Zenobia, queen of Palmyra: history, myth and traditions

Abstract

The life of Zenobia is linked to the history of Palmyra, the caravanserai city and so-called ‘pearl of the desert’ situated in the Efca desert in Syria. Throughout the second and third centuries it was the greatest commercial power in the Near East. Zenobia became its queen regent upon the death of her husband Odenato, who, as vir consularis, was responsible for defending the Orient. Zenobia succeeded in assembling an Eastern empire and fought against Emperor Aurelian with the aim of sharing  his imperial power. When the emperor defeated her in 272, Palmyra was left destroyed and Zenobia was taken to Rome as part of Aurelian's triumph.