Babylon
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most famous cities in history - Babylon is shrouded in mystery and myth. Located in ancie...
The Great Serpent Mound
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Located in the US State of Ohio, the Great Serpent Mound is an iconic monument of Ancient America. N...
The Parthenon
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The unofficial 8th wonder the Ancient World, the Parthenon is still standing today. Located on the A...
Orkney: Centre of the Stone Age
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Orkney, a group of islands off Britain’s north coast, famed for their stunning, rural scenery. But...
The Kings of Rome
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode contains references to sexual assault and suicide.When you think of Ancient Rome, you d...
Hephaestus: God of Fire
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode contains references to sexual assault and terms for groups which were classified that w...
The First Writing
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The results of a groundbreaking new study were released today [January 5th] by a group of researcher...
Spartacus
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
‘I’m Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’, ...
The First Britons
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
67 million people currently inhabit the United Kingdom - but what do we know about the original, fir...
The Rise and Fall of Crassus
18 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Often overshadowed by his more successful peers (anyone heard of Julius Caesar?), Crassus' rise and ...
Hammurabi: Rise of the Babylonians
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
2000 BC saw the famed city of Babylon begin to flourish under the rule of a King called Hammurabi. R...
Hera: Queen of the Gods
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hera, the wife and sister of Zeus, goddess of marriage, royalty and women, is the Queen of the Gods ...
Carausius: The Pirate King
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With ancient Rome often being viewed as a mighty, impenetrable empire - it seems unlikely that one m...
Bethlehem
04 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most famously known as the birth place of Jesus, Bethlehem has been immortalised in texts, carols, a...
Uruk: The First Cities
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A Mesopotamian metropolis that thrived for millennia, Uruk is even claimed by some to have been the ...
Alexander the Great: Man and Myth
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alexander the Great is one of the most famous figures from history. Legends and fantastical versions...
The Legacy of Tutankhamun
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the phenomenon of “Tutmani...
Rise of the Etruscans
20 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Situated in the North of Italy, the Etruscan's were once a powerful civilisation, dominating the Ita...
Valley of the Kings
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On the west bank of the Nile, across from the ancient city of Thebes, lies the Valley of the Kings -...
Zeus: King of the Gods
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zeus, the chief deity in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of sky and thunder, and is king of all...
The Tomb of Tutankhamun
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In November of 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter, thanks to benefactor Lord Carnarvon, disco...
The World's Earliest Cave Art
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
200,000 years ago in what is now Tibet, two children left a set of hand and foot prints on a travert...
Tutankhamun
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tutankhamun is one of the most famous names in ancient history. Known as the 'Boy King', he ascended...
Ukraine's Ancient Greek City
30 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Located in modern day Ukraine, Olbia was the largest ancient Greek settlement on the coast of the Bl...
Colosseum
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nicknamed the 8th wonder of the ancient world, the Colosseum still stands in splendour today. Locate...
The First Black Archaeologist
23 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Born to slaves in 1863, John Wesley Gilbert was the first student of the Paine Institute, a graduate...
Virgil
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of Antiquity's greatest poets, Virgil's legacy is seen across history. Following in the footstep...
End of Stone Age Orkney
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Around 5200 years ago, during the Neolithic period, when farming first took hold, Orkney was a hugel...
Rosetta Stone
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In July 1799 a group of French soldiers stumbled upon a stone that was set to change our understandi...
Race in Antiquity
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
History is littered with devastating accounts of prejudice that shines a harsh light on the atrociti...
March of the 10,000
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded by Xenophon, the 10,000 were a force of Greek mercenaries employed by Cyrus the Younger, wi...
The Rise and Fall of Roman London
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 43 AD, the Romans set up temporary forts along the banks of a river to wait for their Emperor, Cl...
The Real King Arthur: Ambrosius Aurelianus
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A friend of Merlin, the husband of Guinevere, and the inspiration for numerous Hollywood blockbuster...
Top Five Dinosaurs
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
They’re big. They’re fierce. And they’re extinct. This is how today’s guest - palaeontologis...
