Visit the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World- first stop Egypt: Pyramids and Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was located on a small island called Pharos near the city of Alexandria. Designed by the Greek architect Sostratos and completed around 270 B.C. during the reign of Ptolemy II, the lighthouse helped to guide Nile River ships in and out of the city’s busy harbor.

http://www.history.com/videos/the-lighthouse-at-alexandria#the-lighthouse-at-alexandria

In Chapter 37 of Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, Zenobia visits the lighthouse of Alexandria with her mother and Salim. Read below where you'll experience Zenobia’s budding romance with Salim as they climb the steps of the lighthouse.

“This seems to be as tall as the great pyramid,” Salim proclaimed.

“It is,” agreed Zelina.

“Race you to the top!” Zenobia challenged Salim.

…

Zenobia sprinted up the stairs two at a time with Salim close behind.

…

At two hundred steps she was gasping for air, but so was her pursuer. Her legs were protesting, and Salim started to pass her, but she lunged ahead another fifty steps. Suddenly he grabbed her ankle, and she toppled forward, landing lightly on the steep steps. “Cheater!” she yelled as he passed her.

“All is fair in love and war!” he yelled back. Her adrenaline kicks in and she tore up the stairs after him and grabbed onto his tunic with both hands and hung on with all her strength. He dragged her up for a few steps and then collapsed and they both burst out in gasping laughter.

She pulled herself alongside him until their faces were less than a cubic apart. “And which is this, Salim,” she asked with a pant, “love or war?"

Read more excerpts as Zenobia explores the lighthouse in chapter 37 :  http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-visits-another-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world/

In the next couple of weeks we will be discussing the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World. Here's some previous post on the most popular one, The Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and only Ancient Wonder still standing today:

http://geodepress.com/the-great-pyramid-of-giza/ ;

http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-birth-of-a-legend-my-favorite-scenes/ ;

http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobias-visit-to-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world/

Weapons that changed everything in history

Unfortunately, war is a big part of Zenobia's life. Zenobia uses the ancient formations and weapons (seen below) to challenge Rome. Author Russ Wallace has Zenobia's choice of weapon as a bow and arrow but Zenobia is trained in all forms of weaponry. 

All through Zenobia- Birth of a Legend and Zenobia - Challenging a Legend, Zenobia is continually learning and training and with these skills Zenobia turns into a deadly warrior. 

Weapons that Changed Everything

To read full article go to: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Media/Slideshow/2013/08/15/12-Weapons-That-Changed-Everything

The Greek Phalanx (750 BCE)

Technically the Phalanx is the formation.  The individual soldiers were armed with the “Sarissa,” a long heavy spear, and a shield, but a phalanx is most notable for being greater than the sum of its parts.  The Greek soldiers would stand in rigid formation, their shields interlocked to protect not just themselves, but perhaps most importantly the man to their left.  The phalanx conquered the Mediterranean by moving as a single unstoppable armored unit.  It was in many ways, the tank of its day, and the fact that we still use the word in modern speech is a testament to its effectiveness.

The Gladius (400BCE - 300AD)

Roman Legionary’s Sword – If the Greeks mastered uniformity of movement, the Romans mastered standardization of equipment.  The short bladed Gladius made up part of the arsenal of every Legionary, along with a shield short throwing spear and dagger.  By ensuring that every soldier had well-made equipment, usable in a variety of situations, the Romans created an empire that, at its peak, stretched from England to North Africa, from the tip of the Iberian peninsula to the Middle East.

http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-4568-gladius-sword.aspx

"The Roman Gladius is one of the most famous sword designs, wielded by one of the most formidable fighting forces known in history. Reflecting the close ties between the military and the Arena, the word gladiator comes from the word gladius: the sword used by both the legionairies, the fighting might of the Roman Empire, and some of the gladiators who re-enacted Rome's military successes."

Here's a scene from Chapter 6 in  Zenobia - Birth of a Legend :

"She gripped her long spear with her right hand, its butt end resting in the sling and boot that hung from her saddle. As with most of the cavalrymen, she wore a circular shield on her left forearm... The line began to trot forward in unison."

