The Ancients

The most famous sporting event in the world is upon us, so it's only right that we consider what do we know about the ancient origins of the games in Olympia, ancient Greece? Even back then it was abs...

2 Maj 202143min

Caesar Octavian, Mark Antony, Decimus Brutus and Cicero: the Battle of Mutina, April 43 BC, was a clash of giants. It also became the beginning of the end for one of Ancient Rome’s greatest orators, C...

25 Apr 20211h 1min

We know all about the battles of the Roman Empire: the opposing sides, their weapons and incentives. But if history is written by the winners, what happened if you lost? In this episode, Dr Jo Ball, b...

22 Apr 202139min

Here on The Ancients, we think that you will love Leonardo, the official podcast accompanying the murder-mystery period drama starring Aidan Turner. Leonardo takes a deep dive behind the scenes with t...

20 Apr 20216min

Ever since its occurence in 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae has been the stuff of legend. Echoes of this battle, reportedly fought between a seven thousand strong Greek army and a Persian force of a...

18 Apr 202148min

Described as one of the most complete cavalry forts that survives in Britain, Chesters Roman Fort is also home to the best preserved military baths on the island. In this episode, English Heritage Cur...

15 Apr 202122min

A plague which affects people from across society, mass exodus from city centres and numerous opinions on how best to stay well ... all familiar to people today, but also to the people of the 2nd cent...

11 Apr 202132min

The Persepolis Fortification Tablets / Texts are the who’s who of the Ancient Achaemenid Empire, a unique insight into the administrative workings of this jurisdiction emerging from present day Iran. ...

8 Apr 202153min