S

ZENOBIA AND LONGINUS. 353

born some time after 200 a.p., and had studied liter-
ature and philosophy at Athens, Alexandria, and
Rome, under the ablest teachers of the age. His
learning was immense, and he is the first man to
whom was applied the expression “a living library,”
or, to give it its modern form, “a walking encyclo-
pedia.” His writings were lively and penetrating,
showing at once taste, judgment, and learning. We
have only fragments of them, except the celebrated
“Treatise on the Sublime,” which is one of the most
notable of ancient critical productions.

Under the advice of this distinguished counsellor,
Zenobia entered upon a career which brought her
disaster, but has also brought her fame. Her hus-
band Odenathus had avenged Valerian, the Roman
emperor, who had been taken prisoner and shame-
fully treated by the Persian king. For this service
he was confirmed in his authority by the senate of
Rome. But after his death the senate refused to
grant this authority to his widow, and called on her
to deliver her dominion over to Rome. Under the
advice of Longinus the martial queen refused, defied
the power of Rome, and determined to maintain her
empire in despite of the senate and army of the
proud “master of the world.”

War at once broke out. A Roman army invaded
Syria, but was met by Zenobia with such warlike
energy and skill that it was hurled back in defeat,
and its commanding general, having lost his army,
was driven back to Europe in disgrace. This success
gave Zenobia the highest fame and power in the
world of the Orient. The states of Arabia, Armenia,

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