The Ancients

Today, we often see the Amazon basin as an endless expanse of trees and rainforest. But 2,000 years ago, at the same time that great cities like Rome, Athens and Alexandria were at their height, this massive area of South America was home to a huge range of landscapes, biodiversity and ancient Amazonian civilisations.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by author and journalist Laurence Blair - whose new book Patria: Lost Countries of South Americais out today - to explore the extraordinary cultures that lived all across the ancient Amazon basin and unpack stories of agriculture, farming and fish-fuelled cities that go back 8,000 years.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, it was produced by Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

From the arrival of the first humans reaching the Japanese archipelago some 50,000 years ago to the enduring Jomon culture, Japan has a fascinating prehistory. This is discovered in the rich archaeological record that includes stone circles, intricate ceramics and evidence of the incredibly diverse hunter-gatherer lifestyle that was mastered.

Join Tristan Hughes and archaeologist Dr. Simon Kaner to explore the incredible archaeological discoveries and the ongoing debates about Japan's ancient past, revealing a complex tapestry of cultural evolution long before the advent of rice farming.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, it was produced by Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

When they were discovered in the Qumran Caves in the mid-20th century, the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionised our understanding of biblical history. But one particular scroll was different. It was not written on parchment or papyrus like the other scrolls, but on metal - 99% copper and 1% tin.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes visits Jordan so see the this fascinating Copper Scroll in person, and then interviews Prof. Joan Taylor to unlock the mysteries contained within it - not least a map and directions to some undiscovered ancient treasure.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

It’s 279 BC. On a large plain in Southern Italy near the town of Asculum, a famous Greek warlord likened to Alexander the Great faces down the legions of the Roman Republic. His name was Pyrrhus of Epirus. And the victory that he won at Asculum would come to define his legacy.

In this instalment of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Louis Rawlings to dive into the cauldron of political intrigue and backstabbing that followed the death of Alexander the Great and talk through the story of Pyrrhus, his battles against Romans, Carthaginians, Sicilians, Greeks and how he managed to win the first ever 'Pyrrhic Victory'.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight, audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

In this instalment of The Ancients we're going north of the Arctic circle to uncover the incredible story of the Thule Inuit. Expanding out from present day Alaska east across North America all the way to Greenland more than 1,000 years ago, the early Inuit managed to survive and thrive in freezing cold conditions. But how exactly did they do so? What did they hunt? And how did they live?

Tristan Hughes invites archeologist Raven Todd daSilva onto the podcast to explore the lifestyle of some of the Arctic's earliest inhabitants - from the sophisticated subterranean houses they built to the huge range of gadgets that they used to hunt whales, bears, caribou and seals. It is a gripping tale of survival, but also one of astonishing ancient innovation.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight, audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s death his former generals carved out their own kingdoms in the chaos that was the Wars of the Successors. Arguably the most successful of those successors Ptolemy is today's subject, the general who came from Alexander’s deathbed in Babylon to claim one of the richest jewels of Alexander’s empire.

Tristan Hughes invites Dr Toby Wilkinson to discuss the man who took Egypt as his prize and laid the foundations for the last ancient dynasty of Egypt.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight, audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

What was the most popular sporting spectacle in ancient Rome? Gladiator bouts? Beast hunts? It was in fact chariot racing! For centuries the Romans were enraptured by the galloping of horses and the thill of the chase. And it all took place in perhaps Rome's greatest arena. A massive racetrack that could hold over 100,000 spectators - The Circus Maximus.

In today's episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Matthew Nicholls to discover all there is to know about this famous ancient sporting amphitheatre, how it came into being and how chariot racing captured the minds of the Roman people.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

The Edomites are in the Old Testament, an ancient people who lived around Petra, Jordan before the Nabateans and before Petra was even created. King Herod was a descendant of the Edomites, and perhaps most infamously they are remembered for supporting the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, rejoicing when he sacked Jerusalem in the 6th century BC.

Tristan Hughes is joined by archaeologist Dr Matthew Vincent, who has been excavating tombs in Petra, to discuss what is known about the Edomites as archaeology and newly-discovered written sources reveal fascinating insights into how they lived.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight, audio editor is Max Carrey. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK

Tristan Hughes and his guest Dr. Joyce Tyldesley OBE are heading to the Underworld for the final installation of The Ancients exploration of the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. They encounter the infamous jackal-headed deity Anubis, analyse Egyptian archaeology and discuss the origins of mummification, the Book of the Dead and the weighing of hearts.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited and produced by Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Scriptwriter is Andrew Hulse. Voice Actor is Menna Elbezawy.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

One of the most famous and recognisable Persian kings of antiquity, Darius the Great was an Achaemenid superstar, ruling the Achaemenid Persian Empire some 2,500 years ago. His tale is preserved in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus; Darius’ story stretches from India to Ukraine and the Great Steppe.

Reverend Professor Lloyd LLewellyn-Jones joins Tristan Hughes to discuss the rise, reign and fall of one of the most extraordinary Persian kings; Darius I, ‘Darius the Great’.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Max Carrey and produced by Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

The story of Osiris and how he became King of the Dead is a gruesome tale and one of the most famous legends from Egyptian mythology.

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Campbell Price to explore the myth which culminates in a divine and bloody battle between the God of Chaos Set and Osiris’ son Horus.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited and produced by Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Scriptwriter is Andrew Hulse. Voice Actor is Menna Elbezawy.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

It’s 146 BC. Fire rises high over the North African coast. The once-thriving port city of Carthage is burning. Thousands of Roman soldiers have breached the defences and swarmed into the city, intent on wiping this city from the face of the earth. This is the fall of Carthage.

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Eve MacDonald to plot the steps that lead to the Romans ruthlessly crushing this ancient Mediterranean power, once and for all. In the infamous words of the Roman statesman Cato the Elder; ‘Carthago Delenda Est’ - Carthage Must be Destroyed’

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited and produced by Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Isis, Hathor, Sekhmet and Bastet were adored and honoured in Ancient Egypt, with their stories passed between thousands of followers and down through the generations through spoken word and painted hieroglyph. But there weren't simply maternal, wifely, caring deitites. They could also transform into deadly beasts and deliver horrific vengeance when crossed.

Tristan Hughes is joined by archaeologist and Egyptologist Dr. Joyce Tyldesley to unravel the myths of these ancient Egyptian goddesses.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Scriptwriter is Andrew Hulse. Voice Actor is Menna Elbezawy.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

67 million years ago the most famous meat-eating dinosaur prowled the earth - the Tyrannosaurus Rex. At it's full size, this prehistoric apex predator was taller than a double decker bus and weighed more than seven tonnes, whilst it's teeth were the size of bananas. But how much do we actually know about this so called 'King of the Dinosaurs'?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Steve Brusatte to explore the ins and outs of this most iconic of dinosaurs - from their tiny little arms to their fossilised poo.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Of all the Egyptian Gods it is Ra, the God of the Sun, who is perhaps most well known in the popular imagination. He is said to have voyaged across the sky on his solar barge and then come nightfall descended into the underworld to battle all sorts of monstrous creatures. But Ra is a complicated character. He is often fused with other Egyptian gods and transformed into different solar deities entirely. So who really is he? And where do the tales about him come from?

