Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-06
ZENOBLA.
Copyright. 1912. by Willis J. Abbott

, Zenobia's great military repute was due
to her willingness to share the lot Of
the common soldier In the long marches
across the deserts she accompanied the
column. often trudging along on foot. In
battle she led the charges. mounted
usually on a white horse. fully capari-
soned. in white armor plentifully be-
dizened with gems. Her appearance must
! have been a glittering mark for the
enemy. but she seemed to have charm
ed existence and never came to hurt.
When Odenatus was slain she ascend
ed the throne with the title of Queen Of
the most splendid of the time. To the
pomp and dignity of a Roman emperor
was united the barbarous ostentation and
luxury of an Asiatic potentate. Rome
annexed Egypt, then rich and populous.
to her domain. and gradually ignored
her obligations to Rome.
Gallienus Army Defeated.
Gallienus. then emperor. and a singu-
larly puerile one, dispatched an army
against her, which she defeated. and
drove out of her territory. This dis
grace CALLED the proud Roman spirit and
when the warlike Aurelian became en-
peror he himself in 272 A. d. led an
army against Palmyra. Twice In rapid
succession the Palmyrenes were defeat
ed. Thereupon Zenobia shut herself up
in Palmyra to stand siege. hoping that
Persia might perchance come to her aid
She was still undaunted. Her army had
been full Of Roman soldiers who had
joined it in the days of Odenatus. hen
Aurelian summoned her to surrender she
replied: Il have suffered no great loss
yet for most of those who have fallen
were Romans" There was wit In the re-
tort. but historians think that with the
Romans she lost her best soldiers.
The siege was protracted. Rome must
t,rxy 10 14tn nv
letter exists in which he says: THE Ro-
man people speak with contempt Of the
war 1 am waging against a woman. They
are ignorant both of the character and
power of Zenobia." He for his part had
no such ignorance, and he offered the
queen most liberal conditions OF capltu,
lation-an honorable retreat for her and
continued privileges for the citizens. But
she unfortunately spurned the Offer
Captured in Attempt to Flee.
Shortly thereafter she slipped out OF
the city, and. with a small bodyguaro
on fleet camels, made for Persia in hopes
of getting aid. But just she was step
ping into the boat on the bank OF the
Euphrates she was overtaken. Ten min
utes more and she would have been safe.
In his tent Aurelian received the cap
tive with the cold dignity OF conqueror.
How dared you revolt against the EN-
woman's best weapon, fiattery. she re-
piled: Because 1 disdained to recognize
as Roman emperors an Aureiius or
Gallienus. You alone recognize as my
sovereign II the soft answer turned
away the imperial wrath. it did not that
of the soldiers. who clamored Tor ner
death. But Aurelian spared her. wishing
that she should grace his triumph
Leaving a small garrison in Palmyra.
which. with a humanity unusual In a
Roman emperor, he had spared the hor
rors of a sack. Aurelian took up the
march for Rome. In few days the
news reached him that the Palmyrenes
had risen and massacred the garrison.
Promptly returning. the Romans fell
upon Palmyra. slaughtered Its people,
respecting neither age nor sex, and tore
its stately structures stone from stone.
The city was obliterated and its ruined
columns stand today mute memorials OF
the Roman wrath.
Her End Shrouded in Doubt.
Months later through the crowded