Zenobia of Palmyra was reigning queen of Egypt from 269 to 274 AD. A native of Syria, she claimed descent from Dido, Semiramis, the king of Emesa and Cleopatra.
| Type | Character |
| Reign | 269–274 AD |
| Origin | Syria |
| Spanish entry | Zenobia de Palmyra |
History
- Prince Arsaces of Persia and Emperor Aurelian rivaled for her hand.
- With Sassanid help she conquered Ankara, Chalcedon, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. In the cycle, Ankara is the place of the Fall (“Ancylae” = anchor, the first place of the Fall).
- She spread the doctrine of Mani with the help of the sophist Cassius Longinus.
- Her son Vaballatus (“gift of the goddess”) was taken prisoner.
In the shared cosmos
GRDT (Graz’zt) and KAXA were her vassals, coming from Axum, not Palmyra. She protected Paul of Samosata. After Aurelian’s victory the Axumite ambassadors paraded as defeated allies (Axum (cycle)).
A descendant, Zenobius of Florence (b. 337), was the first bishop of Florence, a defender of orthodoxy against Arianism, with powers of resurrection according to the hagiographies.
Conflicting accounts
- One legend gives her iron chains in Rome.
- Another gives her subtle chains of love toward Aurelian.