Was Queen Zenobia of Palmyra greater than Cleopatra? She built an empire stretching across the Roman East, but her extraordinary reign came to a dramatic end when Emperor Aurelian marched against her.In Part 2, Dr Michael F. Bird and historian Dr Nathaniel Andrade uncover the battles that destroyed Zenobia's ambitions, her capture and the mystery surrounding her ultimate fate.They also explore the surprising role of early Christianity in Zenobia's empire, the prejudices she faced as a female ruler and a fascinating historical question: could the survival of Palmyra have changed the future of the Middle East?A remarkable story of power, ambition and a forgotten queen who deserves to be as famous as Cleopatra.Featuring Dr Nathaniel Andrade, author of Zenobia: Shooting Star of Palmyra.
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Released on 29 Oct 2026