Obelisks
The Ancients13 Mar 2025

Obelisks

Ancient Egyptian obelisks stand as towering symbols of power and engineering brilliance, scattered across the world. But how were they built and what purpose did they serve?


In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Steven Snape and Professor Joyce Tyldesley to uncover the incredible story of Egypt’s obelisks. From their religious significance to the astonishing feats of engineering required to carve and transport these massive stone monoliths, discover how obelisks became some of the most iconic monuments of the ancient world and why so many ended up in cities across the western world, from Rome to New York.


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


All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds


The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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

Episoder(608)

Elektra: Revenge in Ancient Greece

Elektra: Revenge in Ancient Greece

Few figures in Greek mythology embody vengeance like Elektra, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Betrayal, grief, and justice shaped her tragic fate.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughe...

2 Mar 202556min

The Persian Wars: Xerxes, Thermopylae and Salamis

The Persian Wars: Xerxes, Thermopylae and Salamis

In 486 BC, King Xerxes ascended the Persian throne, inheriting its vast and glittering world empire. But his ambition didn’t stop there - he sought revenge on Greece.In this episode of The Ancients, t...

27 Feb 20251h 18min

End of Ice Age Britain

End of Ice Age Britain

As Ice Age Britain thawed, temperatures surged, sea levels rose, and humans and animals faced a fight for survival. But this shift was anything but simple.In this final episode of our Ice Age miniseri...

23 Feb 202548min

The Persian Wars: Darius, Athens and the Battle of Marathon

The Persian Wars: Darius, Athens and the Battle of Marathon

490 BC. On the plains of Marathon, Athens faced down a mighty army of the Persian Empire - the superpower of the time It was an underdog clash that would echo throughout history. But how did it all be...

20 Feb 202558min

The Last Neanderthals

The Last Neanderthals

For hundreds of thousands of years Neanderthals have roamed the lands of what is today Europe and western Asia. But how did they survive, and what caused their decline?Tristan Hughes delves into the f...

16 Feb 202553min

The Scythians

The Scythians

Known as the barbarians of the north, the Scythians were expert horsemen that roamed the great steppe of Eurasia more than 2,000 years ago. But how much do we know about them?In today's episode of The...

13 Feb 202551min

Ice Age Australia

Ice Age Australia

Giant kangaroos. Killer wombats. Carnivorous lions. These beasts once roamed the barren landscape of Ice Age Australia - a vast supercontinent stretching from Papua New Guinea to Tasmania.Continuing o...

9 Feb 202559min

Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs

From twisted flax to one-legged ibises, Egyptian hieroglyphs offer a window into the heart of ancient Egypt. But how did this script really work?In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes speaks ...

6 Feb 202552min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
rss-katastrofe
historier-som-endret-norge
henrettelsespodden
aftenposten-historie
sektledere
historier-som-endret-verden
med-egne-oyne
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-benadet
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
historiepodden-ww2
rss-gamle-greier
rss-frontkjemperne
historiepodden
rss-politisk-preik
liberal-halvtime
rss-historiepodden-ww2
vare-historier
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet