Podcasts by The Ancients

Mermaids from 2022-06-16T02:00:05

The central Mediterranean is home to a bounty of creatures - fish, dolphins, and... mermaids? In today's episode Dr Amelia Brown returns to the podcast to talk marine mammals and Merpeople. From...

The Death of Alexander the Great: Explained from 2022-06-12T02:00:57

Alexander the Great’s untimely death at Babylon in 323 BC triggered an unprecedented crisis across his continent-spanning empire.

Within a couple of days, the very chamber in which he ...

The Origins of Clothing from 2022-06-09T02:00:47

Clothing has been essential for human evolution. From protection against changing climate, through to the driving force behind technological innovation in the production of fabrics and agricultu...

Roman Treasures of Iron Age Scotland from 2022-06-05T02:00:48

In 1919, excavators working near Edinburgh in Scotland unearthed the largest hoard of Roman hacksilver ever found. The trove, containing mostly silver vessels but also some personal items and co...

Boudica from 2022-06-02T02:00:41

Boudica has become a hero of British folklore. An ancient queen, her leadership of the Iceni in an uprising against the forces of the Roman Empire in around 60 AD is echoed around school classro...

Saint Brigid: Turning Bathwater into Beer from 2022-05-29T02:00:30

Saint Patrick is a household name, celebrated around the globe every March. But what do we know about another of Ireland’s patron saints, Brigid?

In this episode, find out about Patric...

Greeks vs Romans: Empires at War from 2022-05-26T02:00:08

Greece and Rome, they are the heavyweights of ancient history. But what happened when they came face to face with one another? Tristan is once again joined by Simon Elliott to talk about some of...

Iron Age Wales: Before the Romans from 2022-05-22T02:00:09

The residents of Britain during the Iron Age are often collectively called 'Celts'. However, both before and during the Roman occupation, this term is a huge generalisation. In this episode we e...

Homer from 2022-05-19T02:00:57

The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the world’s most famous poems. But who was their author, Homer, and how have his name and poems survived so long, preserved for almost 3 millennia?

The Origins of Homo Sapiens from 2022-05-15T02:00:58

What do we know about the earliest hominins to exist? With a story spanning one million years and counting, we're discovering more about how we came to be every day.

In this episode of...

The Birth of Physiology from 2022-05-12T02:00:22

The treatment of mental health has been rapidly growing and improving over the past few decades, but it actually goes back thousands of years.

Whether it was the Ancient Greek physicia...

Pandora from 2022-05-08T02:00:26

According to Greek myth, Pandora was the first human woman - moulded from the earth by Hephaestus on the instruction of Zeus himself.

We've all heard of Pandora's box, but in actual fa...

The World of Stonehenge from 2022-05-05T02:00:07

Described as the "most important piece of prehistoric art to be found in Britain in the last 100 years", an elaborately decorated 5000 year-old chalk cylinder, discovered buried with 3 child ske...

The Christian Destruction of the Classical World from 2022-05-01T02:00:28

The rise of Christianity in the first few centuries AD is one of the most significant stories in world history. But it’s also an incredibly turbulent one. It’s a story filled with (in)famous epi...

An Ancient Guide to Healthy Living from 2022-04-28T02:00:27

Poetry, parables, and produce - how did someone live a healthy life in the ancient Greco-Roman world? Tristan is joined by author Mark Usher to talk about what we can learn from our ancient ance...

Saint George from 2022-04-24T02:00:34

The 23rd of April marks Saint George's Day - but who are we actually celebrating? Is there any truth behind the myth of the man who slew the dragon and rescued the princess - and where does the ...

Food in the Greco-Roman World from 2022-04-21T02:00:37

When we think of the modern Mediterranean, delicious and vibrant food is one of the first things that come to mind. But how much has the regional food changed over the last two millennia? In thi...

Mary Magdalene from 2022-04-17T02:00:10

Who was Mary Magdalene? Jesus' confidant, a devout follower, or a sex worker?

In this Easter special, Tristan is joined by Professors Helen Bond and Joan Taylor, authors of 'Women Reme...

Weapons of the Terracotta Army from 2022-04-14T12:04:16

When someone says the Terracotta Army, you’d be forgiven for instantly thinking of rows upon rows of life size warriors, arranged in three pits as part of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s huge mausol...

The Rise of Marius: Third Founder of Rome from 2022-04-10T02:00:07

Gaius Marius (157 BC – 86 BC) was one of the first warlords of the late Roman Republic, a general and statesman who held the office of consul an unprecedented seven times during his life. Listen

Before Rome: The Truth About Late Iron Age Britain from 2022-04-07T02:00:05

Roman connections with Britain stretch back to (at least) the mid 1st century BC. But what has archaeology revealed about the Late Iron Age British societies they interacted with? Do we have any...

The Symposium: How To Party Like An Ancient Greek from 2022-04-03T02:00:34

In Ancient Greece, the symposium was no ordinary after-dinner drinking party, but one in which the Hellenic men of society got together to wine, recline and philosophise. They took various forms...

Dogs in Ancient Greece from 2022-03-31T02:00:18

Man's best friend has been at our side for thousands of years. Ancient Greece was no exception, and although some of the types of dog that were popular back then might seem unfamiliar to us toda...

The Legacy of Julius Caesar's Assassination from 2022-03-27T03:00:43

The legacies of the Ides of March stretch from that very afternoon on March 14th 44BC to the modern day. From Roman times to the Medieval period, from Dante to Shakespeare, and from Brutus to th...

The Rise of the Dinosaurs from 2022-03-24T03:00:04

Dinosaurs! Spectacular resilient beings who were able to adapt and survive the most terrifying of events. Evolving from a group of mostly humble-sized creatures, into the most enormous beasts th...

Young Caesar vs Marc Antony from 2022-03-20T03:00:06

What happened after the Ides of March? How did the Romans go from co-ordinated assassinations to the Pax Romana? From Tyranny to prosperity? In this third episode of our Ides of March series, Tr...

Saint Patrick from 2022-03-17T03:00:15

Man, myth or legend... who was the real Saint Patrick? Did he really banish all the snakes from Ireland? Where does the shamrock tradition come from? And was he even Irish?

In this epi...

The Rise and Fall of Brutus from 2022-03-13T03:00:30

Marcus Junius Brutus is best known as one of the conspirators against Julius Caesar, but there's so much more to his complex story. In today's episode, we continue our mini-series, all about the...

Helen of Troy from 2022-03-10T03:00:18

Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships - but is there more to her than a beautiful face? To mark Women's History Month, Tristan is joined by author and broadcaster Natalie Haynes...