In today's episode of The Ancients - the second in our 5 part series on Egyptian Gods and Goddesses - Tristan Hughes is joined by Egyptologist Campbell Price to unpack to story of Ra and the Sun Gods and explore the deity who the Ancient Egyptians arguably revered most highly.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. The script writer is Andrew Hulse. The voice actor is Menna Elbezawy

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

In the early 5th century AD, after almost four centuries of iron-fisted Roman rule, the empire in Britain was beginning to fade. Franks, Saxons and Roman usurpers were running rampant. Britannia was on its last legs and in 410 AD, the Britons were told to ‘look to their own defences’.

However the story of the fall of Roman Britain is far more complex than the traditional tale of swift Roman withdrawal. In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Rob Collins and Dr James Gerrard to journey from Londinium to Hadrians Wall and unpick the ultimate fate of Roman Britannia.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

The legends of Ra and Hathor, of Osiris and Isis, of Anubis and Set have been passed from mouth to ear in Egypt for millennia. They were painted on temple walls, etched on delicate papyrus and discovered at the heart of the pyramids. But who were the Gods of Egypt? How did their myths originate? And from where did the ancient Egyptians believe their Gods came from?

On the Ancients this September and October - across five special episodes - join Tristan Hughes to delve into the meaning of these stories and unpack Egypt's mysterious deities. In today's episode he is joined by Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley to kick off the series and explore the origins of the Gods and their enthralling creation story.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Scriptwriter is Andrew Hulse. Voice Actor is Menna Elbezawy.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

2000 years ago, in the year 9 AD, a Roman Army walked into a trap deep in wilds of Germania. Over 15,000 men were massacred at Teutoburg Forest, making it one of the bloodiest ambushes in history. But what happened next? 

Today's episode of the Ancients continues the terrifying story we began last week, as Tristan Hughes is joined by a host of leading experts to analyse the moves that played out on the battlefield, and the earth-shattering consequences that came after.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Ancient India was thesingle greatest trading partner of the Roman Empire. For centuries, Indian sailors navigated the Indian Ocean and Red Sea to bring goods, ideas and religious beliefs to the Greco-Roman ports based on the Egyptian coast. But how did this lucrative trade begin? And what sorts of goods passed along it?

In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by William Dalrymple to explore 'The Golden Road' - one of the great trade routes of ancient history - and discover how India became the beating heart of the ancient world.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Tristan Hughes travels to the site of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, one of the most epic defeats of the Roman army when an alliance of Germanic peoples ambushed three Roman legions.

Across two episodes leading experts analyse every move leading up to those terrifying days in early September 9 AD, deep in the Teutoburg Forest. All stemming from the Roman Invasion of Germany.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Despite being one of the most visited historic spots on the planet today, Petra was once a so-called ‘lost city,’ hidden from western eyes in a vast desert landscape for hundreds of years.

What is the story of this rose-red ancient city and its inhabitants? The powerful Nabataean civilisation who built Petra more than two thousand years ago, but remain a mystery to so many today.

Who were their kings? Their gods and goddesses? And how were they able to turn an arid desert into a green oasis?

In this special episode, Tristan Hughes goes to Petra in Jordan, one of the seven wonders of the world, to discover the secrets himself.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Written and produced by Charlotte Long. Mixed and edited by Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

Special thanks to Visit Jordan, Matthew Vincent and Jodi Magness.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024! 

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions. 

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

The word 'Sirens' conjures up many images, possibly of beautiful mermaid-like creatures luring sailors to their watery deaths. These ancient Greek mythical creatures, linked to the Queen of the Underworld Persephone, feature in well known myths such as Jason and the Argonauts and Homer’s story of Odysseus - The Odyssey.But their popular modern portrayal as 'sexy maidens' does not originate from ancient Greece, that is a much later invention. 

Sarah Clegg joins Tristan Hughes to discuss the story of the Sirens and how their legacy is intertwined with a number of other mythical creatures such as nymphs, the Mesopotamian demoness Lilith and, of course mermaids.

Listen to Tristan and Sarah Clegg's previous episode on Lillith here: https://podfollow.com/the-ancients/episode/83e3167b27baefea4d862da99ce26425ba43e291/view

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

It's one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world. But did you know that beer is also one of the world's oldest beverages, with a history that stretches back more than 10,000 years. Beer was the beverage of choice for a whole host of ancient Bronze Age civilisations arrayed across Mesopotamia. But why did cities like Babylon and Uruk become the first great beer drinking cultures in history? And what traces of this love of alcohol did they leave behind?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Prof. Tate Paulette to discover how those living on the plains of ancient Mesopotamia bred such a love for liquid amber and explore how exactly they brewed it.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Cats! These much loved furry friends have brightened people’s lives for millenia. And it was the same in ancient times. They were pets. They were pest control against rats. They were even in some cases considered sacred. But how did they become the pet of choice for homes the world over? And why were they first domesticated?

In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor James Serpell, an anthrozoologist from the University of Pennsylvania to delve into the origins of the First Cats and explore how they evolved from self-sufficient wildcats to the lovable felines we're familiar with today.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

It is the most famous monument of ancient Greece. Its remains standing tall above modern Athens today, more than 2,000 years old. The Parthenon. A temple, treasury, the residence of a powerful general after Alexander the Great’s death…and his courtesans, a church, a mosque, a gunpowder store, a tourist site. It’s safe to say that the Parthenon has had a pretty fascinating story over the past two and a half millennia. Not to mention the amazing art and architecture of the building that continues to awe people down to the present day. In this episode of our sister podcast Echoes of History, our very own Tristan Hughes joins Matt Lewis to find out more.

Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Overlooking the Argolid Plain in the eastern Peloponnese, Mycenae was once the envy of the Mediterranean world. It rose to prominence in the late Bronze Age, centuries before the great Greek states of Athens, Sparta and Corinth, and is known as the birthplace of mythical bronze age figures such as Agammemnon, King of the Greeks. But how do know so much about it? What remains of this once glittering Greek citadel?

In today's episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jorrit Kelder to talk through Mycenae's archeology - from its Cyclopaean stone walls and monumental Tholos tombs, to it’s golden face masks and great lion entrance gate.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Peter Dennis and Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit Podcast

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

Known as one of Rome's worst emperors, Commodus is famed for both his infamy and bravado. Ascending the throne as a teenager, he dressed up as Hercules, fought as a gladiator in the Colosseum, and renamed Rome after himself. But who was the real Commodus? And was he really as bad and megalomaniacal as some have claimed?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Alex Imrie to dive into the conspiracies, controversy and assassinations that made the reign of Commodus so chillingly captivating and inspired the performance of Joaquin Phoenix in the 2000 sword and sandal epic ‘Gladiator’.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

You can take part in our listener survey here.

