Portraits of Odaenathus, the king of Palmyra from 260 to 267 CE, include sculptures, seal impressions, and mosaic pieces. As a client king for Rome, Odaenathus came to dominate the Roman East after defeating Shapur I of Persia in 260 and assuming the title King of Kings. Several limestone head portraits from Palmyra were identified by twentieth-century scholars as depicting Odaenathus, based on criteria such as the size and the presence of a wreath, but more recent research indicates that these pieces were probably funerary objects depicting private citizens. Two marble heads, both reflecting a high level of individuality, depicting Eastern royal attributes such as the tiara and diadem, are more likely to be portraits of the king. Also, two Palmyrene tesserae (example pictured) bear a probable depiction of the king, bearded and wearing a diadem and an earring. In addition, Odaenathus is likely the subject of two mosaic panels glorifying his victories.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portraits_of_Odaenathus

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1818:

Four days after the Court of King's Bench upheld an English murder suspect's right to a trial by battle in Ashford v Thornton, the plaintiff declined to fight, allowing the defendant to go free. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashford_v_Thornton

1914:

A fire and a gun battle between the Colorado National Guard and striking coal miners led to 17 deaths in the Ludlow Massacre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre

1978:

Korean Air Lines Flight 902 was shot down after violating Soviet airspace, forcing it to make an emergency landing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_902

2008:

Fernando Lugo became the first non–Colorado Party candidate to be elected President of Paraguay in 61 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Paraguayan_general_election

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

nauplius: (zoology) A crustacean larva that has three pairs of locomotive organs (corresponding to antennules, antennae, and mandibles), a median eye, and little or no segmentation of the body. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nauplius

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Excuse me while I light my spliff (spliff) Good God I gotta' take a lift (lift) From reality I just can't drift (drift) That's why I am staying with this riff (riff) Take it easy, easy skanking Got to take it easy, easy skanking.   --Bob Marley https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bob_Marley