Zonaras，l。xiip。633。Thelastisclearandprobable，theothersconfusedandinconsistent。ThetextofSyncellus，ifnotcorrupt，isabsolutenonsense。]
[Footnote57:OdenathusandZenobiaoftensenthim，fromthespoilsoftheenemy，presentsofgemsandtoys，whichhereceivedwithinfinitedelight。]
[Footnote58:SomeveryunjustsuspicionshavebeencastonZenobia，asifshewasaccessorytoherhusband\'sdeath。]
Withtheassistanceofhismostfaithfulfriends，sheimmediatelyfilledthevacantthrone，andgovernedwithmanlycounselsPalmyra，Syria，andtheEast，abovefiveyears。BythedeathofOdenathus，thatauthoritywasatanendwhichthesenatehadgrantedhimonlyasapersonaldistinction；buthismartialwidow，disdainingboththesenateandGallienus，obligedoneoftheRomangenerals，whowassentagainsther，toretreatintoEurope，withthelossofhisarmyandhisreputation。^59Insteadofthelittlepassionswhichsofrequentlyperplexafemalereign，thesteadyadministrationofZenobiawasguidedbythemostjudiciousmaximsofpolicy。Ifitwasexpedienttopardon，shecouldcalmherresentment；ifitwasnecessarytopunish，shecouldimposesilenceonthevoiceofpity。Herstricteconomywasaccusedofavarice；yetoneveryproperoccasionsheappearedmagnificentandliberal。TheneighboringstatesofArabia，Armenia，andPersia，dreadedherenmity，andsolicitedheralliance。TothedominionsofOdenathus，whichextendedfromtheEuphratestothefrontiersofBithynia，hiswidowaddedtheinheritanceofherancestors，thepopulousandfertilekingdomofEgypt。^60TheemperorClaudiusacknowledgedhermerit，andwascontent，that，whilehepursuedtheGothicwar，sheshouldassertthedignityoftheempireintheEast。^61Theconduct，however，ofZenobia，wasattendedwithsomeambiguity；notisitunlikelythatshehadconceivedthedesignoferectinganindependentandhostilemonarchy。SheblendedwiththepopularmannersofRomanprincesthestatelypompofthecourtsofAsia，andexactedfromhersubjectsthesameadorationthatwaspaidtothesuccessorofCyrus。Shebestowedonherthreesons^61aLatineducation，andoftenshowedthemtothetroopsadornedwiththeImperialpurple。Forherselfshereservedthediadem，withthesplendidbutdoubtfultitleofQueenoftheEast。
[Footnote59:Hist。August。p。180，181。]
[Footnote60:See，inHist。August。p。198，Aurelian\'stestimonytohermerit；andfortheconquestofEgypt，Zosimus，l。i。p。
39，40。]
[Footnote*:Thisseemsverydoubtful。Claudius，duringallhisreign，isrepresentedasemperoronthemedalsofAlexandria，whichareverynumerous。IfZenobiapossessedanypowerinEgypt，itcouldonlyhavebeenatthebeginningofthereignofAurelian。ThesamecircumstancethrowsgreatimprobabilityonherconquestsinGalatia。PerhapsZenobiaadministeredEgyptinthenameofClaudius，andemboldenedbythedeathofthatprince，subjectedittoherownpower。—G。]
[Footnote61:Timolaus，Herennianus，andVaballathus。Itissupposedthatthetwoformerwerealreadydeadbeforethewar。
Onthelast，AurelianbestowedasmallprovinceofArmenia，withthetitleofKing；severalofhismedalsarestillextant。SeeTillemont，tom。3，p。1190。]
WhenAurelianpassedoverintoAsia，againstanadversarywhosesexalonecouldrenderheranobjectofcontempt，hispresencerestoredobediencetotheprovinceofBithynia，alreadyshakenbythearmsandintriguesofZenobia。^62Advancingattheheadofhislegions，heacceptedthesubmissionofAncyra，andwasadmittedintoTyana，afteranobstinatesiege，bythehelpofaperfidiouscitizen。ThegenerousthoughfiercetemperofAurelianabandonedthetraitortotherageofthesoldiers；asuperstitiousreverenceinducedhimtotreatwithlenitythecountrymenofApolloniusthephilosopher。^63Antiochwasdesertedonhisapproach，tilltheemperor，byhissalutaryedicts，recalledthefugitives，andgrantedageneralpardontoall，who，fromnecessityratherthanchoice，hadbeenengagedintheserviceofthePalmyrenianQueen。TheunexpectedmildnessofsuchaconductreconciledthemindsoftheSyrians，andasfarasthegatesofEmesa，thewishesofthepeoplesecondedtheterrorofhisarms。^64
