Images Coins with Zenobia's face

There is a historically-documented story about Zenobia. Once, a merchant arrived in Palmyra without paying taxes and without showing all his goods. The authorities arrested him and took him to the royal palace. The Queen got very angry with him, as this represented a huge offence for Palmyra. She decided to punish him in front of everybody. She called all the merchants in the theatre, had him tied to a pole in the centre of the theatre, with a hungry lion ready to be released. The merchant was terrified and asked to be forgiven. The gates opened but, instead of the lion, two chickens were released. The queen said this time they were only chickens, but next time they would be lions. This story shows the force and mercy of the queen.