Entry (Details):

Full name CISem. II 3945 = ICR III 1031, CISem. II 3946, CISem. II 3971.

Descended from Septimius Odaenathus PIR¹ S 338; either son or brother of Septimius Haeranes PIR¹ S 329. He succeeded Haeranes as ruler of Palmyra.

SUFFECT CONSULiRole name: SUFFECT CONSUL, before 258: ὁ λαμπ[ρότατος ὑπατικ]ός CISem. II 3945 = IGR III 1031 Palmyra, dated August 258 (the restorations are assured by the Syriac version).

In 261 he assumed authority in the East and defeated Quietus 1 and Ballista V. Gall. 3.1-2, V. Trig. Tyr. 14.1, 15.4, 18.1; he attacked and defeated Persia twice, in c. a. 262 and c. a. 266 Zos. I 39. 1-2, V. Val. 4.2-4, V. Gall. 10.1-8, 12.1, V. Trig. Tyr. 15.2-4, 30.6; described as ‘totius Orientis imperator’ V. Gall. 3.3, 10.1 and ‘princeps Palmyrenorurn’ V. Trig. Tyr. 15.1; recognised the supremacy of Gallienus V. Gall. 3.5, 10.4, with whom he came to terms in 262/3 V. Gall. 21.5; given command of the army in the East Zos. I 39.1, possibly with the title corrector totius OrientisiRole name: corrector totius Orientis (held by his son, L. Iulius Aurelius Septimius Vaballathus Athenodorus 2).

Murdered at Emesa a. 266/7 Zos. I 39.2, V. Gall. 13.1, V. Trig. Tyr. 15.5, 17.1.

He had the title ‘rex regum’ at Palmyra CISem. II 3971. Husband of Septimia Zenobia Zos. I 39.2, V. Trig. Tyr. 15.2.7; father of Herodes (his eldest son, by a former marriage), Herennianus and Timolaus V. Trig. Tyr. 15.2, 16.1, 27.1; inscriptions however give the names of Zenobia’s sons as Vaballathus Athenodorus and Septimius Antiochus, and a third son of Odaenathus may be Septimius Herodianus.