The Ancients

Human Origins: Australopithecus

11 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For millions of years, Australopithecus thrived in Africa's vast landscapes, laying the groundwork for the emergence of the Homo genus. Later, alongsi...

Ravenna and the Fall of Rome

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The fall of the Western Roman Empire stands as one of the most monumental moments in ancient history, symbolising the end of centuries of Roman domina...

Boudica's Battle of Britain

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Celtic queen who led a major uprising against the Roman Empire in ancient Britain, Boudica, is a name known throughout history. Her rebellion, fue...

Origins of Horse Riding

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Human and Horse relationships have long be intertwined; from the ancient Eurasian plain, through to modern cowboys. But how did these huge, independen...

Babylon and the Bible

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When looking at the Hebrew Bible, the city of Babylon plays a prominent role - especially in the Old Testament. A city famed for it's architectural be...

The Cyrus Cylinder

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An ancient clay artefact that dates back to the 6th century BCE, the Cyrus Cylinder is often considered one of the most important documents in history...

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

21 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A legendary, ancient architectural wonder, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most famed wonders of the Ancient world. Described as being a...

Poverty Point: Centre of Ancient America

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An ancient, colossal site in Northeastern Louisiana, Poverty Point is a mystery amongst archaeologist and anthropologists a like. Dating back nearly 4...

Nebuchadnezzar

14 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most famous Babylonian Kings - Nebuchadnezzar II was a legendary ruler who appears in biblical stories, cuneiform texts, and was immortalis...

Messalina: Empress of Rome

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Ancients, host Tristan Hughes speaks with historian Honor Cargill-Martin about the notorious Empress Messalina, third wife of E...

Alexander The Great's Sex Life

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode contains references and words of a sexual nature.Did Alexander the Great and the Queen of the Amazons really have sex for 13 days solid? ...

King Midas

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Shirley Bassey once said, "He's the man. The man with the Midas touch." But who was the man that's inspired stories from Greek myths to Bond banger...

Lilith: Mesopotamian Demoness

30 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps a name better known for recent appearances in horror films - Lilith is a woman who's origins go far beyond that of the Hollywood screens. Ofte...

Athens: Birthplace of Democracy?

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When we think of democracy in the ancient Greek world, our minds often go straight to Athens, the purported birthplace of democracy. But was Athens tr...

Knossos

23 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The legend of the Minotaur and its labyrinth has captivated us for centuries, but is there any evidence of it really existing?In this episode, Tristan...

The First Toolmakers

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Invention and innovation are two concepts that have propelled humankind forward for as long as people can remember - but who were the first, orig...

Iron Age Scotland: Clachtoll Broch

16 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Across northern Scotland, you can still see the skeletal remains of prehistoric skyscrapers known as brochs. These enigmatic drystone towers dominated...

The Great Fire of Rome

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In July 64AD, the Great Fire of Rome tore across the city, and ultimately burnt two thirds of Rome to ashes before it could be bought under control. A...

Athena: Goddess of Wisdom

09 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode contains graphic references of a sexual nature.Athena is the goddess of wisdom, tactical war and skilled craft in Greek mythology.She is ...

Rise of the Assyrians

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At its pinnacle, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, a feat few could compare with in 660BCE. With Assyri...

Alexandria: The Sunken City

02 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Egyptian city of Alexandria was one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. Founded by Alexander the Great himself in 323BC, th...

Troy

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Often thought of as an ancient, mythical idea, immortalised in the works of Homer, it's hard to imagine Troy as real place. But when Heinrich Schliema...

Roman Beast Hunts

26 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and cruelty against animals.The Romans were - and still are - infamous for the brutal gladiator...

Sardinia: Mysteries of the Bronze Age

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Shrouded in mystery, the Nuragic culture was an enigmatic Bronze Age Civilisation that lived on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. With their name ...

Shetland: Edge of the Prehistoric World

19 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over 100 miles further than the northern reaches of Britain, beyond Orkney, are a remote group of islands that make up Shetland. It’s one of the bes...

The Philistines

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps best known from the Biblical tale of David and Goliath, the Philistines were an ancient civilisation who lived on the south coast of Canaan. D...

Ares: God of War

12 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ares is the god of war and bloodlust in Greek mythology.One of the twelve Olympian gods, Ares was often depicted as a fierce and bloodthirsty deity - ...

Septimius Severus

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Given his incredible career, you'd perhaps expect the name of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus to be better known. Born in North Africa in 145AD, he ro...

Dinosaurs: The Last Days

05 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid the size of Mount Everest slammed into our planet, triggering the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and countl...

The First Humans

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Where do humans come from? Or, perhaps more interestingly, who did humans evolve from? A question once posed by the likes of Charles Darwin and other ...

Shirin: Heroine of Iran

26 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Princess, Queen, and political influencer - Shirin should be a name as famed as Cleopatra, but how come so few know of her? Coming to influence in Ira...

The Origins of Buddhism

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the oldest religions in the world, Buddhism is practiced by over 400 million people today, but where did it originate from? Pioneered by the Bu...

The Bantu Expansion

19 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Bantu expansion was one of the most significant cultural events in human history. Sometime between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa...

The Colossus of Rhodes

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes has lived on in legend - with fact and fiction often blurring. A 108 ft high sta...