[Footnote62:Zosimus，l。i。p。44。]
[Footnote63:VopiscusinHist。August。p。217givesusanauthenticletterandadoubtfulvision，ofAurelian。ApolloniusofTyanawasbornaboutthesametimeasJesusChrist。Hislifethatoftheformerisrelatedinsofabulousamannerbyhisdisciples，thatweareatalosstodiscoverwhetherhewasasage，animpostor，orafanatic。]
[Footnote64:Zosimus，l。i。p。46。]
Zenobiawouldhaveilldeservedherreputation，hadsheindolentlypermittedtheemperoroftheWesttoapproachwithinahundredmilesofhercapital。ThefateoftheEastwasdecidedintwogreatbattles；sosimilarinalmosteverycircumstance，thatwecanscarcelydistinguishthemfromeachother，exceptbyobservingthatthefirstwasfoughtnearAntioch，^65andthesecondnearEmesa。^66InboththequeenofPalmyraanimatedthearmiesbyherpresence，anddevolvedtheexecutionofherordersonZabdas，whohadalreadysignalizedhismilitarytalentsbytheconquestofEgypt。ThenumerousforcesofZenobiaconsistedforthemostpartoflightarchers，andofheavycavalryclothedincompletesteel。TheMoorishandIllyrianhorseofAurelianwereunabletosustaintheponderouschargeoftheirantagonists。Theyfledinrealoraffecteddisorder，engagedthePalmyreniansinalaboriouspursuit，harassedthembyadesultorycombat，andatlengthdiscomfitedthisimpenetrablebutunwieldybodyofcavalry。Thelightinfantry，inthemeantime，whentheyhadexhaustedtheirquivers，remainingwithoutprotectionagainstacloseronset，exposedtheirnakedsidestotheswordsofthelegions。Aurelianhadchosentheseveterantroops，whowereusuallystationedontheUpperDanube，andwhosevalorhadbeenseverelytriedintheAlemannicwar。^67AfterthedefeatofEmesa，Zenobiafounditimpossibletocollectathirdarmy。AsfarasthefrontierofEgypt，thenationssubjecttoherempirehadjoinedthestandardoftheconqueror，whodetachedProbus，thebravestofhisgenerals，topossesshimselfoftheEgyptianprovinces。PalmyrawasthelastresourceofthewidowofOdenathus。Sheretiredwithinthewallsofhercapital，madeeverypreparationforavigorousresistance，anddeclared，withtheintrepidityofaheroine，thatthelastmomentofherreignandofherlifeshouldbethesame。
[Footnote65:AtaplacecalledImmae。Eutropius，SextusRufus，andJerome，mentiononlythisfirstbattle。]
[Footnote66:VopiscusinHist。August。p。217mentionsonlythesecond。]
[Footnote67:Zosimus，l。i。p。44—48。Hisaccountofthetwobattlesisclearandcircumstantial。]
AmidthebarrendesertsofArabia，afewcultivatedspotsriselikeislandsoutofthesandyocean。EventhenameofTadmor，orPalmyra，byitssignificationintheSyriacaswellasintheLatinlanguage，denotedthemultitudeofpalm—treeswhichaffordedshadeandverduretothattemperateregion。Theairwaspure，andthesoil，wateredbysomeinvaluablesprings，wascapableofproducingfruitsaswellascorn。Aplacepossessedofsuchsingularadvantages，andsituatedataconvenientdistance^68betweentheGulfofPersiaandtheMediterranean，wassoonfrequentedbythecaravanswhichconveyedtothenationsofEuropeaconsiderablepartoftherichcommoditiesofIndia。