The Olympics. It’s the most famous sporting event in the world, and the 33rd Olympiad is taking place in Paris right now. But how did it all begin?

It's a story that takes us back more than 2,000 years. Featuring mythological heroes like Heracles, ancient athletes that became celebrities and the great sanctuary of Olympia in western Greece, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

In today's episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Judith Swaddling to delve into the origins of the Olympic Games, uncovering how they were founded and what the earliest Olympics looked like.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

As both the eldest and youngest child of the great titan Kronos, and the Greek goddess of hearth and home, Hestia was incredibly important in almost every sphere of Greek daily life. But she is arguably one of the most overlooked deities in the Greek Pantheon. The question we're asking today is why.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined once again by the University of Bristol’s Dr Ellie Mackin-Roberts as they delve into the elusive, but fascinating figure of Hestia and uncover just how Hestia could be the eldest and youngest Greek God all at the same time.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. The scriptwriter is Andrew Hulse. The voice actor is Nichola Wooley.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Just over 1,000 years ago, the ancient Maya world in Mesoamerica was turned upside down. Prominent cities like Tikal, Palenque, Copan and Calakmul, their great stone art and architecture left to be gradually reclaimed by the jungle. It's a time of decline known as the Maya Collapse. But what caused it? And did the entirety of Mayan civilisation really disappear?

In today's episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by podcaster and author Paul Cooper to explore this historic, yet mysterious collapse and delve into the trade networks, water systems, climate change, agricultural failure and civil unrest that made it possible.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

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The ferocious, professional fighters who fought in great arenas all across the Roman Empire for the pleasure of the crowd were the celebrities of their day. They were sex symbols and yet they also ranked amongst the lowest in Roman society. Today the gladiator is one of the great images of ancient Rome but who exactly were they and what do we know about them?

Gladiator expert and historical consultant Alexander Mariotti joins Tristan Hughes to reveal the mind-blowing truth stories of these Roman professional fighters; from origins to lifestyle, to training and just how likely it was for a gladiator to be slain in the arena.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Max Carrey and Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

For more than 100,000 years, Neanderthals made their home in Ice Age Britain, right on the edge of the inhabitable world. But what evidence do we have for this early species in what is today Britain?

Dr Matthew Pope from UCL joins Tristan Hughes to discuss this fascinating period pre-history; Neanderthal Britain. What do we know about these people's lifestyles, how long were they here for and what ultimately happened to them?

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

The Ancients is recording our first LIVE SHOW at the London Podcast Festival on Thursday 5th September 2024!

Book your tickets now to be in the audience and ask Tristan and his guest your burning questions.

Tickets on saleHERE https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients/

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

The Pyramid of the Sun is ancient America’s Great Pyramid of Giza. Built in the legendary city of Teotihuacán, and given its name by the Aztecs, this magnificent step pyramid is another great wonder of the ancient world. But who built it? And what for? 

In today’s episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Annabeth Headrick, an expert on all things Teotihuacán to explore and uncover the mysteries that surround this massive Mesoamerican monument. 

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Do all roads lead to Rome? We find out in today's episode all about one of the Roman Empire's greatest legacies - it's web-like network of roads and route-ways. From the famous Via Appia, the longest road in mainland Italy, to Watling Street, the road on which Boudica was defeated, Rome's roads left an indelible mark on the territories their centurions conquered.

But what do we actually know about these ancient streets and pathways? What was road travel like back in Roman times? And most importantly, what was their equivalent of a service station?

To explain all this and much more Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Catherine Fletcher, author of a new book called The Roads to Rome.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.

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It’s the end of the 12th century BC, and a once remarkable Near eastern world lay in ruin. Drought, warfare, famine, earthquakes, plague - all had combined to brutally devastate ancient civilisations stretching from Mesopotamia to Egypt to mainland Greece. 

It was a catastrophe unlike anything else - a Bronze Age collapse. But that’s only half the story. What happened next? Would these people adapt to this new age of chaos?

Dr Eric Cline joins Tristan Hughes to discuss the dawn of the Iron Age. They’re talking Egyptians, Hittites, Mycenaeans, Cypriots, Phoenicians and many more.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Joseph Knight. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

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More than 3,000 years ago, a coalition of Bronze Age rulers existed across the Near Eastern world. Kings reigning over great Bronze age powers like New Kingdom Egypt, Babylon and the Hittites coexisted and interacted with each other. They exchanged precious goods, signed treaties and even married into each other's families. But how exactly did this brotherhood of kings emerge? And how important was it to the history of the ancient Near East?

In today's episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Prof. Amanda Podany to talk about what has come to be known as the first ‘international age’.

Together they uncover how the brotherhood of kings ruled supreme across the Near Eastern world and explore why they built such a sophisticated and intricate web of diplomatic ties and connections.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign upHEREfor 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’.https://historyhit.com/subscription

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The crisis of the Roman Republic is a period littered with iconic male power players. Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Pompey, Brutus and the Gracchi brothers. But less famous, and often overlooked are the women that shaped these famous Roman statesmen.

In today's episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Daisy Dunn to shine a light on some of the most remarkable women in Roman history. From Cornelia, the mother and tutor of the Gracchi brothers, to Fulvia, the wife of Mark Antony and a commander in the Perusine War, we take you on a journey through the lives and stories of four of Rome's foremost Domina.

Daisy Dunn's new book The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped Itis out now in the UK and publishes 7/30 in the US.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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Temple Mount is one of the most sacred places in Jerusalem. A rocky outcrop that has become important for Islam, Judaism and Christianity and the acropolis of the ancient city, with links to figures like King David, Solomon, Herod, Jesus and Muhammad. It’s an area of the world rich in religious history.

And in today's episode of The Ancients - the last in our Old Testament miniseries - we're going to be delving into the archaeology of this famous ancient site and exploring what remains of the glorious buildings that once sat atop this important mountain. To help, Tristan is joined by Jodi Magness, author of new book, Jerusalem Through The Ages,whichchronicles the history of the holy city from its very beginnings to the Crusades.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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The story of the ancient kingdom of Israel is a central part of the Old Testament. Famous for its kings like Saul, David and Solomon, the kingdom supposedly emerged in the southern Levant in the late 2nd millennium BC. Most of what we know about this kingdom comes from the Hebrew Bible. But what does the archeology say? Are there any remains that might corroborate what the bible tells us?