The Assassination of Julius Caesar: Explained from 2022-03-06T03:00:17

March 15th 44BC is perhaps the most notorious date in all of ancient history. On that fateful day, the Ides of March, 55-year-old Roman dictator Gaius Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group o...

The Origins of Ukraine from 2022-03-03T03:00:02

It's not often we cover current affairs on The Ancients (the clue is in the name), but in light of Putin’s claims that Ukraine was “entirely created by Russia”, we wanted to highlight Ukraine’s ...

Sappho: The Poet from Lesbos from 2022-02-27T03:00

Famous throughout antiquity, yet retold only in fragments today - who is Sappho? Her poetry inspired generations, from Catullus to Byron, so how come we know so little about her life? This ...

The Terracotta Army from 2022-02-24T03:00:17

Discovered by local farmers in 1974, the Terracotta Army is one of the most astounding archaeological finds on record. A piece of funerary art, dedicated to the First Emperor of China Qin Shi Hu...

Eureka! Innovation in Ancient Greece from 2022-02-20T03:00

It's often thought that the ancient Greeks were devout in tradition, strict in their ways and beliefs. But how true is this? When it comes to creative thinking and innovation, the ancient Greeks...

The First Australians from 2022-02-17T03:00

Indigenous Australians have lived on the vast continent of Australia for thousands of years - but how have they survived isolation, extreme conditions, and caring for the land which serves them?...

The Truth About Saint Valentine from 2022-02-13T03:00

St. Valentine of Rome, patron saint of beekeepers and epilepsy, among many other things. But who exactly is the real St Valentine, and how has the story been kept alive? In this episode, Tristan...

The Largest Roman Palace North of the Alps from 2022-02-10T03:00

Fishbourne Roman Palace in West Sussex was first constructed just three decades after the empire’s legions conquered Britain in the first century AD. Rediscovered in 1960, Fishbourne is the larg...

The Origins of London from 2022-02-06T03:00

London is today one of the greatest cities in the world, and the story of its origins is fittingly spectacular. Founded by the Romans as Londinium in around 47-50 AD, the metropolis served as a ...

The Phoenician World from 2022-02-03T03:00

Imagine you are a traveller sailing to the major cities around the Mediterranean in 750 BC. You would notice a remarkable similarity in the dress, alphabet, consumer goods, and gods from Gibralt...

Introducing: On Jimmy's Farm from 2022-02-02T12:00

Join celebrity farmer, ecologist and conservationist, Jimmy Doherty, on his farm as he talks to eco-experts and well-known faces about trying to live a greener life.

From bug burgers a...

Alexander's Successors at War: The Spartan Adventurer from 2022-01-30T03:00

It’s here! Today is the publication date of Tristan’s first book, Alexander’s Successors at War: The Perdiccas Years. Focussing in on 323 – 320 BC, the book tells the story of the ...

Alexander's Successors at War: The Spartan Adventurer from 2022-01-30T03:00

It’s here! Today is the publication date of Tristan’s first book, Alexander’s Successors at War: The Perdiccas Years. Focussing in on 323 – 320 BC, the book tells the story of the ...

The Scholars of Assyria from 2022-01-27T03:00

Tens of thousands of clay tablets containing texts written in the ancient Cuneiform script of the Assyrian Empire have been discovered, giving us invaluable insights into the inner workings of t...

Alexander the Great&The Persian Thermopylae (Part Two) from 2022-01-23T03:00

In this second part of Tristan’s explainer, he takes us right into the heart of the battle dubbed the Persian Thermopylae. Listen as Alexander begins a full-blooded assault on the Persian Gates,...

Alexander the Great&The Persian Thermopylae (Part One) from 2022-01-20T03:00

In January 330 BC, Alexander the Great faced one of his most difficult challenges to date. A small Persian force, entrenched in a formidable defensive position that blockaded Alexander’s route t...

The Birth of the Roman Empire from 2022-01-16T03:00

16 January 27 BC is a date sometimes associated with the beginning of the Roman Empire. It was on that day that Octavian received the name Augustus, effectively becoming the first emperor of Rom...

The Seleucid Empire: In the Shadow of Rome from 2022-01-13T03:00

At its height, the Seleucid Empire stretched from Thrace (modern day Bulgaria) to the Indus River Valley. Emerging from the tumultuous ‘Successor Wars’ that followed Alexander the Great’s passin...

Spinning in the Roman World from 2022-01-09T03:00

Spinning held an important place in ancient society, and no, we're not talking about ancient exercise classes. A task for women and slaves, it was used to create clothes, ships sails, and ropes,...

Cannibalism from 2022-01-06T03:00

It’s a macabre topic to discuss, but also one that has fascinated people for generations. So what has archaeology revealed about cannibalism among prehistoric societies? And if cannibalism does ...

Alexander The Great vs Julius Caesar from 2022-01-02T03:00

They’ve both been described as the greatest military commander in the ancient world, but who really takes the title (if either of them)? Alexander, the undefeated conqueror of one of the largest...

How Julius Caesar Changed Time from 2021-12-30T03:00

We’re finishing off 2021 with what is perhaps Julius Caesar’s greatest legacy. It’s not a military victory or battle, but one of the many political reforms that truly has stood the test of time:...

Race&Identity in the Ancient Greek Novel from 2021-12-26T03:00

For the first 4 centuries AD/CE, the ancient Greek novel was the most popular literary form in the Roman Empire and at the heart of these popular texts is discussion over race and identity. Coul...

Hannibal's Winter War from 2021-12-23T03:00

It’s fair to say that winter battles weren’t commonplace in the ancient Mediterranean world. There is, however, one striking exception. A clash that occurred in mid/late December 218 BC, in nort...

King Herod from 2021-12-19T03:00:56

Thanks largely to his feature in the Gospel of Matthew, King Herod ‘the Great’ of Judaea is one of the most infamous figures from the whole of history. So what do we know about this ancient near...

How to Party Like a Roman from 2021-12-16T04:00

Contrary to popular belief, parties in Ancient Rome were not all depraved wine-fuelled orgies. In fact, Roman get-togethers were relatively tame by the standards of today. They often consisted o...

Songlines: Australia's Book of Genesis from 2021-12-12T03:00

What the Book of Genesis is to the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, songlines are to Indigenous Australians. Epic tales of desire, pursuit, shape-shifting spirits, strength and fami...

Homosexuality&Ancient Greece from 2021-12-09T03:00

Frederick the Great, Marie Antoinette and Oscar Wilde. Each of them have talked about, or been talked about in terms of, Ancient Greek ideas of homosexual love. From men taking on young apprentices...

The Bronze Age Burials at Stonehenge from 2021-12-05T03:00

Today we’re talking all about science, Stonehenge and what we know about a massive migration into Britain at the start of the Bronze Age some 4,500 years ago: the Steppe migration. For years the...