Karnak: Egypt's Greatest Temple
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Located on the banks of the River Nile in Luxor, Egypt, the Karnak Temple complex is one of the larg...
Art of Neolithic Orkney
18 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Located in the Northern Isles of Scotland, Orkney is a remote and wild environment. With over 5000 y...
Neanderthals
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neanderthals are stereotypically viewed as thoughtless savages - but is this an accurate depiction o...
Elizabeth II: The Making of The Queen
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Queen Elizabeth II has died after 70 years on the British throne. Born in April 1926, Elizabeth Wind...
Treasures of Tutankhamun
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most famous names in history - who is Tutankhamun? In 1922 Howard Carter discovered one t...
Rise of the Persians
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Achaemenid Empire, or better known as the First Persian Empire, was one of the largest empires i...
Prosthetics in Antiquity
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Prosthetics - an artificial feature or body part commonly used to either help restore functions of l...
Ancient Americas: the South American Stonehenge
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the largest archaeological sites in South America, located near Lake Titicaca in Western Boli...
Ancient Americas: The Moche
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Known for their iconic ceramics and notable artwork - the Moche people flourished in ancient norther...
Ancient Americas: The Olmec Heads
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the the earliest Mesoamerican civilisations discovered so far - Olmec influences are visible ...
The Origins of Jerusalem
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the oldest cities in history, and revered by religions across the world - what do we know abo...
Ancient Americas: Teotihuacan
14 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A jewel of Mesoamerica, Teotihuacan was a vibrant, painted city - but who built it? And who actually...
The Oracle of Delphi
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire." That was the prophecy the Oracle of De...
Ancient Americas: Debunking The Maya Apocalypse
07 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most famous, and sophisticated, cultures of Mesoamerica, why are the Maya known only for ...
Hannibal vs Rome: Hannibal's Greatest Victory
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most studied military victories in history, and arguably one of the worst Roman defeats -...
Hannibal vs Rome: The Road to Cannae
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the greatest military commanders in history - it's no wonder Hannibal and Rome so frequently ...
Yorkshire's Roman Mystery: The Ryedale Hoard
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In May 2020, four unique Roman artefacts were unearthed near Ampleforth, North Yorkshire by two amat...
Hannibal vs Rome: Terror at Trasimene
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Towards the beginning of the Second Punic War on 21 June 217 BC, a Carthaginian force under Hannibal...
The Origins of Rome
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Known as the Eternal City, ancient Rome was one of the greatest civilisations in human history, but ...
The Sumerians
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being one of the first civilisations in human history, Sumer is not as well-known as other B...
The Rise of Cleopatra
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Famed across the ages and around the world - everyone knows the name Cleopatra. But how did she beco...
Rise of Rome: The Fall of the Samnites
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the final part of our Samnite Wars episodes, Tristan is once again joined by Dr Kathryn Lomas fro...
Rise of Rome: The First Samnite War
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of a two-parter on the Samnite Wars, we focus in on one of Rome’s greatest r...
Prehistoric Rock Art of Atlantic Europe
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dozens of incredible examples of prehistoric rock art have been found across western Europe in recen...
Sparta and the Nazis
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ancient Sparta was co-opted by the Nazis as a supposed model civilisation for the Third Reich’s tw...
The First Americans
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Modern humans thrived in the Americas for thousands of years before the first European colonists arr...
The Rise of Mammals
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
They survived extinction level events and record high global temperatures - how did mammals adapt an...
The Image of God
19 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Often pictured with a flowing white beard, looking down from Heaven - why is God always seen as an o...
Mermaids
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The central Mediterranean is home to a bounty of creatures - fish, dolphins, and... mermaids? In tod...
The Death of Alexander the Great: Explained
12 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alexander the Great’s untimely death at Babylon in 323 BC triggered an unprecedented crisis across...
The Origins of Clothing
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Clothing has been essential for human evolution. From protection against changing climate, through t...
Roman Treasures of Iron Age Scotland
05 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 1919, excavators working near Edinburgh in Scotland unearthed the largest hoard of Roman hacksilv...
Boudica
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Boudica has become a hero of British folklore. An ancient queen, her leadership of the Iceni in an u...
