History provides us with many examples of unique women breaking stereotypes. Of all heroines in history, I have been most impressed by Queen Zenobia of ancient Palmyra. While only a teenager, she became a wife, mother, and queen. While only a young woman, she became a widow and ruler of an empire. Zenobia led a multi-cultural army as she went up against the world power of Rome. How she took on these challenges in a male dominated world is an example to us all.

Zenobia began her life in about 241 A.D. in the desert oasis of Palmyra, Syria, about 130 miles northeast of Damascus. She was raised in a family of Palmyrean nobility, with links to the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ptolemy IV.

It was written about Zenobia that, "She had a love for learning and surrounded herself with intellectuals." One of her advisors was the philosopher and rhetorician Cassus Longinus. Eunapius, in his "Lives of the Sophists," describes Longinus as a "living library and a walking museum." Zenobia also spoke in equal perfection Greek, Syriac, Egyptian and Latin.

At approximately age 14, she married 35 year old Odaenathus, the widowed ruler of Palmyra. History confirms that she bore him two sons. After approximately 10 years of marriage, Odaenathus was assassinated.

"Palmyra and it's Empire - - Zenobia's Revolt Against Rome," by Richard Stoneman, says of Zenobia that , "controlling the balance of two empires (Rome and Persia), she could aspire to create a third that would dominate them both."

In 269 A. D., Zenobia's army marched into, and took over Egypt. Her empire now stretched from the Nile River to the Euphrates and included most of Asia Minor. It was secondary only to the Roman Empire to the north and had become a threat to Rome.

As a result, in 272 A. D., Emperor Aurelian of Rome went forth into battle against Palmyra, and captured it. At that time, Zenobia fled, towards Persia, only to be captured on the banks of the River Euphrates. In 273 A. D., Aurelian returned to Rome with Zenobia as his prisoner. History has it that she spent the remainder of her life in a Villa in Tivoli.

Why is Zenobia so important that you and I should take the time to know her story. Because, we can learn much from her example. She empowered herself through her devotion to learning, and quest for knowledge. Her life course overcame gender boundaries, language barriers and ethnic differences. Even as a prisoner paraded through the streets of Rome, her spirit was never conquered. She maintained extraordinary dignity even under the most difficult circumstances.

No matter what the future may bring, Queen Zenobia's ability to adapt to a changing world, her intelligence, courage, determination, dignity and general greatness of character is an example to us all. Zenobia was a heroine in the purest sense.

Sainah L. Van Egdom, Age 14
Ferndale, WA