Sheba and the Gladiator (1959)

Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, revolts against Rome and defeats the Roman troops under the command of the consul Marcus Valerius. Forced into slavery and tortured on a cross, Marcus manages to escape, and come to the presence of the queen, offering her his services. They fall in love, which complicates his task, and his loyalty towards Rome. Marcus will help the Romans to conquer her territory, but he will also save her life from a coup led by the treacherous Zemanzius.