Balista was an officer under Valerian. After Persians defeated and captured that emperor in the Battle of Edessa, a body of Roman troops was rallied by a fiscal officer, Macrianus, and Balista. Joined by Odaenathus, the Lord of Palmyra, they routed the Persian army that was returning from the ravaging of Cilicia. Then Macrianus proclaimed his sons, Macrinus and Quietus, as emperors.