The Origins of Life on Earth from 2021-12-02T03:00

Today we’re going back to the beginning – no Romans, Celts, Egyptians or Macedonians in sight. We’re going much further back, covering billions of years of prehistory as we look at the emergence...

Vindolanda's 2021 Excavation from 2021-11-28T03:00

Situated roughly one mile south of Hadrian’s Wall is one of the great jewels of Roman and early medieval archaeology: Vindolanda. Over the past 50 years, annual excavations at this site have rev...

Vindolanda's 2021 Excavation from 2021-11-28T03:00

Situated roughly one mile south of Hadrian’s Wall is one of the great jewels of Roman and early medieval archaeology: Vindolanda. Over the past 50 years, annual excavations at this site have rev...

Menka: Village of the Breadfruit Goddess from 2021-11-25T03:00

It is one of the most remote ancient sites in the world. Situated on the isolated Micronesian island of Kosrae are the ruins of an ancient religious centre called Menka, also known as the Villag...

Menka: Village of the Breadfruit Goddess from 2021-11-25T03:00

It is one of the most remote ancient sites in the world. Situated on the isolated Micronesian island of Kosrae are the ruins of an ancient religious centre called Menka, also known as the Villag...

Caracalla's Macedonian Phalanx from 2021-11-21T02:00

Alexander the Great and Caracalla. One often considered among the most successful military commanders of all time, the other, one of the worst emperors of Ancient Rome. So is it possible that the l...

Caracalla's Macedonian Phalanx from 2021-11-21T02:00

Alexander the Great and Caracalla. One often considered among the most successful military commanders of all time, the other, one of the worst emperors of Ancient Rome. So is it possible that th...

The Legacy of the Minoans from 2021-11-18T03:00

Minoan Crete has kept people captivated for millennia, appearing in countless modern cultural practices till this very day. But who are the Minoans? In this episode, Tristan travels down to Oxford ...

The Rise of the Praetorian Guard from 2021-11-14T03:00

From Gladiator to Rome Total War to I, Claudius, today the Cohortēs praetōriae are one of the most distinctive military units of Imperial Rome. It was their job to protect the Roman Emperor and ...

Ancient Globalisation? Life and Death at Ai Khanum from 2021-11-11T03:00

For decades the discovery of Ai Khanum, ‘the City of Lady Moon’, in Eastern Afghanistan has fascinated archaeologists and historians alike: from its ‘Greek’ theatre and gymnasium to the literary...

The First Astronomers from 2021-11-07T02:00

For thousands of years indigenous Australians, the longest living culture on Earth, have been fascinated by the stars. In this episode, Gamilaraay man and ANU astrophysics graduate Peter Swanton sh...

Glasgow's Roman Remains&Hadrian's Wall from 2021-11-04T03:00

To align with the COP26 conference in Glasgow, this episode features legendary Roman Britain archaeologist Dr David Breeze talking about his many years excavating the Roman site of Bearsden near Gl...

The Truth About the Roman Orgy (And More!) from 2021-10-31T03:00

Was Ancient Rome truly as sexually liberated as we think? How did the Greeks feel about nude statues? And how did these ideas vary across the Ancient Mediterranean? In this episode, Alastair Bla...

The End of the Severan Dynasty from 2021-10-28T02:00

Following two assassinations and two executions, the title of Roman Emperor fell to Alexander Severus. He was one of the youngest to ever hold this title, and he was to be the final emperor of the ...

The End of the Severan Dynasty from 2021-10-28T02:00

Following two assassinations and two executions, the title of Roman Emperor fell to Alexander Severus. He was one of the youngest to ever hold this title, and he was to be the final emperor of the ...

The End of the Severan Dynasty from 2021-10-28T02:00

Following two assassinations and two executions, the title of Roman Emperor fell to Alexander Severus. He was one of the youngest to ever hold this title, and he was to be the final emperor of the ...

Mavia: Arabia's Warrior Queen from 2021-10-24T02:00

To fight against the Roman empire and then make an alliance with them took a certain courage and tenacity. In this episode we are introduced to Mavia, the warrior queen of the semi-nomadic Tanukhid...

Mavia: Arabia's Warrior Queen from 2021-10-24T02:00

To fight against the Roman empire and then make an alliance with them took a certain courage and tenacity. In this episode we are introduced to Mavia, the warrior queen of the semi-nomadic Tanukhid...

Ancient Kazakhstan: Gold of the Great Steppe from 2021-10-21T02:00

Gold and horses! 2,500 years ago, in the area of the Great Steppe that is now Eastern Kazakhstan, an extraordinary ancient Scythian culture reigned supreme. They were called the Saka, renowned f...

Caracalla: The Common Enemy of Mankind? from 2021-10-17T02:00

Often up there in the upper echelons of most articles listing Rome's worst emperors, it's fair to say that history has not been kind to Caracalla. Whether it was contemporary sources d...

Ai Khanum: A Greek City in Afghanistan? from 2021-10-14T02:00

A theatre, a gymnasium and houses with colonnaded courtyards: these are the hallmarks of an Ancient Greek city. So what are they doing in the city of Ai Khanum, far east of their origins in...

Alexander the Great's Greatest Victory from 2021-10-10T02:00

In October 331 BC, one of the most important battles of world history occurred on the plain of Gaugamela. Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, had been campaigning east...

Nefertiti from 2021-10-07T02:00

Very few figures in history are recognizable from their silhouettes, but included in this small group is Nefertiti, one of the most famous queens of Ancient Egypt. Professor Joyce Tyldesley speaks ...

The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great from 2021-10-03T02:00

In his lifetime King Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, forged one of the largest empires in ancient history. But it was what happened to Alexander following his demi...

The Oldest Human Footprints in North America from 2021-09-30T02:00

This week our understanding of when humans first inhabited the North American continent has been turned on its head … by a set of c.22,000 year old footprints. In this episode, hear how footprin...

Roman Weapons from 2021-09-26T02:00

Legendary leaders and notorious battles, we imagine the sound of clinking armour. But what did the Romans take with them into battle? In the second of our episodes recorded at Chalke Valley Hist...

Werewolves and Strix-Witches from 2021-09-23T02:00:45

It’s werewolf time on the Ancients! In this episode Exeter University’s Professor Daniel Ogden highlights how these mythical creatures have their origins in ancient times and thrived in a story ...

Fortress Cilicia: Megastructures in the Near East from 2021-09-21T02:00

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s death, his empire became the subject of a series of titanic clashes: the Wars of the Successors. In this episode of the podcast, Dr Nick Rauh takes us t...

