A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Zenobia, (Septima)
Z.
ZENOBIA (SEPTIMA), Queen of Palmyra, traced her descent from the Ptolemies and Cleopatras.
She was taught the sciences by the celebrated Longinus, and made so great a progress in literature, that she spoke the Greek and Egyptian languages, and understood the Latin. She possessed a liberal and enlightened mind; and, at her desire, from some motives (a philosophical curiosity perhaps merely,) was instructed, by Paul, of Samosata, a famous heretic of those times, in the doctrines of the Christian religion. She abridged also the Egyptian and Oriental history. Having married Odenatus, a Saracen prince; when he was taken prisoner, by Sapores, king of Persia, she raised a great army, set him at liberty, and afterwards conquered the East. She contributed to the great victories he obtained over the Persians, which preserved the Eastern empire to the Romans. In reward for which service Gallienus gave her the title of Augusta, and created her husband emperor, 264. Zenobia, when left a widow, reigned with great glory, in the name of her two sons, who were under age. Having conquered Egypt, and added it to her dominions, her wisdom and ability made her an object of jealousy to the Romans, whose generals she conquered, till Aurelian himself headed the army against her. He defeated her in two battles, and besieged her in Palmyra. She made a vigorous defence; but, finding she should be obliged to surrender, she quitted it privately; but was overtaken in her flight, and carried prisoner to Rome by Aurelian, who gave her a country house near that city, where she spent the remainder of her life in privacy, with her children; consoled by literature for the loss of empire. Aurelian caused her to be led in triumph; and when he was reproached by some, for triumphing over a woman, he replied, that her courage and power had been superior to any man. All historians give the greatest eulogiums to this princess. She was the protectress of the learned, learned herself; a wise politician, and an active warrior. She was a beautiful dark woman.