Podcast Episodes

Emperor Tiberius: Monster or Misunderstood?

Episode 607

*WARNING: This podcast contains adult themes and discussion of paedophilia*

A brilliant general. A brooding autocrat. A recluse surrounded by scandal. Few Roman emperors divide opinion like Tiberius. …

Published on 12 hours ago

Zoroastrianism

Episode 605

A faith born in the distant prehistoric past, rooted in ancient Iranian texts over 4,000 years old, Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest living religions. and one that shaped empires.

In this e…

Published on 3 days, 12 hours ago

Decline & Fall of the Ancient World

Episode 604

Tristan Hughes invites Matt Lewis, host The Ancients's sister podcast Gone Medieval, for a lively debate with about the blurred boundary between the ancient and medieval worlds. Can Tristan champion …

Published on 1 week ago

Roman Toilets

Episode 603

They built roads, aqueducts, and bathhouses but what about toilets?

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Hannah Platts, to uncover the surprisingly fascinating world of Roman toilets, faeces and sewers. Fro…

Published on 1 week, 3 days ago

The Ancients Recommends: History Daily

Episode 602

Today in this bonus episode Tristan introduces us to History Daily podcast, where host Lindsay Graham takes us back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history.

Whether…

Published on 1 week, 5 days ago

Antony and Cleopatra

Episode 601

Rome. Egypt. Love. War. Over 2,000 years ago, the fates of two ancient worlds collided in one of history’s most legendary love stories: Antony and Cleopatra.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan H…

Published on 2 weeks ago

Proto-Vikings: The Nordic Bronze Age

Episode 600

Who were the Vikings' ancient ancestors? In this episode Tristan Hughes explores the fascinating maritime culture, sophisticated trade networks and social hierarchies of the Nordic Bronze Age c. 1800…

Published on 2 weeks, 3 days ago

Fall of Babylon

Episode 599

The year is 539 BC. The greatest city of the ancient world has fallen. Babylon has opened it's gates to a new conqueror: the mighty Persian king Cyrus the Great.

In this episode of The Ancients, Trist…

Published on 3 weeks ago

Origins of Yoga

Episode 598

Warrior, Cobra, Downward Dog. If you do Yoga today, those are poses you’re surely aware of. But where and when did Yoga originate?

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jim M…

Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago

Boudica's Tribe: How the Iceni Survived the Romans

Episode 597

Join us for a special episode of The Ancients, recorded on-site in Norfolk, as we delve into the fascinating history of the Iceni tribe both before and after Boudica's famed revolt against the legion…

Published on 4 weeks ago