In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan continues our Old Testament mini-series and interviews archeologist Felicity Cobbing. Together they delve into both the biblical narrative and the archaeological evidence in an attempt to answer some the questions that shroud the story of this biblical kingdom.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a podcast from History Hit.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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Tristan Hughes continues the Greek Gods and Goddesses series with today’s deity; the most popular mythical hero of them all: Heracles, or Hercules. Same hero.

His story has never faded, reimagined in various media formats from Hollywood and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, to Disney, to The Ancients podcast. Professor Alastair Blanshard joins Tristan to discuss who Heracles was, what were some of the many myths surrounding this hero, and what were his 12 labours?

Presented by Tristan Hughes and produced by Joseph Knight. The audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Scriptwriter is Andrew Hulse. Voice Actor is Nichola Wooley

The Ancients is a podcast from History Hit.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most famous, yet mysterious, objects mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. This special box that held the sacred 10 Commandments, written by God himself.

But what exactly was it? What stories are told about it? And, most intriguingly of all, what happened to it? Tristan Hughes visits the University of Cardiff and Dr Dylan Johnson to find out.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight, audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

The Ancients is a podcast from History Hit.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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The Celts are an ancient people shrouded in mystery and intrigue. In the minds of most people the word ‘Celt’ refers to the people of Iron Age Britain, or the ferocious Galatians of central Turkey. But the original Celts were very different. They settled in places like southern France and northern Italy and came into direct contact with the Etruscans and the Greeks. So what do we know about these Iron Age Celts and their early Celtic world? 

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Rachel Pope to decode and decipher the origins of the Celts. Together they explore how these early Iron Age Celts spread from their ancestral lands in central France and how their unique Celtic culture evolved down the centuries, culminating with their sacking of Rome in the early 4th century BC. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

The Ancients is a podcast from History Hit

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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The story of Moses and the Exodus is one of the oldest and most well known in history. It is full of instantly recognisable episodes like the parting of the Red Sea, the ten plagues of Egypt, and the burning bush but it is also foundational to many modern-day faiths. So today we’re asking what does the historical and archaeological record reveal about this epic biblical narrative?

In this episode of The Ancients - the second in our Old Testament mini-series - Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Dylan Johnson to delve deep into the history of the ancient Israelites, to explore whether Moses was a real historical figure and to discover what historical parallels may have inspired the Exodus origin story. 

This episode was edited by Aidan Lonergan and produced by Joseph Knight

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign uphere.

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The Parthians were heavyweights of ancient Mesopotamia. Hailing from what is now modern day Iran, they charged onto the scene by destroying the Seleucid Empire and became one of Rome’s most formidable enemies. They are perhaps most famous for capturing Crassus - Rome’s spider-like tycoon - at the Battle of Carrhae, and pouring gold down his throat. But what else do we know about them?

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Adrian Goldsworthy to explore who the Parthians really were, to delve into what the sources can tell us about them, and to discover how these horse-warriors managed to forge a superpower-like empire that stretched from the northern reaches of the Euphrates to the Hindu Kush. 

 This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Max Carrey.

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The Ancients launches a new miniseries exploring the stories, people, objects and kingdoms central to the Old Testament's narrative.

There was only one place to start and it's not "In the beginning..."

The story of the Flood in the Book of Genesis is well known, where God conjured up a great flood to kill off all of humanity for their wicked behaviour. Except for Noah, whom God ordered to construct a massive boat and fill it with 2 of every animal. When the flood came, Noah, his family and the animals survived on board the Ark.

The story of Noah and the Ark is not only embedded in the Bible, however, but it's also central to parts of the Quran and central to Judaism. The origins of the story stretch way back beyond the Old Testament to Mesopotamia.

Tristan Hughes heads to the British Museum to explore this Mesopotamian myth with Dr Irving Finkel who made a discovery which turned the world of Assyriology - and his life - on its head. They discuss who was Noah to the Mesopotamians? What did they do with the animals? And what was the shape and design of THIS great ark?

This episode was presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer was Joseph Knight, edited by Peter Dennis and Aidan Lonergan. 

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After the death of his patron Julius Caesar, the Roman world was Mark Antony’s for the taking. His triumph over Caesar’s assassins at Phillipi in 42 BC only served to cement his legendary status as Rome’s most feared commander. But then came Octavian and Cleopatra…

In this episode of The Ancients - the second, and final part of our special series on the life of Mark Antony - Tristan is once again joined by Professor Jeff Tatum to discuss how Antony filled the power vacuum left by Caesar’s assassination. They then retell and assess his fight for power with Rome’s latest young upstart, Octavian and the fateful events that led to his demise at the court of Cleopatra.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Peter Dennis. 

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Mark Antony; the headstrong bad boy, a feared commander, lover and traitor memorably depicted by Richard Burton. His story is intertwined with some of ancient history's biggest names such as Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus, Cleopatra and Augustus.

In a two part special of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes assesses the eventful life of the notorious Roman statesman and general Marcus Antonius.

In part one Tristan is joined by Professor Jeffrey Tatum to discuss Mark Antony's early life and astonishing rise up the ranks of the Roman army, from decadent party boy to stellar commander at the side of Julius Caesar. 

This episode was produced and edited by Joseph Knight. Senior Producer was Anne-Marie Luff

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It's the most famous Roman frontier in the world. A massive c.13-foot high wall that spanned the length of northern Britain, dividing the empire between Roman and 'barbarian' land. But how was it built? Who lived along it? And why was it named after Emperor Hadrian?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Frances McIntosh to tell the story of this iconic monument of Roman Britain and explore the forts, milecastles and turrets that made it far more than just a wall. Along the way they'll discover how Hadrian's Wall fit into the wider Roman frontier and how it has helped countless authors when creating fictional worlds (yes George R.R. Martin we're looking at you...).

This episode was produced and edited by Joseph Knight. Senior Producer was Anne-Marie Luff.

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‘I am Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’ is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, and starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier, it is undoubtedly a classic. But how much of the plot has emerged from the true story of a Thracian gladiator and slave who escaped his Roman captors and led an unsuccessful but impressive rebellion against their oppressors? And how much of the film’s message was formed by the personalities involved in its creation, and the context in which it was made?

In her own words, Dr Fiona Radford devoted years of her life to the man with the most memorable chin cleft in the world - Kirk Douglas, specifically as Spartacus. Her thesis traced the production history of this film, examining in particular the effect that the turbulent process had on the portrayal of female characters. Having taught at Macquarie University, ANU and the University of Sydney, she currently teaches history at secondary school level, and her conversation with Tristan in this episode is an eye-opener to 1950s film making as well as the legend of Spartacus.

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Dionysus. He's known as the party God of ancient Greece who you never wanted to cross. Associated with theatre, mysterious cults and even, on one occasion, turning pirates into dolphins. But who exactly was the 12th God of the Greek Pantheon? And why has he become associated with having a good time?

