Portraits of Odaenathus

Odaenathus was the king of Palmyra from 260 to 267 CE. He came to dominate the Roman East when he defeated Shapur I, the Sasanian emperor of Persia. He was assassinated alongside his eldest son Herodianus while campaigning against Germanic raiders in Bithynia. His widow declared herself regent to their son Vaballathus, who succeeded his father.