THE WARRIOR Zenobia — What'shername

A sculpture in relief of a woman seated on a chair wearing elaborate jewelry and a tall headpiece, with another woman wearing Roman draped robes stands to her left. A bird of prey sits on a pillar to Zenobia's right. — “Ishtar and Tyche in the likeness of Queen Zenobia and her servant.”
Musée National De Damas, Syria

In 3rd century Palmyra (modern-day Syria), the bold and brilliant queen Zenobia defied the Roman Empire and launched a wildly successful campaign of expansion, eventually ruling Arabia, Egypt, and parts of Asia Minor. But at her final defeat in 272, her story fragments into several curious and contradictory versions of “the end.”

With guest Pamela Toler, author of the new book Women Warriors, we take on this history “Choose Your Own Adventure” style–examining the sources that bring her story to life, and choosing which ending we believe is the best one.

Ancient Palmyran coin declaring Zenobia “Augusta”
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Zenobia on a 1998 Syrian banknote

Limestone bust of a bearded man wearing laurel wreath. Face and nose have been damaged. — Limestone portrait of a leading Palmyrene, c. 230-250 AD, believed to represent Zenbobia’s husband Odenaethus
photo by Carole Raddato

Armed with a PhD in history, a well-thumbed deck of library cards, and a large bump of curiosity, author, speaker, and historian, Pamela D. Toler translates history for a popular audience. She goes beyond the familiar boundaries of American history to tell stories from other parts of the world as well as history from the other side of the battlefield, the gender line, or the color bar. Toler is the author of eight books of popular history for children and adults. Her newest book is Women Warriors: An Unexpected History.