Fortress Cilicia: Megastructures in the Near East from 2021-09-21T02:00

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s death, his empire became the subject of a series of titanic clashes: the Wars of the Successors. In this episode of the podcast, Dr Nick Rauh takes us t...

Clodius: Best Villain of the Roman Republic? from 2021-09-19T02:00

Historian and author Dr. Emma Southon returns to the Ancients to shine a light on the life - and murder - of Publius Claudius Pulcher (aka Clodius), and why this horrible, colourful figure was s...

Clodius: Best Villain of the Roman Republic? from 2021-09-19T02:00

Historian and author Dr. Emma Southon returns to the Ancients to shine a light on the life - and murder - of Publius Claudius Pulcher (aka Clodius), and why this horrible, colourful figure was so s...

Maya Warfare and Sacrifice from 2021-09-16T02:00

With a history stretching back thousands of years, it’s about time that the Ancients started looking at the extraordinary Maya civilisation in Central America. Even with a range of sources that ...

The Origins of Civilisation from 2021-09-12T02:00

The world is constantly changing, and so has the perception of civilisation, but what exactly are the origins of this concept? Helping us answer this question from an anthropological and ar...

Sex in Ancient Rome from 2021-09-09T02:00

We’ve covered bloody battles, we’ve covered stunning cities, we’ve covered civilisations far away from the ancient Mediterranean. But in some 120 episodes of The Ancients we hadn’t covered one of t...

Romans vs Caledonians: The Battle of Mons Graupius from 2021-09-05T02:00

In 83/84 AD a battle was fought somewhere in Scotland between the Roman forces of Gnaeus Julius Agricola and the 'Caledonians' – the great climax to Agricola’s campaigns in Northern Britain. Det...

Romans vs Caledonians: The Battle of Mons Graupius from 2021-09-05T02:00

In 83/84 AD a battle was fought somewhere in Scotland between the Roman forces of Gnaeus Julius Agricola and the 'Caledonians' – the great climax to Agricola’s campaigns in Northern Britain. Detail...

Roman Camps in Britain from 2021-09-02T02:00

When one mentions Roman military installations you would be forgiven for instantly thinking of their forts, the remains of which we can see today dotted around the country. From the Kent coast to c...

Nan Madol: Venice of the Pacific from 2021-08-29T02:00

Nan Madol. It is one of the most awesome, enigmatic and unique ancient sites in the World, and yet most people have never heard the name. Labelled the ‘Venice of the Pacific’ by US aviators duri...

The Lost Tomb of Cleopatra from 2021-08-26T02:00

Among the rulers of Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra VII has long held a place in legend, her story having been told in folklore, by Shakespeare and in Hollywood movies. In reality, however, her story rema...

The Rise of Marseilles: France's Oldest City from 2021-08-24T02:00

Today it is the second largest city in France. But Marseilles is also the country’s oldest city. Founded at the turn of the 7th century BC by Greek settlers, the ancient history of Marseill...

The Rise of Hannibal from 2021-08-22T02:00

He was one of the greatest enemies the Romans ever faced. An excellent general and a larger-than-life figure, he led an army across the alps and dealt a series of crushing defeats upon the Roman...

Colchester: From Bronze Age to Boudica from 2021-08-19T02:00

It is the one possible case of urbanisation in Britain prior to the arrival of the Romans, and that is just the start of the story of Colchester. In this chat with Tristan, Dr Frank Hargrave from C...

Tacfarinas: The Desert Hydra from 2021-08-17T02:00

He was one of the greatest rebels of Rome from the 1st century AD, but his name is not one you might initially think of. Derided by Roman historians as being little more than a bandit, the truth is...

Palaces in Paradise: Centres of the Persian World from 2021-08-15T02:00

Persepolis is arguably the most famous ancient site associated with the Achaemenid Persian Empire, but it certainly wasn’t the only administrative centre of this ancient superpower. In this seco...

Pompeii’s Indian Statuette from 2021-08-12T02:00

Among Pompeii’s great wealth of surviving artefacts is one with a rich globe trotting history that only goes to emphasise the interconnected nature of the ancient world: the Pompeii Lakshmi, a smal...

10 Key Roman Emperors from 2021-08-10T02:00

Love them or loathe them, the Roman emperors were some of the most influential figures in history. In this episode Barry Strauss, Professor of History and Classics at Cornell University, ...

Sisters at War: The Rise and Fall of Elagabalus from 2021-08-08T02:00

Often found high on the list of Rome’s worst emperors, the short reign of the teenager Elegabalus in the early 3rd century AD is filled with controversy. But it was also a time when several remarka...

The Lost Baths of Cleopatra from 2021-08-05T02:00

Cleopatra. Hers is one of the most famous names that endures from antiquity. The victor of a civil war. The mistress of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. The last ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt. The protago...

The Gladiatrix from 2021-08-03T02:00

Mention the word gladiator and you would be forgiven for instantly thinking of the 2000 namesake epic movie. Of spectators watching on as men battled each other with a variety of weapons, sometimes...

Alexander the Great’s Corpse&the Greatest Heist in History from 2021-08-01T02:00

Alexander the Great is one of the most famous generals and empire builders in history, but the story of his death is almost as remarkable as his life. For this episode, our host and Alexander the G...

The Sacred Band of Thebes from 2021-07-29T02:00

The Theban Sacred Band was one of the greatest military corps of Ancient Greece, thriving from the city-state of Thebes for almost 50 years in the mid 4th century BC. In addition to their fighting ...

The Begram Hoard: Treasures of the Silk Road from 2021-07-27T02:00:06

In the mid-20th century French archaeologists came across a remarkable collection of ancient items from Eastern China, the Indian subcontinent and the Roman Mediterranean, all in one place. In this...

Decoding the Roman Dead from 2021-07-25T02:00

Often known as ‘Britain’s first town’, Colchester is a city rich in ancient history and on 24 July 2021, a new exhibition will open at the Colchester Museum revealing more about some of its earl...

Life in Sparta from 2021-07-22T02:00

A legendary city-state in Ancient Greece, we associate Sparta with fierce warriors in battle. But what about the everyday? In this second episode with Professor Stephen Hodkinson, we discuss the...

The Oldest Known Shark Attack from 2021-07-20T02:00

It’s a crossover with Jaws and Open Water that we never expected, but a 3,000 year old corpse has thrown a surprising topic into the mix: shark bites. The body, found in the prehistoric Tsukumo hun...

The Oldest Known Shark Attack from 2021-07-20T02:00

It’s a crossover with Jaws and Open Water that we never expected, but a 3,000 year old corpse has thrown a surprising topic into the mix: shark bites. The body, found in the prehistoric Tsukumo hun...