Palmyrainsensiblyincreasedintoanopulentandindependentcity，andconnectingtheRomanandtheParthianmonarchiesbythemutualbenefitsofcommerce，wassufferedtoobserveanhumbleneutrality，tillatlength，afterthevictoriesofTrajan，thelittlerepublicsunkintothebosomofRome，andflourishedmorethanonehundredandfiftyyearsinthesubordinatethoughhonorablerankofacolony。Itwasduringthatpeacefulperiod，ifwemayjudgefromafewremaininginscriptions，thatthewealthyPalmyreniansconstructedthosetemples，palaces，andporticosofGrecianarchitecture，whoseruins，scatteredoveranextentofseveralmiles，havedeservedthecuriosityofourtravellers。TheelevationofOdenathusandZenobiaappearedtoreflectnewsplendorontheircountry，andPalmyra，forawhile，stoodforththerivalofRome:butthecompetitionwasfatal，andagesofprosperityweresacrificedtoamomentofglory。^69
[Footnote68:Itwasfivehundredandthirty—sevenmilesfromSeleucia，andtwohundredandthreefromthenearestcoastofSyria，accordingtothereckoningofPliny，who，inafewwords，Hist。Natur。v。21，givesanexcellentdescriptionofPalmyra。
Note:Talmor，orPalmyra，wasprobablyataveryearlyperiodtheconnectinglinkbetweenthecommerceofTyreandBabylon。Heeren，Ideen，v。i。p。ii。p。125。TadmorwasprobablybuiltbySolomonasacommercialstation。Hist。ofJews，v。p。271—M。]
[Footnote69:SomeEnglishtravellersfromAleppodiscoveredtheruinsofPalmyraabouttheendofthelastcentury。OurcuriosityhassincebeengratifiedinamoresplendidmannerbyMessieursWoodandDawkins。ForthehistoryofPalmyra，wemayconsultthemasterlydissertationofDr。HalleyinthePhilosophicalTransactions:Lowthorp\'sAbridgment，vol。iii。p。
518。]
InhismarchoverthesandydesertbetweenEmesaandPalmyra，theemperorAurelianwasperpetuallyharassedbytheArabs；norcouldhealwaysdefendhisarmy，andespeciallyhisbaggage，fromthoseflyingtroopsofactiveanddaringrobbers，whowatchedthemomentofsurprise，andeludedtheslowpursuitofthelegions。ThesiegeofPalmyrawasanobjectfarmoredifficultandimportant，andtheemperor，who，withincessantvigor，pressedtheattacksinperson，washimselfwoundedwithadart。\"TheRomanpeople，\"saysAurelian，inanoriginalletter，\"speakwithcontemptofthewarwhichIamwagingagainstawoman。TheyareignorantbothofthecharacterandofthepowerofZenobia。Itisimpossibletoenumerateherwarlikepreparations，ofstones，ofarrows，andofeveryspeciesofmissileweapons。Everypartofthewallsisprovidedwithtwoorthreebalistoeandartificialfiresarethrownfromhermilitaryengines。Thefearofpunishmenthasarmedherwithadesperatecourage。YetstillItrustintheprotectingdeitiesofRome，whohavehithertobeenfavorabletoallmyundertakings。\"^70
Doubtful，however，oftheprotectionofthegods，andoftheeventofthesiege，Aurelianjudgeditmoreprudenttooffertermsofanadvantageouscapitulation；tothequeen，asplendidretreat；tothecitizens，theirancientprivileges。Hisproposalswereobstinatelyrejected，andtherefusalwasaccompaniedwithinsult。
[Footnote70:VopiscusinHist。August。p。218。]
ThefirmnessofZenobiawassupportedbythehope，thatinaveryshorttimefaminewouldcompeltheRomanarmytorepassthedesert；andbythereasonableexpectationthatthekingsoftheEast，andparticularlythePersianmonarch，wouldarminthedefenceoftheirmostnaturalally。Butfortune，andtheperseveranceofAurelian，overcameeveryobstacle。ThedeathofSapor，whichhappenedaboutthistime，^71distractedthecouncilsofPersia，andtheinconsiderablesuccorsthatattemptedtorelievePalmyra，wereeasilyinterceptedeitherbythearmsortheliberalityoftheemperor。FromeverypartofSyria，aregularsuccessionofconvoyssafelyarrivedinthecamp，whichwasincreasedbythereturnofProbuswithhisvictorioustroopsfromtheconquestofEgypt。ItwasthenthatZenobiaresolvedtofly。Shemountedthefleetestofherdromedaries，^72andhadalreadyreachedthebanksoftheEuphrates，aboutsixtymilesfromPalmyra，whenshewasovertakenbythepursuitofAurelian\'slighthorse，seized，andbroughtbackacaptivetothefeetoftheemperor。Hercapitalsoonafterwardssurrendered，andwastreatedwithunexpectedlenity。Thearms，horses，andcamels，withanimmensetreasureofgold，silver，silk，andpreciousstones，werealldeliveredtotheconqueror，who，leavingonlyagarrisonofsixhundredarchers，returnedtoEmesa，andemployedsometimeinthedistributionofrewardsandpunishmentsattheendofsomemorableawar，whichrestoredtotheobedienceofRomethoseprovincesthathadrenouncedtheirallegiancesincethecaptivityofValerian。
