ZENO'BIA Mat., from (Gk. Znpopfa). Queen of Palmyra. She was the wife of Odenathus, lord of Palmyra, who had been recognized in A.D. 264 as king and in the East by the Roman Emperor Gallienus (q.v.), and whose sway ex tended over almost all the eastern provinces. In 267 Odenathus and his son Ilerodes were mur dered, and a younger son, Va,hballathus, succeeded his father, though the actual government was in the hands of Zenobia, who ruled as an indepen dent sovereign, caring little for the Homan em perors, with whose armies she repeatedly came into eontliet. She even attempted to establish her dominion in Egypt, but in this she Al'hen Aurelian came to tlie throne in 270, he at first continued to recognize the title and rights of Vabballathus, and even permitted Zeno bia to assume the title of Augusta. In 271 Valthallathus died, and Zenohia continued to rule, in the name of her two younger sons. Attempt ing to extend her power over Asia :Minor, she drew upon herself the anger of Aurelian, who marched against lier with a large army and, after twice defeating her troops, besieged her in Palmyra (early in 272). Her hopes
of being relieved by the Persians and Arabians being disappointed, she attempted to escape by flight, but was captured (spring of 272). Before the conqueror lien eonrage failed, and she saved her own life by imputing the blame of the war to her connselors, especially the celebrated Lon ginus (q.v.), who was accordingly put to death. Zenohia was led in triumphal procession at Rome, and was presented by her conqueror with large possessions in the Villa of Hadrian, near Tiber (Tivoli). where in the society of her two sons she passed the rest of her life. She was a woman of great courage, high spirit, and striking beauty. With purity of morals in private life, she com bined prudence, justice, and liberality in her ad ministration. Iler literary acquirements were considerable; she spoke Latin and Greek, as well as Syriac and Coptic.