12.4 Zenobia, Last Empress of Palmyra (Syria)

Her Half of History

Zenobia is one of the great enemies of Rome. From the oasis city of Palmyra (in modern-day Syria), she rose up in rebellion and conquered a great empire from Asia Minor through to Egypt. This episode covers:

• the background of Palmyra as an important stop on the Silk Road
• just how disastrous the 3rd century was for Rome
• how Zenobia's husband Odaenathus saved the eastern empire
• how he died
• how Zenobia took control on behalf of her son
• how she expanded her empire
• how Rome fought back and eventually won
• conflicting theories on how Zenobia died
• what has happened to Palmyra throughout the intervening centuries, and especially recently under ISIS control

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The feature image is by Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126112516

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