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214. The Empire of Frankincense & Myrrh
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“The Nabateans are a silent partner in everything that goes on in the high summer of the Ancient period” - Bettany Hughes
By the time of Jesus’ birth, a mysterious empire had built its wealth through trading two of the gifts present at the Nativity: frankincense and myrrh. Aromatic crystals harvested from the sap of gnarled trees, frankincense and myrrh were highly desirable commodities known as the tears or the breath of the gods. Based along the coast of the Red Sea, the nomadic Nabatean people were engineers, mariners and savvy traders, and they cleverly placed themselves as the middlemen in the trade of this incense. The Nabateans gave the world Arabic, and had a kingdom that even Alexander the Great could not siege - so why do so many of us know nothing about them?
Listen as Anita and William are joined by Bettany Hughes to discuss how the Christmas gifts of frankincense and myrrh powered a mysterious and innovative kingdom…
Twitter: @Empirepoduk
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Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis & Evan Green
Producer: Callum Hill
Exec Producer: Neil Fearn
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