Cleopatra's Daughter

12 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cleopatra VII is one of the most famous individuals from the ancient world. The final Queen of Ancient Egypt, and a woman who used her position to dir...

Homo Erectus

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before modern humans walked the earth, and even before the Neanderthals, Homo Erectus dominated the plains of Africa. Eventually migrating across the ...

Aphrodite: Goddess of Love

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode contains graphic references.Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology.Her origin story is one of the more colourful ...

The Nazca Lines

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carved into the Peruvian landscape over a millennia ago, the Nazca lines are some of the most famed, and ancient, geoglyphs in the world. When viewed ...

Feathered Dinosaurs

29 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Having dominated the earth for millions of years, it's no wonder Dinosaurs have always fascinated us. Depicted in films and TV shows as monstrous scal...

Babylon

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most famous cities in history - Babylon is shrouded in mystery and myth. Located in ancient Mesopotamia, now modern Iraq, it was one of the...

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. Nearly 1,400 feet long, and 3 feet high - it's hard...

The Parthenon

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The unofficial 8th wonder the Ancient World, the Parthenon is still standing today. Located on the Acropolis in Athens, towering above a busy, modern ...

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 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Period - or...

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 don't often associate it with the idea of a Monarch...

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 way at the time.Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera, i...

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 researchers who believe they have conclusively decoded the e...

Spartacus

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

‘I’m Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’, is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kibrick, adapted...

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, first Britons? It's no secret when looking back into ...

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 fall from power is that of legend. A Roman General...

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. Renowned for his famous law code, the stele of whic...

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 in Greek mythology.Despite her seat of power, she ...

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 man, let alone a pirate, could ever bring this empi...

Bethlehem

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Most famously known as the birth place of Jesus, Bethlehem has been immortalised in texts, carols, and imagery across history. But prior to the arriva...

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 first true city in history.Located in modern day I...

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 of his life were told almost immediately upon his...

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 “Tutmania” has continued to capture the worlds imaginati...

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 Italian peninsular. Predecessors to Ancient Rome, the...

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 - the final resting place of several Pharaohs and t...

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 other gods and men.His tale is one of overthrowin...

The Tomb of Tutankhamun

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In November of 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter, thanks to benefactor Lord Carnarvon, discovered the untouched tomb of Tutankhamun. Otherwise...

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 travertine boulder, still identifiable today and is thoug...

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 the Egyptian throne at the age of 9 and ruled for...

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 Black Sea. A mix of Scythian and Greek culture, Olbi...

Colosseum

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nicknamed the 8th wonder of the ancient world, the Colosseum still stands in splendour today. Located in the heart of Rome, nestled at the bottom of t...

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 of Brown University, and the first black archaeol...

Virgil

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of Antiquity's greatest poets, Virgil's legacy is seen across history. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor's Homer and Hesiod - Virgil's...

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 hugely influential cultural centre. Yet, as Europe move...

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 understanding of the ancient world.The iconic Rosetta Stone, ...

Race in Antiquity

09 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

History is littered with devastating accounts of prejudice that shines a harsh light on the atrocities humans have inflicted on each other for centuri...

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, with the aim of taking back the Persian Empire from ...

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, Claudius, to march onto the enemy capital of Camulod...

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 blockbusters - the story of King Arthur is known by many acro...

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 - palaeontologist, evolutionary biologist and Senior Editor of the...

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 largest buildings ever constructed for religious purpo...

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 years of history, this small archipelago of islands...

Neanderthals

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Neanderthals are stereotypically viewed as thoughtless savages - but is this an accurate depiction or was there more to Neanderthal society?Discovered...

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 Windsor became heir apparent, aged 10, when her uncle ...

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 the most intact ancient tombs in history, filled wi...

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 in History - led by Cyrus the Great it covered 2.1 ...

Prosthetics in Antiquity

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Prosthetics - an artificial feature or body part commonly used to either help restore functions of lost limbs, or change a person's appearance. Today,...

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 Bolivia - Tiwanaku is a brilliantly mysterious place. ...

Ancient Americas: The Moche

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Known for their iconic ceramics and notable artwork - the Moche people flourished in ancient northern Peru. But who were the people behind the clay?In...

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 throughout history. But who were they? And what do...

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 about the origins of Jerusalem?In this episode, Trist...

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 lived there?In the second episode of our August s...

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 Delphi delivered to the Lydian King - she just left ...

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 predicting the end of the world?In the first episo...

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 - what went wrong for the Romans at Cannae?In our f...

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 fought.In the second episode of our Hannibal mini-...

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 amateur metal detectorists. A bronze bust that is thou...

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 launched a vicious ambush on a Roman army command...

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 how did it come about?With a turbulent history of ...

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 Bronze Age societies such as Babylonia and, of cour...

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 become one of the most infamous women in history?Born ...

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 from Durham University to find out more about these c...

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 rivals in early Italy. Based in modern day Campania...

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 recent decades - but what do they mean?Artworks can be ...

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 twisted racial and martial ideologies.German childre...

The First Americans

26 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Modern humans thrived in the Americas for thousands of years before the first European colonists arrived, but how and when did they get there?What's m...

The Rise of Mammals

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They survived extinction level events and record high global temperatures - how did mammals adapt and thrive in a dramatically changing world? In toda...