Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

XXXVI SHAPUR I., CAPTOR OF VALERIAN 435
Shapur had overrun and forsaken, and he retained
Mesopotamia. Moreover, he won the confidence of
Gallienus, to whom he showed the utmost respect, with
the result that the Senate conferred on him the title of
Augustus and thereby legahzed his position. Consequently,
before assassination cut short his career. Palmyra had
become, through his exertions, a powerful buffer state,
hostile to Persia and allied to Rome.
Zenobia.— Zenobia, his beauteous widow, in whose veins
coursed the blood of the Ptolemies and who ranks among the
great women of all time, maintained her power over the conquered
provinces and even added Egypt to the kingdom
of Palmyra. For a few short years her career was dazzling,
and, had she appreciated the genius of Aurelian, she might
have kept her state ; but she refused to bend, her power
was broken, and, chained in fetters of gold, the proud
Zenobia graced a Roman triumph. The semi-independent
kingdom of Palmyra was swept away, and the frontiers of
the Persian Empire once again marched with those of
Rome.
The Public Works of Shapur.—The later
years of Shapur
were devoted mainly to the arts of peace. Fortunately
his
greatest achievement, the dam at Shuster, which I
visited many years ago,^ still defies the forces of the
Karun, although it sadly needs repair. In connexion with
the construction of th is work thg entire river was diverted
to an artificial channel, which still exists under the name
of Ab-i-Garger, and the river-bed was solidly paved. The
dam is composed of blocks of granite cramped together,
and is fitted with sluice-gates to regulate the water-
supply. The total length
of the bridge resting on the
dam is It 570 yards. appears that Shapux-finiploved
his
Roman prisoners on these works, and it is of singular
interest to note that the name Band-i-Kaisar, or "The
Emperor's Dam," recalls the captivity of Valerian.
Near Kazerun, half-way between Bushire and Shiraz,
are situated the important ruins of Shapur, which was
originally termed Bishapur, or "The good (deed) of
1 Ten Thousand Miles, p. 252. Curzon gives a detailed description of this work in
vol. ii. p. 371, It was used as a second residence by the Sasanian monarchs.