[Footnote71:FromaverydoubtfulchronologyIhaveendeavoredtoextractthemostprobabledate。]
[Footnote72:Hist。August。p。218。Zosimus，l。i。p。50。
Thoughthecamelisaheavybeastofburden，thedromedary，whichiseitherofthesameorofakindredspecies，isusedbythenativesofAsiaandAfricaonalloccasionswhichrequirecelerity。TheArabsaffirm，thathewillrunoverasmuchgroundinonedayastheirfleetesthorsescanperformineightorten。
SeeBuffon，Hist。Naturelle，tom。xi。p。222，andShaw\'sTravelsp。167]
WhentheSyrianqueenwasbroughtintothepresenceofAurelian，hesternlyaskedher，HowshehadpresumedtoriseinarmsagainsttheemperorsofRome!TheanswerofZenobiawasaprudentmixtureofrespectandfirmness。\"BecauseIdisdainedtoconsiderasRomanemperorsanAureolusoraGallienus。YoualoneIacknowledgeasmyconquerorandmysovereign。\"^73Butasfemalefortitudeiscommonlyartificial，soitisseldomsteadyorconsistent。ThecourageofZenobiadesertedherinthehouroftrial；shetrembledattheangryclamorsofthesoldiers，whocalledaloudforherimmediateexecution，forgotthegenerousdespairofCleopatra，whichshehadproposedashermodel，andignominiouslypurchasedlifebythesacrificeofherfameandherfriends。Itwastotheircounsels，whichgovernedtheweaknessofhersex，thatsheimputedtheguiltofherobstinateresistance；itwasontheirheadsthatshedirectedthevengeanceofthecruelAurelian。ThefameofLonginus，whowasincludedamongthenumerousandperhapsinnocentvictimsofherfear，willsurvivethatofthequeenwhobetrayed，orthetyrantwhocondemnedhim。Geniusandlearningwereincapableofmovingafierceunletteredsoldier，buttheyhadservedtoelevateandharmonizethesoulofLonginus。Withoututteringacomplaint，hecalmlyfollowedtheexecutioner，pityinghisunhappymistress，andbestowingcomfortonhisafflictedfriends。^74
[Footnote73:PollioinHist。August。p。199。]
[Footnote74:VopiscusinHist。August。p。219。Zosimus，l。i。
p。51。]
ReturningfromtheconquestoftheEast，AurelianhadalreadycrossedtheStraitswhichdividedEuropefromAsia，whenhewasprovokedbytheintelligencethatthePalmyrenianshadmassacredthegovernorandgarrisonwhichhehadleftamongthem，andagainerectedthestandardofrevolt。Withoutamoment\'sdeliberation，heoncemoreturnedhisfacetowardsSyria。Antiochwasalarmedbyhisrapidapproach，andthehelplesscityofPalmyrafelttheirresistibleweightofhisresentment。WehavealetterofAurelianhimself，inwhichheacknowledges，^75thatoldmen，women，children，andpeasants，hadbeeninvolvedinthatdreadfulexecution，whichshouldhavebeenconfinedtoarmedrebellion；andalthoughhisprincipalconcernseemsdirectedtothereestablishmentofatempleoftheSun，hediscoverssomepityfortheremnantofthePalmyrenians，towhomhegrantsthepermissionofrebuildingandinhabitingtheircity。Butitiseasiertodestroythantorestore。Theseatofcommerce，ofarts，andofZenobia，graduallysunkintoanobscuretown，atriflingfortress，andatlengthamiserablevillage。ThepresentcitizensofPalmyra，consistingofthirtyorfortyfamilies，haveerectedtheirmudcottageswithinthespaciouscourtofamagnificenttemple。
[Footnote75:Hist。August。p。219。]
