Zenobia’s Last Look
on Palmyra by the British painter Herbert Gustave Carmichael Schmalz
(1856-1935). Zenobia (240 – c. 275) was the
Queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Roman
Syria, who led a famous revolt against the Roman
Empire. She ruled over Egypt until 274, when she
was defeated and taken as a hostage to Rome by Emperor Aurelian.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTerrific painting - I like that Schmalz depicted her as still haughty and defiant, despite her defeat. (Although, if the sun is on the horizon, what is casting the light on the wall behind her?? I suppose you could assume there's a torch back there....)
ReplyDeleteZenobia was indeed a strong, forceful personality who might have left a much larger footprint on history. A tragic misfortune for her that her rebellion ran up against one of Rome's most dynamic and brilliant soldier-emperors.