The Romans in Brittany from 2021-07-17T23:00

It was one of the most powerful empires in history, leaving marks and remnants across the globe, but in this episode we are looking specifically at the impact of the Romans on Brittany. Tristan was...

Scythed Chariots from 2021-07-15T02:00

What could be more terrifying than an army racing towards you? An army on chariots? What if those chariots had blades mounted on either side? In this episode, Tristan speaks to Dr Silvannen Gerrard...

Carthage vs Greeks? The First Sicilian War from 2021-07-13T02:00

480 BC is a year widely-celebrated in Greek history. When Leonidas' Spartan core and their Hellenic allies fought a powerful Persian army at Thermopylae, and an outnumbered, Athenian-led navy defea...

Julius Caesar’s Invasions of Britain from 2021-07-11T02:00

On the day of the Euro 2020 final, we’re talking England versus Italy…Ancients style (well, sort of). Historian and archaeologist Dr Simon Elliott returns to the podcast to talk us through Julius C...

Begram: Crossroads of the Ancient World from 2021-07-08T02:00

Bagram, also known as Begram, has been in the news a lot recently. Over the past couple of days, the last US and NATO troops have withdrawn from Bagram air base, which they have occupied for som...

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Strait of Messina from 2021-07-06T02:00

Dividing Sicily from Italy, the Strait of Messina is a small stretch of water with an incredible history that stretches back to ancient times. It was likely here that the mythical sea monsters of S...

Persepolis: Jewel of Persia from 2021-07-04T02:00

It is one of the most remarkable ancient sites in the World. Situated east of the Zagros Mountains in modern day Iran, Persepolis was an important urban centre of the Achaemenid Persian Empire for ...

Divorced, Murdered, Survived: Nero's Wives from 2021-06-30T23:00

In the long tradition of categorising famous wives as the good or the bad, Nero’s partners are no exception. These women are regularly reduced to simple characters within the final Julio-Claudia...

The Truth About Spartan Society from 2021-06-29T02:00

Sparta. Situated in the southern Peloponnese, this ancient Hellenic city-state has become ingrained in popular imagination as the home of unmatched Greek super soldiers, trained for war since youth...

Vindolanda: Jewel of Roman Britain from 2021-06-27T02:00

Situated roughly two miles south of Hadrian's Wall in the heart of the Northumberland countryside, Vindolanda is home to some of the most remarkable archaeology from Roman Britain. Its history span...

Artemis of Ephesus: The Great Mother Goddess from 2021-06-23T23:00

An incredibly popular goddess, characterised in statues of her by a vest of bee hives, or are they breasts … bull scrotums? In this episode Tristan speaks to Dr Carla Ionescu about the Ephesian Art...

Dirty Love: The Ancient Greek Novel from 2021-06-22T02:00

The novel, and in particular the romance genre, is at the heart of a billion dollar industry, but when did they originate? In this episode, Professor Tim Whitmarsh from the University of Cambridge ...

Ancient Brittany with Sir Barry Cunliffe from 2021-06-20T02:00

Stretching out from the north west of France, Brittany has long been as identifiable with the Atlantic Ocean as with its continental neighbours in Europe. Whilst Sir Barry Cunliffe’s research and a...

Scotland's Earliest Animal Carvings: An Incredible New Discovery from 2021-06-17T02:00

Prehistoric animal carvings, thought to be up to 5,000 years old, have been discovered in Scotland for the very first time. The images, which include carvings of two red deer, were found by chance ...

Berenike and the Red Sea Spice Route from 2021-06-13T02:00

Situated on the western coast of the Red Sea in antiquity were a series of thriving seaports, bringing in trade from as far as way as Sir Lanka. Key mercantile centres, where goods made in Iberi...

Nero: Taking to the Stage from 2021-06-10T02:00

In popular culture, Nero is thought of as the Emperor who played the fiddle as Rome burned to the ground. Whilst this might not be strictly factual, it does hint towards another side of this infamo...

Iron Age British and Roman Racing Chariots from 2021-06-06T02:00

How truthful are modern depictions of ancient chariots? In this second episode, Mike Loades explores the reality behind the scythed chariot shown in Boudica's Westminster statue. He then draws upon...

Polynesian Mythology from 2021-06-03T02:00

From creation stories to voyager journeys, mythology and oral history are often key to our identities. In this episode Christina Thompson shines a light on some fascinating tales from Polynesian my...

The Golden Age of Chariots from 2021-05-30T02:00

Taxis to the front line or ancient tanks? Through archaeological remains and ancient depictions, we have some idea of what the ancient military vehicles of the ancient world looked like, but how we...

Alexander the Great's First Persian Victory from 2021-05-26T23:00

If there had been a different outcome to the Battle of Granicus, we might never have heard about Alexander the Great. Taking place in 334 BC, this was his first major victory against the Persian Em...

Ancient Polynesia: Pioneers of the Pacific from 2021-05-22T23:00

Despite sporadic food sources and the dangers of the deep sea, the remote islands of the Pacific Ocean have been home to Polynesians for more than a millennium. But what was life like for the first...

The Truth About King Arthur from 2021-05-19T23:00

The legend of King Arthur has been reworked many times, but is there any historical truth behind the tales? Dr Miles Russell believes there is and in this podcast he highlights how elements of King...

Olympia: The Golden Age from 2021-05-16T02:00

For hundreds of years in antiquity, the sanctuary at Olympia was one of the most important religious sites in the Greek World, home to stunning art and architecture commissioned by tyrants and c...

Ancient Afghanistan: The Land of a Thousand Cities from 2021-05-13T02:00

Situated north of the Hindu Kush and south of the Oxus (Amu Darya) River, the history of the ancient region of Bactria is rich and diverse. From the Oxus Civilisation that flourished in the Bron...

The Rise of Olympia from 2021-05-11T02:00

Forget the Games, ancient Olympia’s importance stretched much further than simply being the birthplace of its namesake sporting festival. Boasting hundreds of years of history, at its height thi...

How the Romans Treated Eye Infections from 2021-05-09T02:00

Traditionally believed to be ‘windows to the soul’, the health of eyes in the Roman Empire could be compromised by lamentable hygiene practices, unclean public baths and dusty roads. But without mo...

How Corinth Became Christian from 2021-05-06T02:00

Occupied since around 3000 BC, the Ancient city of Corinth is not unique in its transition from a Pagan, Greco-Roman state to a Christian one. What makes it stand out, however, is the incredible ev...

The Truth About The Huns from 2021-05-02T08:36:34

The Huns! The name of this ancient people triggers a multiplicity of responses and evokes a number of images (nearly all of them negative). They have been portrayed as a savage people, who contr...

