There have been many
plays and films produced, and may novels written,
about the lives of Zenobia and of Odenath Septimus
her husband, Prince of Palmyra and ally of the Romans,
defending them against the Sassanids of Persia.
Odenath died in the year 267 A.D., deprived of power,
it has been said, by the ambitious Zenobia become
Queen of Palmyra, 267 to 272. She was a Syro-Phoenician
queen whose empire stretched from Asia Minor to
Egypt. She wished to drive back the Romans and to
rule alone over all the East, Persia, Arabia and
Egypt. Indeed she considered herself to be a great-grand-niece
of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, herself.
Deploying her army over a vast area, betrayed by
the Arab tribes bribed by Rome, for two years she
waged war against the army of Aurelien, a war that
resulted in her being defeated and led captive to
Rome, where she finished her days.
Zenobia was surrounded by a court that included
bishops, monks, intellectuals and strategists, and
she brought to fruition great projects such as bridges,
roads and agricultural improvements.
As for aqueducts and similar works, to her popular
tradition attributes the aqueducts of Hazmieh-Mansourieh
over the Beirut river. Hazmieh, from the Syriac
meaning “quantity of water’, stands at an altitude
of between 200 and 800 feet. The construction of
the water conduits is said to date back to Roman
times or even to some three centuries before Christ.
A particular style of architecture, thanks to the
sloping nature of the area, the rapid flow of water
and the steepness of the canal have all prevented
the formation of lime deposits. The majestic dimensions
of the aqueduct recall those of the yet larger one
built by the Romans at Nîmes in the Gard in
France. The water supplied the region of Beirut
and its surroundings.
The local people like to call these aqueducts the
Bridges, although they have never been used as bridges,
or the Aqueducts of Zenobia, although the Queen
of Palmyra had nothing to do with their history,
because of the reputation of this illustrious princess
for major public works. Taken as a whole, the aqueduct
is a little over 250 yards long and is composed
of three rows of arches spanning the river. Thanks
to the water irrigating this rich valley, the vegetation
is luxurious.
The Ministry of Tourism has charged itself with
restoring and maintaining these ruins and has erected
a large hoarding to explain to tourists and sightseers
the history of the place.
Joseph Matar
Translation from the French: K.J. Mortimer
- Aqueducts Zenobia, Hazmieh: >> View
Movie << (2012-02-15)
- Aqueducts Zenobia, Hazmieh: >> View
Movie << (2012-02-15)
