The Ancients

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...

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 old man? In today's episode, Professor Francesca St...

Mermaids

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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

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 his continent-spanning empire.Within a couple of ...

The Origins of Clothing

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Clothing has been essential for human evolution. From protection against changing climate, through to the driving force behind technological innovatio...

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 hacksilver ever found. The trove, containing mostly silver...

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 uprising against the forces of the Roman Empire in ...

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 about another of Ireland’s patron saints, Brigid?In ...

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 to face with one another? Tristan is once again j...

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 before and during the Roman occupation, this term is...

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, Homer, and how have his name and poems survived so lon...

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 counting, we're discovering more about how we came t...

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 it actually goes back thousands of years.Whether ...

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 instruction of Zeus himself.We've all heard o...

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 years", an elaborately decorated 5000 year-old chalk ...

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 world history. But it’s also an incredibly turbulen...

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? Tristan is joined by author Mark Usher to talk a...

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 behind the myth of the man who slew the dragon an...

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 that come to mind. But how much has the regional food...

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, Tristan is joined by Professors Helen Bond and Jo...

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 of life size warriors, arranged in three pits as p...

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 general and statesman who held the office of consul a...

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 archaeology revealed about the Late Iron Age British so...

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 Hellenic men of society got together to wine, recli...

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 although some of the types of dog that were popula...

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 day. From Roman times to the Medieval period, from...

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 events. Evolving from a group of mostly humble-sized...