Saint Brigid: Turning Bathwater into Beer
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Saint Patrick is a household name, celebrated around the globe every March. But what do we know abou...
Greeks vs Romans: Empires at War
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Greece and Rome, they are the heavyweights of ancient history. But what happened when they came face...
Iron Age Wales: Before the Romans
22 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The residents of Britain during the Iron Age are often collectively called 'Celts'. However, both be...
Homer
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the world’s most famous poems. But who was their author, Home...
The Origins of Homo Sapiens
15 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do we know about the earliest hominins to exist? With a story spanning one million years and co...
The Birth of Physiology
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The treatment of mental health has been rapidly growing and improving over the past few decades, but...
Pandora
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
According to Greek myth, Pandora was the first human woman - moulded from the earth by Hephaestus on...
The World of Stonehenge
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Described as the "most important piece of prehistoric art to be found in Britain in the last 100 yea...
The Christian Destruction of the Classical World
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The rise of Christianity in the first few centuries AD is one of the most significant stories in wor...
An Ancient Guide to Healthy Living
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Poetry, parables, and produce - how did someone live a healthy life in the ancient Greco-Roman world...
Saint George
24 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 23rd of April marks Saint George's Day - but who are we actually celebrating? Is there any truth...
Food in the Greco-Roman World
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of the modern Mediterranean, delicious and vibrant food is one of the first things tha...
Mary Magdalene
17 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who was Mary Magdalene? Jesus' confidant, a devout follower, or a sex worker?In this Easter special,...
Weapons of the Terracotta Army
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When someone says the Terracotta Army, you’d be forgiven for instantly thinking of rows upon rows ...
The Rise of Marius: Third Founder of Rome
10 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gaius Marius (157 BC – 86 BC) was one of the first warlords of the late Roman Republic, a gen...
Before Rome: The Truth About Late Iron Age Britain
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Roman connections with Britain stretch back to (at least) the mid 1st century BC. But what has archa...
The Symposium: How To Party Like An Ancient Greek
03 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Ancient Greece, the symposium was no ordinary after-dinner drinking party, but one in which the H...
Dogs in Ancient Greece
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Man's best friend has been at our side for thousands of years. Ancient Greece was no exception, and ...
The Legacy of Julius Caesar's Assassination
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The legacies of the Ides of March stretch from that very afternoon on March 14th 44BC to the modern ...
The Rise of the Dinosaurs
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dinosaurs! Spectacular resilient beings who were able to adapt and survive the most terrifying of ev...
Young Caesar vs Marc Antony
20 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happened after the Ides of March? How did the Romans go from co-ordinated assassinations to the...
Saint Patrick
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Man, myth or legend... who was the real Saint Patrick? Did he really banish all the snakes from Irel...
The Rise and Fall of Brutus
13 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Marcus Junius Brutus is best known as one of the conspirators against Julius Caesar, but there's so ...
Helen of Troy
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships - but is there more to her than a beautiful f...
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: Explained
06 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
March 15th 44BC is perhaps the most notorious date in all of ancient history. On that fateful day, t...
The Origins of Ukraine
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's not often we cover current affairs on The Ancients (the clue is in the name), but in light of P...
Sappho: The Poet from Lesbos
27 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Famous throughout antiquity, yet retold only in fragments today - who is Sappho? Her poetry ins...
The Terracotta Army
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Discovered by local farmers in 1974, the Terracotta Army is one of the most astounding archaeologica...
Eureka! Innovation in Ancient Greece
20 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's often thought that the ancient Greeks were devout in tradition, strict in their ways and belief...
The First Australians
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Indigenous Australians have lived on the vast continent of Australia for thousands of years - but ho...
The Truth About Saint Valentine
13 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
St. Valentine of Rome, patron saint of beekeepers and epilepsy, among many other things. But who exa...
The Largest Roman Palace North of the Alps
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fishbourne Roman Palace in West Sussex was first constructed just three decades after the empire’s...
The Origins of London
06 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
London is today one of the greatest cities in the world, and the story of its origins is fittingly s...