The Parthians
The Ancients9 Jun 2024

The Parthians

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.


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 up here.


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


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(593)

Combat Trauma

Combat Trauma

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

9 Aug 202048min

Stone Circles

Stone Circles

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

2 Aug 202033min

Agrippina the Younger

Agrippina the Younger

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

26 Jul 202056min

Horse Archery

Horse Archery

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

19 Jul 202058min

Antonine Wall

Antonine Wall

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

12 Jul 202047min

Housesteads and Hadrian's Wall

Housesteads and Hadrian's Wall

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

5 Jul 202046min

Origins of Biological & Chemical Warfare

Origins of Biological & Chemical Warfare

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

2 Jul 202030min

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

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

26 Jun 20201h 2min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
historier-som-endret-norge
historier-som-endret-verden
henrettelsespodden
rss-benadet
rss-gamle-greier
aftenposten-historie
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-frontkjemperne
rss-historiske-romanser
sektledere
historiepodden-ww2
historiepodden
rss-historiepodden-ww2
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
taakeprat
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
med-egne-oyne
undersattene
rss-alt-var-bedre-for