The Olympic Games from 2021-05-02T02:00

Ancient history legend Robin Waterfield came on the podcast to talk about the Olympic Games in antiquity. The first of a small miniseries on the ancient site of Olympia. Robin is the author of ‘Oly...

Cicero’s Fight for the Roman Republic from 2021-04-25T02:00

Caesar Octavian, Mark Antony, Decimus Brutus and Cicero: the Battle of Mutina, April 43 BC, was a clash of giants. It also became the beginning of the end for one of Ancient Rome’s greatest orators...

Roman Prisoners of War from 2021-04-22T02:00

We know all about the battles of the Roman Empire: the opposing sides, their weapons and incentives. But if history is written by the winners, what happened if you lost? In this episode, Dr Jo Ball...

Introducing 'Leonardo: The Official Podcast' from 2021-04-20T02:00

Here on The Ancients, we think that you will loveLeonardo, the official podcast accompanying the murder-mystery period drama starring Aidan Turner.Leonardotakes a deep dive beh...

The Legacy of Thermopylae from 2021-04-18T02:00

Ever since its occurence in 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae has been the stuff of legend. Echoes of this battle, reportedly fought between a seven thousand strong Greek army and a Persian force o...

Edges of Empire: Chesters Roman Fort from 2021-04-15T02:00

Described as one of the most complete cavalry forts that survives in Britain, Chesters Roman Fort is also home to the best preserved military baths on the island. In this episode, English Heritage ...

Lessons from the Antonine Plague from 2021-04-11T02:00

A plague which affects people from across society, mass exodus from city centres and numerous opinions on how best to stay well ... all familiar to people today, but also to the people of the 2nd c...

Persia's Untapped Source: The Persepolis Fortification Texts from 2021-04-08T02:00

The Persepolis Fortification Tablets / Texts are the who’s who of the Ancient Achaemenid Empire, a unique insight into the administrative workings of this jurisdiction emerging from present day ...

Jewish Burial at the Time of Jesus from 2021-04-04T02:00

According to the Gospels, Jesus died and was removed from the cross on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath (Friday afternoon), before his body was placed in the family tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. For...

The Xiongnu: History's First Nomadic Empire? from 2021-04-01T02:00

Between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century AD, the Xiongnu inhabited the area surrounding Mongolia. They influenced the later Hun Empire, and had connections with Ancient China and Persia, but ...

Music in Ancient Greece from 2021-03-28T03:00

Without recordings, and with notation and instruments long forgotten, how can we possibly know what music soundtracked Ancient Greek life? James Lloyd from the University of Reading has been studyi...

The Rise of Cicero from 2021-03-25T03:00

Cicero is often considered to be one of the greatest orators of Ancient Rome. But how did he reach prominence in Roman politics? Why are his speeches so well remembered and what makes them extraord...

Boudica: Through Roman Eyes from 2021-03-21T03:00

The Iceni warrior who led a revolt against the Roman Empire around 60 AD often stands alone in our memory of ancient queens in Britain, but in this episode we explore Boudica’s portrayal in compari...

Petra: The Rose City from 2021-03-18T03:00

A city of caves, temples and tombs, Petra gains its nickname from the pink sandstone from which it was carved. In this second part of his conversation with Tristan, Professor David Graf, who dir...

The Ides of March from 2021-03-14T03:00

In 44 BC, the Ides of March took on a new significance. Previously observed as the first full moon of the new year, the 15 March is today remembered as the anniversary of the assassination of Ju...

Women and Power in Ancient Egypt from 2021-03-11T03:00

Kara Cooney has been studying 6 of the remarkable female pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. In this episode she explains why many of them have been forgotten, and others regularly misrepresented. Profes...

Boudica: Britain's Warrior Queen from 2021-03-07T03:00

Boudica has become a hero of British folklore. Her leadership of the Iceni in an uprising against the forces of the Roman Empire in around 60 AD is echoed around school classrooms. But what evidenc...

The Origins of Warfare from 2021-03-04T03:00

Popular discussions of human history are punctuated with conflict, but when did warfare begin? To discuss this massive question, Professor Nam Kim has returned to the Ancients. Taking in examples f...

Cheddar Man: Science and the Skeleton from 2021-02-28T03:00

Cheddar Man is the oldest almost complete skeleton of a Homo sapien ever found in Britain and, for this fantastic episode, Tristan spoke to the scientist who has drilled a (very small) hole in h...

Petra: Rise of the Nabataeans from 2021-02-25T03:00

The assumption had once been that they were nomads until the Romans came. But more recent archaeological work in modern day Jordan is dispelling this myth about the ancient Nabataeans. In this f...

Lugdunum: The Biggest Battle in Roman History? from 2021-02-21T03:00

In 197 AD, the armies of Septimius Severus and Clodius Albinus met at Lugdunum, on the site of present day Lyon. If we believe the numbers given in Cassius Dio, this was the greatest and bloodiest ...

Palmyra: Pearl of the Desert from 2021-02-18T03:00

Palmyra features in headlines today as a casualty of IS destruction, but during its heyday it was a monumental city set on an oasis in the Syrian desert. First mentioned in the second millennium BC...

Myths of Masada from 2021-02-14T03:00

In 73 AD, 967 Jewish rebels against the Romans committed mass suicide atop the Masada Fortress. Or did they? In this second part of Tristan’s interview with Jodi Magness from the University of N...

Rome: 'The Eternal City' from 2021-02-11T03:00

Rome. The Eternal City. One of the most recognisable names that many associate with the Ancient Mediterranean World. To provide a detailed run down of this ancient city, Tristan was delighted to...

Besieging Masada from 2021-02-07T03:00

Dramatically placed on a plateau with drops of 400m to the east and 90m to the west, Masada translates from Hebrew as fortress. It became just that when Herod the Great built a magnificent palac...

Beasts of Battle: Indian War Elephants from 2021-02-04T03:00

The four components of the Ancient Indian battlefield: infantry, cavalry, chariots … and elephants. These magnificent creatures were dominant in conflicts to the east of India, in South-East Asi...

Edges of Empire: Rome's Northernmost Town from 2021-01-31T03:00

Roughly two miles south of Hadrian’s Wall lie the remains of Roman Corbridge, the northernmost town of the Roman Empire. The site’s archaeology is unique. The remains highlight what was once a b...

Roman Military Tombstones: Uncovering the Unknown Warriors from 2021-01-28T03:00

From Northern Britain to the Near East, Roman tombstones have been uncovered on various far flung frontiers of the Roman Empire. Dedicated to those auxiliaries and legionaries that perished far fro...

The Mystery of the Ninth Legion from 2021-01-24T03:00

The legions of Rome were the nucleus of Rome’s military might for centuries. From campaigning in northern Scotland to the Persian Gulf, these devastating battalions extended and cemented Roman powe...

