternal ancestors probably 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 culture of Egypt.
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.
She also claimed to be a descendant of Dido, Queen of Carthage and the Ptolemaic Greek Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. According to the Augustan History, Zenobia sent an imperial declaration in 269 to the citizens of Alexandria, Egypt, describing the city as “my ancestral city.” Moreover, the historian Callinicus dedicated a 10-book history of Alexandria to a certain "Cleopatra," who seems actually to be Zenobia.
Zenobia is descended from the above named figures through Drusilla of Mauretania. Drusilla was a daughter of King Ptolemy of Mauretania and his queen, Julia Urania. 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.
Zenobia was described as beautiful and intelligent. She had a dark complexion, pearly white teeth, black bright eyes that sparkled, and a beautiful face. Zenobia possessed a strong, melodic voice and many charms. She was well educated and knew Greek, Aramaic, Egyptian, and Latin. She was very interested in history and knew the works of Homer, Plato, and other writers from Greece. She also enjoyed hunting animals and drinking.
Queen of Palmyra
Zenobia married King Septimius Odaenathus of Palmyra by 258, as his second wife. She had a stepson Hairan, a son from Odaenathus’ first marriage. Around 266, Zenobia and had a son, Lucius Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus.
In 267, Odaenathus and Hairan 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.
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 army captured and beheaded Probus. She then proclaimed herself Queen of Egypt.
After these military successes, Zenobia became known as a "Warrior Queen." In leading her army, she displayed significant prowess: she was an able horsewoman and would several miles with her foot soldiers.
Zenobia and her large army made expeditions and conquered Anatolia as far as Ancyra (Ankara) and Chalcedon, and then continued on to Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, taking 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 initially recognize 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 thus left the Gaul 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.
Zenobia was unable to remove her treasury at Emesa before Aurelian successfully besieged and entered the city. Zenobia and her son escaped 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 killed was Zenobia's chief counselor and Greek sophist, Cassius Longinus.
Zenobia and Vaballathus were taken as hostages to Rome by Aurelian. Vaballathus is presumed to have died on his way to Rome. In 274, Zenobia appeared in golden chains in Aurelian’s military triumph parade in Rome. Aurelian, apparently impressed by her beauty and dignity, freed Zenobia and granted her an elegant villa in Tibur (modern Tivoli, Italy).
She lived the rest of her life in luxury and became a prominent philosopher, socialite, and Roman matron. She later married a Roman governor and senator whose name is unknown. They had several daughters who are also known to have married into Roman noble families. There is a claim that after Aurelian’s defeat, Zenobia committed suicide. However, this is not confirmed as is considered unlikely. Her further descendants are reported to have survived into the fourth century and later.
Legacy
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.
Prominent Romans are counted as Zenobia's descendants, with evidence of this supported 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 fifth century.
Zenobia in literature and the theater
- Geoffrey Chaucer, speaks of Zenobia in The Canterbury Tales, vv. 359-486
- The Irish dramatist Arthur Murphy wrote a tragedy entitled Zenobia, which was first produced in 1768.
- Zenobia was the heroine of Alexander Baron's novel The Queen of the East. It is a reasonably persuasive fictional account of her conflict with Emperor Aurelian.
- 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.
- Judith Weingarten wrote The Chronicle of Zenobia: the Rebel Queen, published in 2006.
- Haley Elizabeth Garwood published Zenobia in 2005.
- Hand maiden of Palmyra, by Fleur Reynolds, is an erotic novel featuring Queen Zenobia.
- In 2007, Mansour Rahbani, a Lebanese composer and producer, produced a musical titled Zenobia, a fictitious retelling Zenobia's life.
- Zenobia has been the heroine of three operas: Tomaso Albinoni's Zenobia (1694), Pasquale Anfossi's Zenobia in Palmira (1789), and Rossini's Aureliano in Palmira (1813).
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Dear, Nick. Zenobia. Boston: Faber and Faber, 1995. ISBN 978-0571176762
- Garwood, Haley Elizabeth. Zenobia. Franklin, Ky.: Writers Block, 2005. ISBN 978-0965972130
- Jackson-Laufer, Guida. Women Who Ruled. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 1990.
- Kephart, Matthew, and Emmens, Beth. Zenobia. Staten Island, NY: Berrett-Koehler Publisher, 2007. ISBN 978-1576755495
External links
- Zenobia and Longinus
- Vaballathus and Zenobia
- Zenobia: empress of Palmyra (267-272)
- Zenobia as a third-century queen of Palmyra
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