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and°retrea^of witl1 the latter’ and the groun(i was covered with the slain.
Zenobia. The queen, unable to trust the inhabitants of Emessa, who
were prepared to declare for the Romans, made a rapid retreat
to her capital, followed by Aurelian, who secured the treasure
left by her in Emessa. During his advance, several combats
took place with the Arabsbut he continued his march till the
beautiful city of the wilderness was before the eyes of the
victorious Romans.
Preparations Zenobia was prepared to defend herself in what was deemed
at aimyra. ^ a]most impregnable and well-garrisoned position ; while in
consequence of its central situation as the commercial entrepôt
of the East, Palmyra was in the highest state of wealth and
prosperity which had ever yet been attained by any city, Tyre
and Carthage alone excepted.1 As lately as the time of
Odenatus it had been skilfully fortified, and in addition to the
advantages of high and strong walls, it possessed that of an
isolated situation in a wide-spreading desert. Here the resources
of the besieging army in water, would be limited to a
scanty supply, while the city was amply provided for a protracted
defence, which, from the enormous wealth of the people,
their devotion to their queen, and her determined valour,
promised to be successful ; supported as it was outside the
walls, by the Arab, Persian, and Armenian auxiliaries. Such
a state of things, at a period when defensive siege warfare was
equal to, if not superior to that of attack, almost justified the
answer of defiance, which was sent in the name of Zenobia, by
her secretary, to the summons of Aurelian, who, from that time,
appears to have determined to be revenged on this minister.
Commence- Thinking their city impregnable, the inhabitants, from the
siege. summit of their walls, irritated the Romans with reproachful
epithets, while the latter gradually raised towers, and carried on
their approaches with timber, supplied by the neighbouring date
groves. Sorties and other efforts were not wanting ; for, encouraged
by their sovereign and the influential men who were
so much attached to Zenobia, the city was long and valiantly
defended.2 But Syria being open to the besiegers and rein-
1 Yopiscus, Aurel., vit., cap. xxviii. ; Zosim., p. 50.
s Ibid.