AnotherandalastlaborstillawaitedtheindefatigableAurelian；tosuppressadangerousthoughobscurerebel，who，duringtherevoltofPalmyra，hadarisenonthebanksoftheNile。Firmus，thefriendandally，asheproudlystyledhimself，ofOdenathusandZenobia，wasnomorethanawealthymerchantofEgypt。InthecourseofhistradetoIndia，hehadformedveryintimateconnectionswiththeSaracensandtheBlemmyes，whosesituationoneithercoastoftheRedSeagavethemaneasyintroductionintotheUpperEgypt。TheEgyptiansheinflamedwiththehopeoffreedom，and，attheheadoftheirfuriousmultitude，brokeintothecityofAlexandria，whereheassumedtheImperialpurple，coinedmoney，publishededicts，andraisedanarmy，which，ashevainlyboasted，hewascapableofmaintainingfromthesoleprofitsofhispapertrade。SuchtroopswereafeebledefenceagainsttheapproachofAurelian；
anditseemsalmostunnecessarytorelate，thatFirmuswasrouted，taken，tortured，andputtodeath。^76Aurelianmightnowcongratulatethesenate，thepeople，andhimself，thatinlittlemorethanthreeyears，hehadrestoreduniversalpeaceandordertotheRomanworld。
[Footnote76:SeeVopiscusinHist。August。p。220，242。Asaninstanceofluxury，itisobserved，thathehadglasswindows。
Hewasremarkableforhisstrengthandappetite，hiscourageanddexterity。FromtheletterofAurelian，wemayjustlyinfer，thatFirmuswasthelastoftherebels，andconsequentlythatTetricuswasalreadysuppressed。]
SincethefoundationofRome，nogeneralhadmorenoblydeservedatriumphthanAurelian；norwasatriumphevercelebratedwithsuperiorprideandmagnificence。^77Thepompwasopenedbytwentyelephants，fourroyaltigers，andabovetwohundredofthemostcuriousanimalsfromeveryclimateoftheNorth，theEast，andtheSouth。Theywerefollowedbysixteenhundredgladiators，devotedtothecruelamusementoftheamphitheatre。ThewealthofAsia，thearmsandensignsofsomanyconquerednations，andthemagnificentplateandwardrobeoftheSyrianqueen，weredisposedinexactsymmetryorartfuldisorder。Theambassadorsofthemostremotepartsoftheearth，ofAethiopia，Arabia，Persia，Bactriana，India，andChina，allremarkablebytheirrichorsingulardresses，displayedthefameandpoweroftheRomanemperor，whoexposedlikewisetothepublicviewthepresentsthathehadreceived，andparticularlyagreatnumberofcrownsofgold，theofferingsofgratefulcities。
ThevictoriesofAurelianwereattestedbythelongtrainofcaptiveswhoreluctantlyattendedhistriumph，Goths，Vandals，Sarmatians，Alemanni，Franks，Gauls，Syrians，andEgyptians。
Eachpeoplewasdistinguishedbyitspeculiarinscription，andthetitleofAmazonswasbestowedontenmartialheroinesoftheGothienationwhohadbeentakeninarms。^78Buteveryeye，disregardingthecrowdofcaptives，wasfixedontheemperorTetricusandthequeenoftheEast。Theformer，aswellashisson，whomhehadcreatedAugustus，wasdressedinGallictrousers，^79asaffrontunic，andarobeofpurple。ThebeauteousfigureofZenobiawasconfinedbyfettersofgold；aslavesupportedthegoldchainwhichencircledherneck，andshealmostfaintedundertheintolerableweightofjewels。Sheprecededonfootthemagnificentchariot，inwhichsheoncehopedtoenterthegatesofRome。Itwasfollowedbytwootherchariots，stillmoresumptuous，ofOdenathusandofthePersianmonarch。ThetriumphalcarofAurelianithadformerlybeenusedbyaGothickingwasdrawn，onthismemorableoccasion，eitherbyfourstagsorbyfourelephants。^80Themostillustriousofthesenate，thepeople，andthearmyclosedthesolemnprocession。Unfeignedjoy，wonder，andgratitude，swelledtheacclamationsofthemultitude；butthesatisfactionofthesenatewascloudedbytheappearanceofTetricus；norcouldtheysuppressarisingmurmur，thatthehaughtyemperorshouldthusexposetopublicignominythepersonofaRomanandamagistrate。