Edges of Empire: The Sasanian Frontiers from 2021-01-21T03:00

For centuries, arguably the greatest external threat the Roman Empire faced came from the East. From the Sasanian Persian Empire. With its nucleus situated in Iran, at its height the Sasanian Em...

Indonesian Cave Art: A Dramatic New Discovery from 2021-01-17T03:00

It’s a paradox for the ages, breaking news about people who lived and died thousands of years ago. This discovery is no different, because Adam Brumm and his team in Sulawesi have released their di...

Tomyris: A Warrior Queen's Revenge from 2021-01-14T03:00

Her legend afforded her a place alongside Eve, Cleopatra and Venus, to name just a few of the famous women whose biographies were collected by Giovanni Boccaccio in 1361-2. Though not a household n...

Oppian’s Halieutica: Creatures of the Ancient Deep from 2021-01-10T03:00

The deep blue sea is the subject of speculation to this day but, in this episode, we have access to the mysteries, myths and misgivings that were associated with the ocean in the 2nd century AD. Th...

Hannibal: Battle by the Trebia from 2021-01-07T03:00

It’s 218 BC, and Hannibal has made the mammoth journey across the Alps en route to Italy, accompanied by his army, their horses, and their elephants. But the real battle is yet to come, and in this...

Hannibal: Battle by the Trebia from 2021-01-07T03:00

It’s 218 BC, and Hannibal has made the mammoth journey across the Alps en route to Italy, accompanied by his army, their horses, and their elephants. But the real battle is yet to come, and in this...

How Ancient Egypt Stayed Egyptian from 2021-01-03T03:00

The length of time between the rule of Cleopatra and the erection of the Pyramids is the same as that between now and the birth of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, it is perhaps no surprise that so...

El Kurru: Egypt's Nubian Pharaohs from 2020-12-31T03:00

In the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Ancient Egypt was ruled by an extraordinary dynasty. This was the 25th Dynasty, also known as the Nubian Dynasty because of their Kushite roots. They...

Hatshepsut: Egypt's Hidden Pharaoh from 2020-12-27T03:00

Hatshepsut – whose name means “foremost of noblewomen” – was an exceptional figure in the history of Ancient Egypt. Only the second woman in history to assume the title of pharaoh, during her re...

The Mystery of Mithras: A Pagan Christmas? from 2020-12-24T03:00

The clichéd Christmas: white snow, hot fires, mulled wine and a feast. This might not be the case were the holiday not to fall on 25 December and, although many things have been missed in 2020, the...

Saturnalia: Bonus Episode! from 2020-12-22T03:00

In this episode from the History Hit archive, Dan talks to Kevin Butcher about the Roman festival of Saturnalia. Held between the 17 and 23 December, Saturnalia invloved plenty of drinking, gift-gi...

Hannibal: Crossing the Alps from 2020-12-20T03:00:28

In 218 BCE, Hannibal Barca's Carthaginian army, accompanied by horses and elephants, completed one of the most audacious military marches of ancient Mediterranean history. Setting off from south...

Thucydides: Thoughts on the Athenian Empire from 2020-12-17T03:00

From 478 BCE until 404 BCE, a collection of Greek city-states were united under the leadership of Athens. Beyond inscriptions and a few minor sources, there is very little to tell us about life wit...

The Garamantes: Farming the Sahara from 2020-12-13T03:00

Greco-Roman historians including Herodotus, Tacitus and Pliny the Elder would have us believe that the Garamantes were simple uncivilized cattle herders, living in sporadic camp dwellings. Until ar...

Scotland's Enigmatic Ancient Structures from 2020-12-10T03:00

Brochs. Early archaeologists believed that they must have been built by the Danish, that the indigenous population could never have managed it. More recent suggestions have been that architects tra...

Old Testament Warriors from 2020-12-06T03:00

It’s probably the most famous book in the world, and it’s also essentially the only literary source which covers the genesis of warfare and the nation state. Simon Elliott is an archaeologist, hist...

Spartacus: Life or Legend? from 2020-12-03T03:00

‘I’m Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’, is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, adapted from the Howard Fast novel by Red Scare blacklisted s...

Dura-Europos: The Syrian Pompeii from 2020-11-29T03:00

When we think of Pompeii, we remember the city which became frozen in time after a natural catastrophe. Well, in 1920, exactly 100 years ago, another 'frozen city' was rediscovered. This time it...

Pompeii and the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius from 2020-11-26T17:15

Pompeii is back in the news. An extraordinary new, touching discovery, found during the Great Pompeii Project of Professor Massimo Osanna and his team. Roughly 700 metres northwest of Pompeii, i...

Linothorax: Kevlar of the Ancients from 2020-11-22T03:00

The House of the Faun in Pompeii is known for being one of the largest and most impressive private residences in the ancient city. Among its many works of art is a depiction of Alexander the Gre...

Volcanic Vineyards of Pompeii from 2020-11-19T03:00

An ancient town, buried and preserved beneath volcanic ash, Pompeii is a gift to archaeologists and historians seeking to find out more about the lives of the civilians in a regular Roman town. ...

Terror in the Teutoburg Forest from 2020-11-15T03:00

Its been used for nationalist propaganda across the ages and its just been dramatised for Netflix, but what do we actually know about the Battle of Teutoburg Forest? For a start, where was it? D...

Agrippa and Augustus: The Golden Age from 2020-11-12T03:00

The Romans, an ancient conquering civilisation with an empire that spread from Europe across the Balkans to the Middle East and North Africa. For this episode, we are returning to our study of one ...

The Other Alexander from 2020-11-08T03:00

Alexander, an Ancient Greek king and a victorious conqueror. No, not that one, not Alexander the Great. This time, we’re talking about his uncle, Alexander I of Molossia. In 334BC, when Alexander t...

Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors from 2020-11-05T13:30

Alexander the Great. One of the most recognisable names in history. In his short lifetime he conquered the mighty Persian Empire and marched his army as far as the Indus River Valley. But it is ...

Catullus: Rome's Most Erotic Poet from 2020-11-01T03:00

If you're looking for a raunchy Roman poet, look no further than Catullus. Born into one of the most exciting periods in Roman history, in the early 1st century BC as the Roman Republic started ...

The Kingdom of Aksum from 2020-10-29T03:00

At its height the Kingdom of Aksum was considered one of the four great powers of the Ancient World. Situated primarily in what is now northern Ethiopia, Aksum’s legacy is astonishing and far re...

The Origins of Ancient Vietnam from 2020-10-25T03:00

It is one of the most extraordinary ancient archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, albeit one that is relatively unheard of outside of Vietnam. Cổ Loa. A defensive stronghold that during its go...

