The Queen of Sheba

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 13 July 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A figure of wealth, wisdom, and global fascination - how did the Queen of Sheba become one of history’s most enduring royal icons?

In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb to trace the enduring story of the Queen of Sheba — from her biblical debut to her roles in Islamic tradition and Ethiopian royal ancestry. Where might her true origins lie? Why has she become such a powerful cross-cultural icon? Discover how this once-minor figure became a legend spanning continents and religions.

The Biblical Kingdom of Israel:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SQM9TGIN1DHeFDkYAjuNb

Ancient Ethiopia: The Kingdom of Aksum:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ogrAegnatj535vwYHesm6

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey guys, Tristan here, and I have an exciting announcement. The Ancients will be returning to the
0:06.0	London Podcast Festival. Now, last year tickets, they sold out at record speed. So this time,
0:12.6	we've been upgraded. We've got a bigger room. And you, you can be there too on Friday the 5th of
0:18.8	September at 7pm at King's Place.
0:21.6	Now I've invited Friend of the podcast, the fabulous Dr. Eve MacDonald, to join me on stage
0:27.6	where we will be exploring the gripping story of ancient Carthage.
0:32.6	Carthage, the Phoenician city that became a superpower, an empire that rivaled Rome for control in the
0:38.9	Western Mediterranean, and ultimately had a terrible traumatic demise.
0:44.8	Of course, the ancients is nothing without you, so we want you to be there in the audience
0:49.5	taking part and asking us your burning questions. Tickets for the festival always sell fast.
0:56.1	So book yourself a seat now at www. kingsplace.co.uk forward slash what's on. We'll click
1:03.0	the link in the show notes of this episode. The team and I cannot wait to see you there.
1:11.4	Hey guys, I hope you're doing well.
1:13.6	I've just finished recording this episode all about the Queen of Sheba.
1:17.3	We finished recording the interview about half an hour ago.
1:19.9	I'm now standing outside, getting a bit of fresh air.
1:22.9	But guys, I was blown away by this chat.
1:24.7	I had no idea just how many stories we have surviving about the Queen of Sheba,
1:28.9	whether that be in Islam, in Judaism or in Christianity. Our guest, to brilliantly talk through all of this,
1:36.6	is Dr. Gillian Stinchcombe from Towson University. I love this chat. I really hope you guys do too,
1:43.4	and let's get into it.
1:45.0	She's one of the most recognizable names from the Old Testament, the immensely wealthy queen from the
	...

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