raclianus, being completely defeated by Zenobia, the widow and
successor of Odenathus. Odenathus himself was murdered by a kinsman
three or four years after his great successes; and, though Zenobia
ruled his kingdom almost with a man's vigor, the removal of his powerful
adversary must have been felt as a relief by the Persian monarch. It
is evident, too, that from the time of the accession of Zenobia, the
relations between Rome and Palmyra had become unfriendly; the old empire
grew jealous of the new kingdom which had sprung up upon its borders;
and the effect of this jealousy, while it lasted, was to secure Persia
from any attack on the part of either.

It appears that Sapor, relieved from any further necessity of defending
his empire in arms, employed the remaining years of his life in
the construction of great works, and especially in the erection and
ornamentation of a new capital. The ruins of Shahpur, which still exist
near Kazerun, in the province of Fars, commemorate the name, and afford
some indication of the grandeur, of the second Persian monarch. Besides
remains of buildings, they comprise a number of bas-reliefs and rock
inscriptions, some of which were beyond a doubt set up by Sapor I.
In one of the most remarkable the Persian monarch is represented on
horseback, wearing the crown usual upon his coins, and holding by the
hand a tunicked figure, probably Miriades, whom he is presenting to the
captured Romans as their sovereign. Foremost to do him homage is the
kneeling figure of a chieftain, probably Valerian, behind whom are
arranged in a double line seventeen persons, representing apparently the
different corps of the Roman army. [PLATE XIV.] All these persons are on
foot, while in contrast with them are arranged behind Sapor ten guards
on horseback, who represent his irresistible cavalry. Another bas-relief
at the same place gives us a general view of the triumph of Sapor on his
return to Persia with his illustrious prisoner. Here fifty-seven guards
are ranged behind him, while in front are thirty-three tribute-bearers,
having with them an elephant and a chariot. In the centre is a group
of seven figures, comprising Sapor, who is on horseback in his usual
costume; Valerian, who is under the horse's feet; Miriades, who stands
by Sapor's side; three principal tribute-bearers in front of the main
figure; and a Victory which floats in the sky.

[Illustration: PLATE 14.]

Another important work, assigne