The Battle of Philippi: Death of the Roman Republic from 2020-10-22T02:00

In October 42 BC the Roman Republic committed suicide. Near the town of Philippi in northern Greece the forces of Brutus and Cassius, the famous assassins of Julius Caesar and the last surviving...

Sophocles' Lost Plays from 2020-10-18T02:00

The Big Three. In antiquity it could mean a whole host of different things, the triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus for instance. But for many, ‘The Big Three’ means the three great traged...

69 AD: Rise of Vespasian from 2020-10-15T02:00

69 AD was a tumultuous year in Roman history. 4 Romans assumed the title of emperor; only one remained standing by the year’s end. His name was Vespasian, veteran of Claudius’ invasion of Britai...

Crassus and the Battle of Carrhae: The Defeat of Rome from 2020-10-11T02:00

Gareth Sampson, author of Defeat of Rome in the East:Crassus, the Parthians, and the Disastrous Battle of Carrhae, 53 BCcame on the podcast to provide an in depth account ...

Septimius Severus in Scotland from 2020-10-08T02:00:53

Dan Snow talks to Simon Elliott about Septimius Severus, the first Hammer of the Scots, about his Northern Campaigns, and the true story of this savage 3rd century invasion of Scotland.

Nero the Antichrist? from 2020-10-04T02:00

The Emperor Nero is one of antiquity's most infamous figures, having a particularly hostile relationship with the Christians. But did the early Christians associate Nero with the Antichrist ment...

Agrippa: Rome's Forgotten Hero from 2020-10-01T02:00

There are few men in Roman history that can claim to have been as influential as Marcus Agrippa. The right-hand man of Octavian / Augustus, his career is dotted with powerful positions. And yet,...

The Polynesians: Ancient Mariners of the Pacific from 2020-09-27T02:00:43

The ancient Polynesians remain the greatest seafarers in history. Already by the time of the legendary founding of Rome on 21 April 753 BC, Polynesian voyagers had crossed huge parts of the Paci...

The Battle of Salamis from 2020-09-24T16:00

We've had the Battle of Thermopylae with the brilliant Paul Cartledge; we've had the Battle of Artemisium with the great Owen Rees. And I'm delighted to say that we are today fulfilling the 2,49...

The Rise of Constantine from 2020-09-20T02:00

The Emperor Constantine I, better known as Constantine the Great, is one of the most significant emperors in Roman history. His later Christian biographers lauded him as an icon, the man who set...

Jason and the Argonauts from 2020-09-17T02:00

This week's episode from the History Hit archive features the brilliant Tom Holland telling the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, an epic story of honour, adventure, dangerous women and a golden fle...

Alexander the Great: Through Persian Eyes from 2020-09-13T02:00

Conqueror. Destroyer. Convert. Legendary king. It's fair to say that Alexander the Great's relationship with ancient Persia was complicated. Despite conquering the Persian Empire, Alexander admi...

The Roman Forum from 2020-09-11T02:00

Another one from the History Hit archive! The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum (Italian: Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several im...

The Vestal Virgins from 2020-09-06T02:00

Priestesses of Vesta, Goddess of hearth, home and family, the College of Vestal Virgins were Rome’s only full-time priesthood. They numbered only six and were selected from noble Roman families ...

Pax Romana from 2020-09-04T02:00:47

Time for a delve into the History Hit ancient history archives! In this podcast Dan Snow sits down with the brilliant Adrian Goldsworthy to ask the big questions surrounding the success of Imper...

Kingdom of Kush from 2020-08-28T16:00

Along the banks of the River Nile, directly south of ancient Egypt and hundreds of miles away from the Mediterranean, there was a flourishing kingdom. The Kingdom of Kush. The Egyptians, Assyria...

Battle of Artemisium from 2020-08-23T02:00

Around this time 2,499 years ago the famous Battle of Thermopylae was raging. But it is important to remember that this clash was not happening on its own. At the same time, to the east of Leoni...

Battle of Thermopylae from 2020-08-20T02:00

2,499 years ago the Persian 'Great King' Xerxes launched history's largest amphibious invasion of Europe before D-Day. Accompanied by a huge army and navy he crossed the Hellespont (modern day D...

War Elephants from 2020-08-16T02:00

Move over Hannibal. More over Carthage. This podcast is all about a much BIGGER elephant power in antiquity. A power that, at its height, stretched from modern day Bulgaria to the Hindu Kush: th...

'Killing for the Roman Republic' from 2020-08-13T02:00

In 281/280 BC, the Hellenistic King Pyrrhus ventured to southern Italy to aid the Italiote-Greek city of Tarentum against a rising power based in central Italy. This enemy was the Romans. Over t...

Combat Trauma from 2020-08-09T02:00

From the 2000 historical blockbuster 'Gladiator' to the Total War series, brutal hand to hand warfare is something we commonly associate with antiquity. But do we have any ancient cases of psycholo...

Stone Circles from 2020-08-02T02:00

From Cornwall to Orkney, stone circles are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles. Their history stretches more than 2 millennia, varying from the earlier huge stone ci...

Agrippina the Younger from 2020-07-26T02:00

Agrippina the Younger (AD 15 - 59) was one of the most prominent women in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Born during a time of radical political change in the Roman Empire, she had a very powerful ...

Horse Archery from 2020-07-19T02:00

The horse archer was one of the most feared warriors of antiquity. Triumphing mobility and fluidity, these swift skirmishers came to epitomise a feared ‘eastern’ style of warfare. Renowned histo...

Antonine Wall from 2020-07-12T02:00

In c.142 AD the Emperor Antoninus Pius ordered the construction of a new wall in Northern Britain. Situated between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde it stretched the neck of modern day ...

Housesteads and Hadrian's Wall from 2020-07-05T02:00

Housesteads Roman Fort is one of the great, surviving treasures of Roman Britain. Once an auxiliary fort, it occupied a dominant position on Hadrian’s Wall. The Fort has proven vital in helping ...

Origins of Biological&Chemical Warfare from 2020-07-02T02:00

The origins of biological and chemical warfare stretch far back; modern technology has not brought about these terrifying weapons. Throughout antiquity we have cases of societies using poisonous...

Fall of the Western Roman Empire from 2020-06-26T18:00:27

In the late 4th century and early 5th centuries two massive largely-Germanic confederations arrived on Roman borders, having been uprooted from their homelands by the Huns. These were the Goths and...

Plague of Athens from 2020-06-24T14:00

Plague in the ancient world was nothing unusual. Bouts of illness were common occurrences, but we do have accounts of some exceptional outbreaks: epidemics that brought powerful empires and city-st...