CajaCanarias Foundation to Host Lecture on Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra

This Wednesday, the CajaCanarias Foundation will host a lecture on Zenobia, the 3rd-century queen who famously challenged the Roman Empire. Titled Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra: A Powerful Woman Who Defied Rome, the event begins at 7:00 p.m. at the foundation’s headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Professor María José Hidalgo de la Vega will lead the presentation, exploring how Zenobia rose to power. After her husband’s death, she took control as regent during a time of political instability. Her ambitious expansion across the eastern Mediterranean shifted the balance of power, a period that serves as the centerpiece for the foundation’s Polis: From Antiquity to Modern Europe series.

The lecture is free to attend, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis until the venue reaches capacity. These academic sessions offer a valuable look at how female leaders in antiquity challenged established power, providing important historical context for how governance has evolved over time.