Babylon and the Bible

Gaius Marius (157 BC – 86 BC) was one of the first warlords of the late Roman Republic, a general and statesman who held the office of consul an unprecedented seven times during his life.In this episode Tristan is joined by Dr Federico Santangelo, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Newcastle, to find out more about the man whose career changed the course of Rome's future.Federico's book Marius is available here.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Apr 202244min

Roman connections with Britain stretch back to (at least) the mid 1st century BC. But what has archaeology revealed about the Late Iron Age British societies they interacted with? Do we have any concrete evidence for the druids? Was human sacrifice a thing? Sit back and enjoy in this very special Ancients episode, as experts provide a detailed run down of life and death in Late Iron Age Britain. The episode covers several topics: urbanisation, ritual and religion, trade, slavery and warfare. Featuring Durham University's Professor Tom Moore, alongside Colchester and Ipswich Museums' Dr Frank Hargrave and Dr Carolina Lima.The Lexden Tumulus History Hit YouTube videoFor more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Apr 202243min

In Ancient Greece, the symposium was no ordinary after-dinner drinking party, but one in which the Hellenic men of society got together to wine, recline and philosophise. They took various forms depending on the whim of the leader of the symposium - the symposiarch - but were exclusively male affairs (aside from the occasional courtesan or two).In this episode Tristan is joined by Michael Scott, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick, to find out more about the soirée of booze, babes and slaves that was the Ancient Greek symposium.We mention a few different vessel types. Here are some visuals of the different vessels we mention:The kylix / kylikesThe kraterThe oinochoeThe psykterThe plateYou might also like: How to Party Like a RomanWarning: a couple of cases of mild language.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Apr 202241min

Man's best friend has been at our side for thousands of years. Ancient Greece was no exception, and although some of the types of dog that were popular back then might seem unfamiliar to us today, tales of their loyalty, dependability and downright cuteness certainly are not.From dog names, to their function in Greek religion, to their usefulness–including their possible deployment on the battlefield–what do we know about dogs in Ancient Greece? In this episode Tristan is joined by Dr Owen Rees of Manchester Metropolitan University to find out just that.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Mars 202254min

The legacies of the Ides of March stretch from that very afternoon on March 14th 44BC to the modern day. From Roman times to the Medieval period, from Dante to Shakespeare, and from Brutus to the other infamous assassin he inspired in John Wilkes Booth, the echoes of Julius Caesar's assassination have continued to reverberate through time over the last two thousand years.In this episode, the last of our special four-part miniseries on the Ides of March, Tristan sits down with Professor Maria Wyke of University College London to find out more about the political, social and cultural legacies of the fateful day that led to the birth of the Roman Empire and so much more.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Mars 202255min

Dinosaurs! Spectacular resilient beings who were able to adapt and survive the most terrifying of events. Evolving from a group of mostly humble-sized creatures, into the most enormous beasts that ever existed on land. But how did the first true dinosaurs emerge? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Stephen L. Brusatte. Stephen is a Palaeontologist and evolutionary biologist who specialises in the anatomy and evolution of dinosaurs. He takes us through not just the evolution of dinosaurs, but the development of the new world and ecosystems that allowed them to thrive. What can we learn from the magnificent creatures who ruled the earth before us?Stephen L. Brusatte is the author of 'The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World', published by Picador.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Mars 202245min

What happened after the Ides of March? How did the Romans go from co-ordinated assassinations to the Pax Romana? From Tyranny to prosperity? In this third episode of our Ides of March series, Tristan is joined by Dr Hannah Cornwell to discuss the turbulent relations that erupted between Marc Antony and Octavian (Young Caesar), following Julius Caesar's assassination. Secluded meetings, arranged marriages, reconciliations, dissensions, and a love affair for the ages - what really happened between the Young Caesar and Marc Antony?If you'd like to learn more about this really interesting period, you might like to listen to one of our following episodes:Death of the Roman Republic: The Battles of Philippi, with Steele Brand - Octavian and Marc Antony vs Marcus Brutus and CassiusCicero's Fight for the Roman Republic, with Steele Brand - Octavian vs Marc Antony in northern Italy at MutinaAgrippa: Rome's Forgotten Hero, with Lindsay Powell - Agrippa and Octavian in the 30s BC.The Birth of the Roman Empire, with Dr Hannah Cornwell - Augustus and peace at the dawn of the Imperial Period post Marc Antony.Augustus and Agrippa: The Golden Age, with Lindsay Powell - What followed Marc Antony's defeat at Actium.As for Actium itself, and the demise of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, we aim to cover all in detail in a future podcast episode.A quick note from Hannah, Caligula was assassinated in 41 AD / CE.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Mars 202249min

Man, myth or legend... who was the real Saint Patrick? Did he really banish all the snakes from Ireland? Where does the shamrock tradition come from? And was he even Irish?In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Lisa Bitel of USC Dornsife to find out more about the true identity of the mysterious figure who became Patron Saint of Ireland and gave his hallowed name to St Paddy's Day.Order Tristan's book, Alexander's Successors at War, today 📖➡️ https://ed.gr/dylvoFor more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!To download, go to Android or Apple store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Mars 202238min