The Ancients

History Hit

A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes.

New episodes every Sunday and Thursday.

From History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts Dan Snow's History Hit, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets.

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.

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645 episodes
Updated Sunday

Episodes645

Newest first

May 2, 2021 · 43 min
The Olympic Games
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 absolutely central to everybody's imagination about what a sporting event should be. Ancient history legend and author of ‘Olympia: The Story of the Ancient Olympic Games’ Robin Waterfield joins Tristan Hughes to discuss the Olympic Games in antiquity. The Ancients is a History Hit podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 25, 2021 · 1 hr 1 min
Cicero’s Fight for the Roman Republic
Steele Brand explores the Battle of Mutina, and how it featured in Cicero's fall.
Apr 22, 2021 · 39 min
Roman Prisoners of War
Jo Ball takes us through the fates of those who lost battles against the Roman army.
Apr 20, 2021 · 6 min
Introducing 'Leonardo: The Official Podcast'
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 the cast and crew, as well as discovering more about ...
Apr 18, 2021 · 48 min
The Legacy of Thermopylae
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 anywhere between 100 thousand and one million, can be...
Apr 15, 2021 · 22 min
Edges of Empire: Chesters Roman Fort
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 Curator Dr Frances McIntosh takes Tristan around the si...
Apr 11, 2021 · 32 min
Lessons from the Antonine Plague
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 century AD. In this fascinating chat with Dr Nick Summer...
Apr 8, 2021 · 53 min
Persia's Untapped Source: The Persepolis Fortification Texts
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones explains how thousands of tablets challenge our perception of Ancient Persia.
Apr 4, 2021 · 1 hr 4 min
Jewish Burial at the Time of Jesus
For 'three days and three nights', Jesus’s body was entombed. But do the accounts of his burial correlate with the archaeology? Do they accurately reflect the manner in which the Jews of ancient Jerusalem buried their dead?
Apr 1, 2021 · 1 hr
The Xiongnu: History's First Nomadic Empire?
Between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century AD, the Xiongnu inhabited the area surrounding Mongolia. They influenced the later Hun Empire, and had connections with Ancient China and Persia, but what do we know about them? Bryan Miller has been inves...
Mar 28, 2021 · 47 min
Music in Ancient Greece
Without recordings, and with notation and instruments long forgotten, how can we possibly know what music soundtracked Ancient Greek life? James Lloyd from the University of Reading has been studying Ancient Greek music, in particular its role in Ancie...
Mar 25, 2021 · 39 min
The Rise of Cicero
Cicero is often considered to be one of the greatest orators of Ancient Rome. But how did he reach prominence in Roman politics? Why are his speeches so well remembered and what makes them extraordinary? Catherine Steel from the University of Glasgow j...
Mar 21, 2021 · 23 min
Boudica: Through Roman Eyes
Caitlin Gillespie explores Boudica's portrayal in comparison to that of her contemporaries.
Mar 18, 2021 · 26 min
Petra: The Rose City
Professor David Graf and Tristan discuss the excavations of an ancient Nabataean city: its trade routes, leaders, culture and demise.
Mar 14, 2021 · 47 min
The Ides of March
Emma Southon unpacks the story of Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC.
Mar 11, 2021 · 1 hr 12 min
Women and Power in Ancient Egypt
Kara Cooney introduces us to 6 remarkable female pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
Mar 7, 2021 · 31 min
Boudica: Britain's Warrior Queen
Boudica has become a hero of British folklore. Her leadership of the Iceni in an uprising against the forces of the Roman Empire in around 60 AD is echoed around school classrooms. But what evidence do we have for her actions, appearance and eventual d...
Mar 4, 2021 · 50 min
The Origins of Warfare
Professor Nam Kim tracks the beginnings of human conflicts.
Feb 28, 2021 · 24 min
Cheddar Man: Science and the Skeleton
Cheddar Man is the oldest almost complete skeleton of a Homo sapien ever found in Britain and, for this fantastic episode, Tristan spoke to the scientist who has drilled a (very small) hole in him. Dr Selina Brace is a biologist who works with ancient ...
Feb 25, 2021 · 22 min
Petra: Rise of the Nabataeans
The assumption had once been that they were nomads until the Romans came. But more recent archaeological work in modern day Jordan is dispelling this myth about the ancient Nabataeans. In this first episode in another two part podcast, Tristan was join...