Zenobia: Empress of the East

Exploring Zenobia's World. The Incredible Rise and Fall of the City of Palmyra

05 February 2007

The Guardian reports on the ceremony at the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus.

But would a high-priestess have officiated there in pagan times?

at 12:37

Judith Weingarten: I studied Classical Archaeology at the University of Oxford (M.Litt.) and am a member of the British School at Athens. I excavated for many years on Crete and on the Greek mainland and travelled extensively in the Middle East. I have lived and worked among the ruins of the three great Caravan Cities: Petra, Palmyra, and Baalbek. It was at Palmyra in Syria that I began to tell the story of Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, and the rebellion that she led against imperial Rome. I was living within the grounds of the Temple of Bel, and at night, when the great gates of the temple were shut, I came closer to the spirit of the time and place than probably anyone has ever done before. I know that I felt very close to Zenobia, which made the book a joy for me to write.

Powered by Blogger.