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes continues our series on Greek Gods and Goddesses by exploring the infamous patron of wine with Dr Sarah Iles Johnston. Together they deep dive into the many myths that shaped his legend, starting with the horrific fate that befell King Pentheus after he banned the worship of Dionysus.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Caligula. One of the most infamous Roman emperors of them all. He didn't rule Rome for long, but he has gained a legacy as this incredibly evil figure. But who was the real Caligula? Did he really fall in love with one of his horses? And did he really declare war on the sea?

In today's episode Tristan Hughes uncovers all this and more as he welcomes historian LJ Trafford back onto the podcast to explore the truth behind Caligula's rather horrifying legend.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan

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Cleopatra. It is one of the most recognisable names in ancient history, made famous by the exploits of Egypt’s controversial pharaoh queen. But did you know that the Cleopatra of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony fame was actually the seventh Cleopatra of her dynasty. From 180 BC, down to the Roman conquest of Alexandria in 30 BC, Egypt was ruled by a line of fiercely ambitious and independent Cleopatras, none of whom were afraid to break the rules…

In today’s episode of The Ancients Tristan once again welcomes Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn Jones onto to podcast, this time to delve into the golden age of Ptolmeic Egypt and unpack the tumultuous family drama that brought these Cleopatras to the fore. 

This episode was produced and edited by Joseph Knight. Senior Producer was Anne-Marie Luff.

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Nineveh was one of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamia. Situated on the eastern bank of the River Tigris, it rivalled cities like Babylon and Persepolis as the capital of the great Assyrian Empire and the seat of power for towering figures like Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal. But what were its origins, how did it become such a great city and how did it fall? 

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Paul Collins to tell the story of Nineveh’s history from start to end. Beginning with its Stone Age origins, they discuss its conquest by the Akkadians, its golden age as Mesopotamia’s foremost city, and its obliteration at the hands of the Medes and Babylonians. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan 

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The Silk Road was a pivotal ancient exchange network that connected the grassy steppes of Asia and the Middle East with the western world. The passage of goods, ideas and technologies along this bustling commercial artery was crucial to the development of the ancient East and West. It was, quite simply, the glue that held the ancient world together. But what were the origins of this first global exchange network? 

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes seeks to answer that very question. Speaking to Dr. Miljana Radivojevic they discuss how people living in Bronze Age Central Asia helped build the world’s first and most famous trading route. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan 

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Auxiliaries were some of the most important troops in the all-conquering Roman Army. Unlike legionaries, their more heavily-armoured and widely famed counterparts, auxiliaries were recruited from across the Empire and were renowned for their versatility. Deployed as border guards in the far-away hinterlands near Hadrians Wall or as mobile cavalry in the deserts of Parthia, they helped aid the advance of Rome’s military behemoth in many more ways than one.

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by historical novelist Ben Kane to delve deeper into the fascinating stories of these soldiers and uncover who they were, where they came from and how important they were to Rome’s many conquests. 

This episode was edited and produced by Joseph Knight.

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The Beaker People were a Bronze Age culture that revolutionised prehistoric Britain. They were responsible for introducing Bronze Age technology into the British Isles for the first time, and also completely replaced the island’s earlier inhabitants. Identified by their distinctive style of pottery they quite literally changed the faced of British settlement and genetics forever. But how much do we know about them? And what archeological traces have they left behind?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes talks to Dr. Alison Sheridan to learn the mysterious story of the 'Beaker People'. Alison explains what recent DNA research has revealed about the nature of their arrival into the British Isles and how significant an impact they had on Britain’s Bronze Age past.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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The Library of Alexandria was one of the most important and most celebrated buildings of the ancient Mediterranean. It was a great hub of learning and literature and made Alexandria one of the ancient world’s foremost centres of knowledge and culture, and the jewel of the Nile Delta. But when was it built? And where did all the books come from?

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes speaks to Dr. Islam Issa about the story behind one of histories greatest libraries. Together they explore why Alexandria’s reigning dynasty - the Ptolemies - were so obsessed with acquiring knowledge and uncover whether it really did burn down in a great fire. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Apollo, the favourite son of Zeus and twin brother of Artemis, was a Greek God with many faces. Perhaps most famous as Phoebus, the God of the Sun, he was the patron of poetry and prophecy, of music and dance. And yet he also possessed a darker side. He was a terribly vengeful character and brought death and disease to both those he hated and loved through his trademark poisonous arrows.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Liv Albert, host of the podcast Let's Talk About Myths Babyto peel back the layers from one of Greek mythology's most complicated characters.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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The Goths are renowned for many things, not least sacking Rome in 410 AD and helping to bring about the fall of the Western Roman Empire. They were a 'barbarian' people from across the Danube who began migrating into the Empire during the 3rd and 4th centuries, pushed out of their ancestral nomadic lands by the onrushing Huns. But what were their origins? And did they really cause the fall of Rome?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes speaks to Dr. David Gwynn to tell the tale of the Goths from their origins on the great plains of Eastern Europe to their great migrations and successive invasions of Italy.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan and Ella Blaxill.

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Have you ever wondered about the dark side of archeology? The illegal seizing of ancient artefacts? The looting of goods from age old historical sites and their sale on the black market? Well it is a practice that goes back hundreds of years and today we’re exploring how it works, why it happens and what government bodies are doing to prevent it.

In this episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Prof. Valerie Higgins to shine a light on how illicit objects and artefacts have found their way to museums and private houses all too often. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Europe’s earliest known humans lived over 1.2 million years ago. After initially roaming the plains of Iberia in small groups, they spread across the Pyrenees into the wider European continent. But for more than 100,000 years all traces of humans in these regions vanish. The question is…what happened?

In today’s episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Chris Stringer, and by Dr. Chronis Tzedakis and Dr Vasiliki Margari to explore the fate of these first Europeans and discover how a massive climate disaster drove some of Europe’s earliest humans to extinction. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Would you be able to survive in ancient Babylonia?

In this episode, Tristan is joined once again by Amanda Podany from California State Polytechnic University to discuss the realities of daily life in this fascinating empire. Together, they discuss everything from clay tablet literature and ancient board games to crime, slavery and female entrepreneurship in the era of King Hammurabi c. 1750 BC.

Produced by Joseph Knight. Edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most iconic monuments from ancient history. 73 meters in length and 20 meters high, the huge limestone statue depicts a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head thought to represent Khafre, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom (c. 2570 BC).

In this fascinating bumper episode of our special Wonders of the World miniseries, Tristan is joined by Dr Campbell Price from Manchester University to learn more about this world-famous effigy, from its shadowy origins, to its role as a tourist attraction for the Ancient Greeks & Romans, and of course its mysterious missing nose.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Pontius Pilate was the Roman Prefect of Judea during the reign of Emperor Tiberius and is most famous for condemning Jesus of Nazareth to death by crucifixion in the Four Gospels. But who really was he? And how much do we know about him?