“Zenobia governed Syria from about 250 to 275 AD. She led her armies on horseback wearing full armor and during Claudius' reign defeated the Roman legions so decisively that they retreated from much of Asia Minor. Arabia, Armenia and Persia allied themselves with her and she claimed dominion over Egypt by right of ancestry." - Kathleen O’B.- http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/

Time for more of my favorite "Did you know" from history.com. This time it's Rome...

10 innovations that built ancient Rome

Me (Julie) at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with a copy of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend.

I don't even need a passport to experience Rome from Zenobia's time. 

Did You Know?

Many ancient Roman innovations vanished for thousands of years after the fall of the empire. Roman technology was astonishingly ahead of its time, but well-kept trade secrets meant that countless inventions died with their owners. The most famous example is concrete, which disappeared for centuries and was not adequately reproduced until the invention of Portland cement in the early 1800s.

The full article can be found at: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-innovations-that-built-ancient-rome

By Evan Andrews

The Western Roman Empire may have fallen more than 1,500 years ago, but its rich legacy of innovation and invention can still be seen today. The Romans were prodigious builders and expert civil engineers, and their thriving civilization produced advances in technology, culture and architecture that remained unequaled for centuries. From aqueducts to newspapers, find out more about 10 innovations that built ancient Rome.

1. Aqueducts

lillisphotography/iStockphoto.com

The Romans enjoyed many amenities for their day, including public toilets, underground sewage systems, fountains and ornate public baths. None of these aquatic innovations would have been possible without the Roman aqueduct.

2. Concrete

Grand Tour Collection/Corbis

Many ancient Roman structures like the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum are still standing today thanks to the development of Roman cement and concrete.

3. Newspapers

LeitnerR/iStockphoto.com

The Romans were known to contribute to public discourse through the use of official texts detailing military, legal and civil issues. Known as Acta Diurna, or “daily acts,” these early newspapers were written on metal or stone and then posted in heavily trafficked areas like the Roman Forum.

4. Welfare

G. Dagli Orti/De Agostini/Getty Images

Ancient Rome was the wellspring for many modern government programs, including measures that subsidized food, education and other expenses for the needy.

5. Bound Books

aeduard/iStockphoto.com

For most of human history, literature took the form of unwieldy clay tablets and scrolls. The Romans streamlined the medium by creating the codex, a stack of bound pages that is recognized as the earliest incarnation of the book.

6. Roads and Highways

Atlantide Phototravel/Corbis

At its height, the Roman empire encompassed nearly 1.7 million square miles and included most of southern Europe. To ensure effective administration of this sprawling domain, the Romans built the most sophisticated system of roads the ancient world had ever seen. These Roman roads—many of which are still in use today—were constructed with a combination of dirt, gravel and bricks made from granite or hardened volcanic lava.

7. Roman Arches

Vanni Archive/Corbis

Arches have existed for roughly 4,000 years, but the ancient Romans were the first to effectively harness their power in the construction of bridges, monuments and buildings.

8. The Julian Calendar 

grublee/iStockphoto.com

The modern Gregorian calendar is modeled very closely on a Roman version that dates back more than 2,000 years. (*READ an article I wrote about the Julian Calender at http://geodepress.com/how-february-came-to-be/)

9. The Twelve Tables and the Corpus Juris Civilis

Subpoena, habeas corpus, pro bono, affidavit—all these terms derive from the Roman legal system, which dominated Western law and government for centuries. The basis for early Roman law came from the Twelve Tables, a code that formed an essential part of the constitution during the Republican era.

10. Battlefield Surgery

G. Nimatallah/De Agostini/Getty Images

The Romans invented many surgical tools and pioneered the use of the cesarean section, but their most valuable contributions to medicine came on the battlefield. Under the leadership of Augustus, they established a military medical corps that was one of the first dedicated field surgery units. These specially trained medics saved countless lives through the use of Roman medical innovations like hemostatic tourniquets and arterial surgical clamps to curb blood loss.

Zenobia loved to learn and expand her knowledge. Even though Zenobia spent most of her life trying to eradicate Roman control over her Syrian people, I think she respected the Romans many innovations. Especially since Palmyra, Syria (Tadmor in Arabic)  prospered under the Romans influence for many years.