in full Septimia Zenobia
died AD after 274
Queen of the Roman colony of Palmyra (267/268–272).
Her husband, a Roman client ruler of Palmyra, was assassinated after recapturing several of Rome's eastern provinces from the Persians. She became her son's regent but called herself queen. In 269 she seized Egypt and much of Asia Minor and declared her independence from Rome. Aurelian defeated her armies and besieged Palmyra; she and her son were captured and taken to Rome (272), where she was paraded in Aurelian's triumph .
Zenobia, portrait bust; in the Vatican Museum, Rome
Anderson-Giraudon from Art Resource