In this Easter special of The Ancients, Tristan speaks to Prof. Helen Bond to delve deeper into the life of Pontius Pilate, and discover what else we know about this famous Roman governor.

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The Pantheon is one of the greatest Roman monuments still standing. First built as a pagan temple by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Caesar Augustus, it was rebuilt in its current form by Emperor Hadrian in AD 126 after a devastating fire and still stands just under two thousand years later almost exactly as the Romans intended. It’s famous free-standing dome is a marvel of Roman architecture and engineering, and makes it one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions to this day.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Matthew Nicholls to unlock the secrets of this wonder of Ancient Rome and discover how the Romans built a temple with a craftsmanship that rivals the skills of builders today. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Over 13,000 years ago, Britain emerged from the ravages of the Ice Age as a changed land. Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who had adapted to cold climates were presented with new opportunities by the retreating glaciers that could transform the way they lived. But what do we actually know about these people? What can the archeology tell us about Britain after the Ice Age?

In this episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by archeologists Dr Nick Overton and Dr Barry Taylor to talk about the discovery of Mesolithic artefacts at Star Carr - the site of a prehistoric lake settlement in North Yorkshire - and what they can tell us about how some of Britain’s oldest inhabitants might have lived. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Peter Dennis

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It's one of the most iconic structures in the world: The Great Wall of China.

But is it just one wall? And who built it and why? Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by William Lindesay OBE to delve into the ancient history of this epic structure and to answer these questions and more.

Together, they uncover the origin story. From the Warring States around 300 BC to the Qin Dynasty and China's first emperor, and then to its expansion during the Han Dynasty. They explore the evolution of the walls' symbolism and significance, the role it played in protecting against nomadic threats, through to modern day conservation and protection efforts and how important it is to understanding China's military and cultural history.

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Artemis is best known as the goddess of the Hunt. But she is far more than just the famed huntress of Greek mythology - she is the patron of the wilderness, of wild animals, of childbirth and also chastity. Daughter of the gods Zeus and Leto, she is famed for her lust for divine retribution and her prowess with a bow, a trait she shares with her twin brother Apollo.

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes continues our Gods and Goddesses series as we delve into one of the most fascinating and fickle goddesses of the Greek pantheon. He is joined by Jasmine Elmer as they discuss Artemis’s relationship with her brother, explore the importance of her virginity to her followers and discover she turns one of her favourite hunters into a stag. 

You can preorder Jasmine’s book Goddess with a Thousand Faceshere

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The Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie. Script written by Andrew Hulse. Voiceover performed by Nichola Woolley. The Assistant Producer was Joseph Knight. Edited and Mixed by Aidan Lonergan.

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The ancient metropolis of Babylon was famed for its wonders like the Tower of Babel and the mysterious Hanging Gardens. But few Babylonian monuments were as wondrous as the towering, blue-bricked walls and glittering gates that surrounded the city and protected those inside from enemies on the Mesopotamian Plain.

In todays episode of The Ancients, Tristan continues our mini-series focusing on the ancient world’s greatest architectural wonders by shining a light on the great walls of Babylon. He is joined by Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn Jones to tell the fascinating history of these legendary walls and explore what remains of them, including the magnificently reconstructed Ishtar Gate in Berlin. 

This episode was produced and edited by Joseph Knight. 

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Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. But its popularity dates back thousands of years. Throughout ancient history, wine was without doubt the drink of choice for all manner of cultures throughout the Mediterranean. So what did winemaking look like over 2000 years ago? Where and when did it start? And how did ancient winemakers transform vine-picked grapes into the ancient world’s favourite drink?

In this episode of the Ancients - suggested by our listener Todd Abrams - Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Emlyn Dodd to discover how winemaking spread across the Mediterranean, and explore how old the practice of winemaking really is. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Ella Blaxill. 

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The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only ‘Wonder of the Ancient World’ still standing. Built over 4500 years ago at the same time as Stonehenge, the Great Pyramid has become synonymous with all things Ancient Egypt. But what was its original purpose? How long did it take to build? And just how did the Pharaohs manage to erect what was then the tallest structure in the world? 

In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes begins our four-part mini-series focusing on the ancient world’s greatest architectural wonders with Dr. Joyce Tyldesley OBE. Together they explore the origins of the Great Pyramid, explain why it was built next to the gushing waters of the River Nile and discover what it can tells us about the people who built it and the society they came from. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

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Zenobia, queen of the glittering city state of Palmyra, was a titan of the third century Near-East. By defeating the Persian Sassanid Empire in 270 AD and stabilising the Roman East she successfully forged a Palmyran empire stretching from Egypt to Anatolia out of the embers of Rome’s Third Century Crisis. But how did she rise to such power? And how did Rome react to the burgeoning pre-eminence of Palmyra’s crowned Queen?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Emma Southon to explore how Zenobia rose to rule over Rome’s richest provinces and discover how the Emperor Aurelian sought to destroy her fledgling empire. 

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The Silver Pharaohs refers to a lesser-known set of ancient Egyptian rulers of the 21st Dynasty, named for the abundant silver discovered in their tombs.

First excavated in 1939 by Prof Pierre Montet, the tombs were filled with fantastic solid silver death masks and elaborate chambers, on par with the likes of Tutankhamun. Despite this, they've failed to garner the same amount of attention.

Today, Tristan is joined by Egyptologist and friend of the podcast Dr Chris Naunton to highlight the significance of these findings, what they can tell us about the rulers Psusennes I and Shoshenq II, how they paint a vivid picture of this important period of history.

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The Romans were renowned for their military prowess and skill. Their legions successfully conquered vast swathes of the Mediterranean world, led by battle-weathered centurions trained in the art of war and strategy. But did the Romans owe any of their military success to the actions of special forces? In short, did the Romans have an SAS? 

In this episode of the Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by friend of the show Dr Simon Elliott to explore whether or not the Romans employed elite SAS style units on their far-flung conquests and discover how they used specially trained scouts to carry out covert operations on the frontiers of Empire. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight, and edited by Aidan Lonergan

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Famed as one of Rome’s fiercest enemies, the city of Carthage was one of the jewels of the ancient Mediterranean world. Situated on the coast of North Africa on the tip of what is now Tunisia, it first rose to prominence as a Phoenician colony. But how did this once fledgling outpost rise to claim it’s ancient pre-eminence? 

In this episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is once again joined by Dr. Eve MacDonald to explore the origins of this most famous of ancient cities and tell the story of how Princess Dido of Tyre journeyed across the seas to found the future home of Hannibal, bane of Rome.

This episode was produced by Elena Guthrie and Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan. Scriptwriter: Andrew Hulse 

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Roughly 40,000 years ago, Ice Age Britain was undergoing a transformation. 

The first modern humans, Homo sapiens,were arriving and beginning to settle in the British Isles. Their evolutionary predecessors, the Neanderthals, were on their way to extinction. Until now we have known very little about this period. But that might be about to change with the discovery of a new centre of Stone Age archeology in South West Wales.

