Welcome back to True Assassins, the podcast that explores the dark side of history and brings you the most gripping tales of murder and intrigue. In today's episode, we explore the life and death of a truly fascinating figure – a woman whose skill with poisons was unmatched.

This is a story that will leave you chilled.

Get ready for another addictive true crime story. This time, we journey back to the Byzantine Empire, a world of political maneuvering and deadly plots. Here, in the shadows, operated Theodora. She wasn't a warrior with a sword; she was a master poisoner. Theodora was the empire's silent assassin, her victims falling ill and dying mysteriously. No one could trace the deaths back to her. Until one fateful day...

Theodora's latest target was a priest who posed a threat to the Empress. She poisoned his wine, watching him die in his own cathedral. But in her haste, she pricked her finger on her poisoned veil. Theodora, who had orchestrated countless deaths, was now facing her own mortality. She raced back to her home, her stores of antidotes mocking her as the poison coursed through her veins.  But which one would save her? Time was running out. Theodora made a desperate gamble, drinking an antidote that seemed to match the poison she used on the priest. It was a fatal mistake. The wrong poison, or perhaps just too late. Theodora, the Serpent, was killed by her own deadly creation.

Theodora's story is a chilling reminder that the line between predator and prey can be razor-thin. Join us as we explore the life and death of this Byzantine assassin, a woman whose brilliance was ultimately her downfall.

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