The Roman Legionary
The Ancients14 Sep 2023

The Roman Legionary

When you picture ancient Roman Soldiers, an image of battle-hardened warriors equipped with iron breastplates, large rectangular shields and mighty helmets will no doubt come to mind. Immortalised in cinematic classics like 'Gladiator' or HBO Period Dramas - the depictions of Roman legionaries tend to all look the same on the surface. But how accurate is this bloodthirsty, armour clad vision - and how did the actual Roman legionaries change across the centuries?


In this episode Tristan welcomes best selling author Ben Kane to the podcast, to delve into the history of the Roman legionaries. Looking at what the clothing, weapons, and archaeology can tell us about legionaries across time (and continent) - who exactly were the Roman legionaries, and how do you separate fact from fiction?


The History Hit Miscellany is published on September 28, but you can pre-order here or visit historyhit.com/book to order from your favourite book shop.


Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code ANCIENTS. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Music supplied by All3 Media.

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

Avsnitt(608)

Nero the Antichrist?

Nero the Antichrist?

The Emperor Nero is one of antiquity's most infamous figures, having a particularly hostile relationship with the Christians. But did the early Christians associate Nero with the Antichrist mentioned ...

4 Okt 202055min

Agrippa: Rome's Forgotten Hero

Agrippa: Rome's Forgotten Hero

There are few men in Roman history that can claim to have been as influential as Marcus Agrippa. The right-hand man of Octavian / Augustus, his career is dotted with powerful positions. And yet, what ...

1 Okt 202043min

The Polynesians: Ancient Mariners of the Pacific

The Polynesians: Ancient Mariners of the Pacific

The ancient Polynesians remain the greatest seafarers in history. Already by the time of the legendary founding of Rome on 21 April 753 BC, Polynesian voyagers had crossed huge parts of the Pacific Oc...

27 Sep 202033min

The Battle of Salamis

The Battle of Salamis

We've had the Battle of Thermopylae with the brilliant Paul Cartledge; we've had the Battle of Artemisium with the great Owen Rees. And I'm delighted to say that we are today fulfilling the 2,499 Pers...

24 Sep 202037min

The Rise of Constantine

The Rise of Constantine

The Emperor Constantine I, better known as Constantine the Great, is one of the most significant emperors in Roman history. His later Christian biographers lauded him as an icon, the man who set in mo...

20 Sep 202049min

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Jason and the Golden Fleece

This week's episode from the History Hit archive features the brilliant Tom Holland telling the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, an epic story of honour, adventure, dangerous women and a golden fleece...

17 Sep 202054min

Alexander the Great: Through Persian Eyes

Alexander the Great: Through Persian Eyes

Conqueror. Destroyer. Convert. Legendary king. It's fair to say that Alexander the Great's relationship with ancient Persia was complicated. Despite conquering the Persian Empire, Alexander admired an...

13 Sep 202034min

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum

Another one from the History Hit archive! The Roman Forum, also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum (Italian: Foro Romano), is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several importan...

11 Sep 202025min

Populärt inom Historia

massmordarpodden
historiska-brott
kod-katastrof
p3-historia
motiv
historiepodden-se
olosta-mord
rss-historien-om
rss-seriemordarpodden
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
rss-brottsligt
rss-historiska-brottslingar
rss-massmordarpodden
krigshistoriepodden
militarhistoriepodden
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
rss-arkiv-stieg
palmemordet
nu-blir-det-historia
rss-folkets-historia