Wogan Cavern, situated underneath Pembroke Castle, was the ideal place for newly-arrived prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities to dwell and is littered with stone tools, bones and other hallmark remains of ancient human settlement. In this special on-location episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes went to visit the cavern and speak to the archeologists who uncovered it, Dr. Rob Dinnis and Dr. Jennifer French. 

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan

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Lucius Cornellius Sulla Felix is one of the most important Roman statesmen of antiquity. An inspiration to figures such as Julius Caesar, Sulla rose to prominence during the late second and early first centuries BC, and was a military man turned dictator after his brutal victory over Marius and Cinna at the Battle of the Colline Gate.

Today, Tristan is joined by Dr Alex Petkas to discuss what the sources say about Sulla, how he rose to power, and what we know of his role in the downfall of the Roman Republic.

This episode was edited by Joseph Knight. Senior producer was Elena Guthrie.

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The Sasanians are renowned as one of Rome's most feared enemies. Founded in third century Persia by an Iranian noble called Ardashir, their dynasty oversaw the growth of a mighty empire that brought down the Parthians and survived into the early Middle Ages. But how did one family oversee the rebirth of Persia as a Mesopotamian heavyweight?

In this episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Eve MacDonald to explore how the Sassanids came to dominate a region that had been under the control of Parthian kings for five hundred years, and discover why they dared to challenge the might of Rome.

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan

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The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest surviving works of storytelling in history. It begins with the tale of Gilgamesh’s friendship with the wild man Enkidu. But after Enkidu is killed, King Gilgamesh embarks on a journey into his distant past in search for immortality. 

In this episode of the Ancients, the second part of our series on the Epic of Gilgamesh, Dr Sophus Helle returns to speak to Tristan Hughes about Gilgamesh’s quest and his encounters with a mysterious sage called Ut-napishtim - who some claim may have been the inspiration behind the biblical figure of Noah & his famous Ark.

The first part of our Gilgamesh series, The Epic of Gilgamesh: Rise of Enkidu can be found here

This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan

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The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest surviving works of storytelling from history. Written in ancient Mesopotamia over three thousand years ago, this epic poem recounts the fabled tale of King Gilgamesh of Uruk and the forging of his friendship with Enkidu, a wild man sent by the Gods to keep Gilgamesh on the right path.

In this episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Sophus Helle to explore and recount this oldest of myths - first written in Old Babylonian on cuneiform tablets - and discover how it became a foundational work in the tradition of heroic sagas. 

This episode was edited by Aidan Lonergan and produced by Joseph Knight

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For millennia dogs have been undoubtedly man’s best friend. But when did humans first start keeping dogs as pets? The fascinating story of how ancient hunter gatherers first domesticated our now beloved canines is the subject of today’s episode and takes us right back into the depths of the Ice Age.

Tristan is joined in this episode by archeologist Dr Angela Perri to chat about how the wild wolf packs that roamed the icy wastes of the ancient world gradually became the four pawed friends we know and love today.

This episode was edited by Aidan Lonergan and produced by Annie Coloe and Joseph Knight

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Famed as the herald of the Greek gods, Hermes is the ‘jack of all trades’ when it comes to the pantheon of Mount Olympus. Known for his trademark winged sandals and snake encircled sceptre, he is the god of both thieves and shepherds. But how did he earn those titles?

In this episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes continues our Gods and Goddesses series with Christopher Bungard to chat all things Hermes   and answer the most important of questions - how did his sandals grow wings? 

Senior Producer: Elena Guthrie. Assistant Producer: Joseph Knight. Editor: Aidan Lonergan. Script Writer: Andrew Hulse. Voice Actor: Lucy Davidson

Other episodes in this series include: Zeus, Hera, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, King Midas, Achilles, Poseidon, Medusa, Hades, Persephone, and Demeter.

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This is everything you need to know about the famed conqueror Alexander the Great. Alongside Dan Snow, host of Dan Snow's History Hit, Tristan and Dan follow Alexander on a whistle-stop tour from his life in Macedonia to his epic battles with the Persians and eventually, to his death in Babylon.

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Lascaux Cave is an Ice Age wonder. Its walls and ceilings are adorned with stunning depictions of bison, aurochs and deer painted by hunter-gatherers 20,000 years ago using all kinds of pigments from red ochre to violet. They are, quite simply some of the most beautiful examples of Palaeolithic artwork ever discovered.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Prof. Paul Pettitt to delve into the wonders of Lascaux Cave. Together they explore how supposedly primitive hunter gatherers were capable of drawing such beautiful artwork and reflect on what it means for how we view Palaeolithic hunter gatherer societies today. 

This episode edited by Aidan Lonergan and produced by Joseph Knight and Annie Coloe.

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Marcus Tullius Cicero is one of the most famous orators in ancient history, and a central figure during the final years of the Roman Republic.

To explore his life and career, Tristan is joined by Dr Henriette van der Blom from the University of Birmingham. Together they explore Cicero's rise to power, how his speeches shaped public opinion, his relationships with the likes of Julius Caesar, and of course, how he exposed the Catiline Conspiracy.

This episode was produced by Elena Guthrie and Annie Coloe, and edited by Joseph Knight.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like our episodes on The Rise of Cicero and Cicero's Fight for the Roman Republic.

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The Bronze Age Collapse was one of the most cataclysmic events in human history. Over just a few decades, civilisations across the Mediterranean from Greece and Egypt to Mesopotamia and Babylon abruptly deteriorated, bringing an end to one epoch and birthing another. But what exactly happened? And what caused these powerful and interconnected civilisations to come crashing down simultaneously? 

In today’s episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes speaks to Eric Cline to explore the origins of the crisis which birthed the Iron Age and examine the role played by invasions, drought and famine in causing it.

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Over 10,000 years ago, many believe Ireland was a place where hunter-gatherers roamed. A place where the earliest human communities exchanged prizes of the hunt and crafted primitive tools to aid their survival. But what if their interactions with each other were more sophisticated? What if hunter-gatherer is a misnomer?

In the episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes speaks to Professor Graeme Warren about Ireland's rich prehistoric archaeology to discover how the earliest communities lived their lives. What do we know about these first people who made the island of Ireland their home?

They also discuss how the remnants of Ireland’s distant Mesolithic past shed light on the shared practices between Ireland and other parts of Mesolithic Europe and how the Irish Sea played a significant role in the exchange of culture between those regions.

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The ancient city of Jericho is often thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world. Made famous by the biblical tale of its conquest by Joshua, it is situated a stones throw from the western bank of the Jordan River. But did Jericho’s famous walls really come crashing down at the sound of Joshua’s trumpets?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan speaks to archeologist Felicity Cobbing from the Palestine Exploration Fund to explore what Jericho’s archeology can reveal about its past. In doing so they catch glimpses of the city's extraordinary evolution and the pivotal role it played in shaping the cultural, agricultural and defensive processes of other ancient civilisations.

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This episode contains a reference to animal cruelty

Would you be able to survive in ancient Rome?

Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by Ben Kane to discusses the realities of daily life in the Roman Empire. Together, they discuss everything from street life and chamber pots through to pick pockets and slavery. Spoiler alert: it was quite smelly and dangerous.

If you enjoyed this episode, Ben Kane also joined us for an episode on The Roman Legionary.

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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 overthrowing fathers, eating babies and seducing women, both mortal and divine, by changing his own form. He's one of the most complex figures in history, and his story is one that's been retold throughout millennia. To try and make sense of it all, we're going back to very beginning, to the origins of Zeus, starting with his grandfather and grandmother, Uranus and Gaia. We learn about the prophecy that ultimately overthrows Uranus, the same one that is also fated for Zeus's father, Cronus, and start to understand the family-tree that becomes the Olympians - from Athena to Dionysus.

For this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by academic, author, broadcaster and Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick, Michael Scott. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy The Symposium: How To Party Like An Ancient Greek, also with Michael Scott.

Script written by Andrew Hulse

Voice over performed by Deryn Oliver

Produced, edited and sound designed by Elena Guthrie

The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe

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First published November 2022

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 of disaffected senators.

In this episode, Tristan (with a little help from Dr Emma Southon and Dr Steele Brand) untangles fact from fiction, truth from myth, to take you back to that very afternoon in the heart of Rome's doomed republic.

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First published March 2022

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 Romans on Italian soil. His achievements have become a thing of legend and his name has become immortalised. He was Hannibal Barca. Hannibal rests amongst antiquity's greatest generals, but how did he rise to become such a stellar commander, leading his men to incredible victories against the then dominant powerhouse in the Mediterranean?

In this episode, Dr Louis Rawlings, Dr Adrian Goldsworthy and Dr Eve MacDonald explore the impressive ascent of the Carthaginian general to the status of one of the most famous military leaders in antiquity.

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First published August 2021

This episode contains graphic references to sex, infant mortality, and sexual assault.

While Spartans are often thought of for their bloodthirsty and fear inspiring performance on the battlefield - their sex lives and relationships have also been immortalised in history. From the Spartan King Menelaus and his infamous wife Helen of Troy, through to adolescent same-sex relationships - Sparta truly had it all. But what do we actually know about sex in Sparta, and how true are the ancient sources?

In the final episode of our Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes back Professor Paul Cartledge to look at what sex in Sparta was actually like. From tackling infertility in the ancient world, through to what Spartan courtship would've been like - was it possible to have Romanced a Spartan Warrior?

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Marked by shifting alliances, chaotic power struggles, and devastating consequences - the Peloponnesian War was a conflict for the ages. Fought between Athens and Sparta, along with their begrudging allies, the conflict changed the course of Ancient History as we know it. Lasting for nearly three decades, it ultimately ended Athenian supremacy - and ushered in an age of Spartan Hegemony on the mainland. But what caused such a devastating conflict to happen, and could it have been avoided?

In the third episode of our Sparta series, Tristan welcomes back Owen Reese to give us a whistle stop tour through this gigantic ancient conflict. Looking at the causes, key players, and the consequences - what caused these great city states to go to war? And what do the sources actually tell us about what happened?

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Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most famous figures in history. Believed to be the Son of God in Christianity, he is the central figure in one of the world’s most dominant religions.

Today, Tristan and Dr Helen Bond, a Professor of Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh, discuss what the sources tell us of the real man. They delve into what they reveal about his life and teachings, the world he lived in, the key figures in his life such as John the Baptist, as well as the narrative of his trial and death from a historical perspective. 

This episode was produced by Elena Guthrie and edited by Annie Coloe.

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One of the most famed classes of soldiers from antiquity, the Spartan warrior has been immortalised in media today. Characterised as super soldiers, formidable fighters who would rather perish than surrender - their reputation truly did proceed them. But how accurate is this image - and does it correlate with what the ancient sources actually tell us?

In the second episode of our Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes Dr Roel Konijnendijk from the University of Oxford, to take a deep dive into the life of a Spartan warrior. Looking at their education, training, and familial expectations - how do you separate fact from fiction when it comes to the Spartans? And is it possible to know what their society was truly like?

Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with codeANCIENTSsign up now for your 14-day free trialHERE.

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Demeter is the Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture in Ancient Greek mythology.

Mother of Persephone, and daughter of Kronos and Rhea, Demeter is often overlooked in myth despite her immense power. Demeter's role gave insight into how the Ancient Greeks viewed not only the harvest and it's bounty - but their fear of devastating famines and a Mother's wrath.

In this episode, Tristan welcomes back Natalie Haynes to plunge into the mythology surrounding Demeter and her significance to Ancient Greek society.

Senior Producer: Elena Guthrie

Assistant Producer: Annie Coloe

Editor: Aidan Lonergan & Annie Coloe

Scriptwriter: Andrew Hulse

Voice Actor: Nichola Wooley

Other episodes in this series include: Zeus, Hera, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, Athena, King Midas, Achilles, Poseidon, Medusa, Hades, and Persephone.

Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with codeANCIENTSsign up now for your 14-day free trialHERE.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Considered one of Athens' biggest rivals, and known for their bloodthirsty and brutal nature - there's a reason the Spartans have been immortalised in history. With longstanding mythological origins, little is known about the early days of Sparta. From rumoured descendants of Heracles, through to the mythical lawmaker Lycurgus, it can be hard to separate fact and fiction. So what do we actually know about the origins of Sparta? And is there any archaeological evidence to back these claims up?

In the first episode of our new Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes historian and author Dr Andrew Bayliss to the podcast, to take a deep dive into Sparta's murky beginnings. Looking at the myths used to define Spartan society, the available archaeological sources, and examining how myth and history has combined - is it possible to discern how Sparta was founded? And more importantly, by who?

You can buy Andrew's book here.

Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with codeANCIENTSsign up now for your 14-day free trialHERE.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

When you think of spies, images of suave men in suits sipping martinis tend to come to mind - not, well, the Romans. But espionage has been used throughout Rome's history, from it's enemies using intelligence gathering techniques against the empire, through to even the most pragmatic of Emperor's recruiting secret agents. But what do we actually know about the Roman Secret Service, and how was it used across the empire?

In this episode Tristan welcomes back Dr Simon Elliot to the podcast to delve into the world of Roman Espionage. Looking at it's uses in the Punic Wars, how different Emperors employed different tactics, and the archaeological evidence we have of their actions today - what did it take to be a Roman Spy, and how many of them were there actually?

Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with codeANCIENTSsign up now for your 14-day free trialHERE.

You can take part in our listener survey here.