Oman's Frankincense Road: From Dhofar to the Roman Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the ancient frankincense trade from Oman's Dhofar region to the markets of the Mediterranean and beyond. They explore how the Boswellia sacra tree shaped Omani identity, the camel caravans that crossed the Empty Quarter, and the ports of Sumhuram and Qana that linked Arabia to Rome, India, and China. Lucas explains the role of the Himyarites and the Kingdom of Hadramawt, the shift from overland to maritime routes under the Ptolemies, and the eventual decline of the trade after the rise of Christianity and the Sassanian Empire. Along the way, they touch on the legendary lost city of Ubar, the Roman obsession with Arabian scents, and how frankincense was more than a luxury—it was a religious and political tool. The conversation also includes a brief, honest moment about listener support keeping Fexingo ad-free. #Frankincense #BoswelliaSacra #Dhofar #Sumhuram #Oman #ArabianTrade #RomanEmpire #Himyarites #Hadramawt #Ubar #IramOfThePillars #AncientTradeRoutes #CamelCaravan #IndianOceanTrade #Hellenistic #Sassanian #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo