Ancient History Hound

Every wonder what a tyrant was, how a tyrant became a tyrant and if there were any benefits in having a tyrant run your city? In this episode I answer these questions as I examine some tyrants from the Archaic period to the mid-5th century BC.

A main source for this episode which I mention is James F McGlew: 'Tyranny and Political Culture in Ancient Greece'.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Continuing the ancient Sicily miniseries I pick up with what happened to the tryant Thrasybulus in Syracuse in the 460s BC. There's a lot of civil unrest and democracy finally makes an appearance. Elsewhere on the island one of Sicily's most intriguing sons, a man called Ducetius, makes a play for power.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

In the second episode on ancient Sicily I turn to the rise of the tyrants and the changing political situation on the island. Covering the period between 600BC and the mid 5th century BC there is a lot to talk about, it's an episode packed with treachery, conquest and even some poetry.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

The first of a mini series on ancient Sicily. I begin with a brief sojurn around the island and an overview of the original inhabitants. Then it's onto the Greeks and Phoenicians who founded colonies on the island. I unwrap what form these initially took and what can be inferred from them.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Ever wonder who the worst Roman Emperors were? Well, LJ Trafford has written a book on this question and we sit down to chat about three candidates I selected from it.

This is LJ's third appearance on the podcast and as ever she was fab to chat to. Have a listen and see if you agree!

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

It's that time of the year for a look at the Roman Saturnalia. This was a Roman midwinter festival in which people gave presents, partied and even slaves got time off. In this episode I look into the important themes behind it, what was added, what was changed and how it all fitted together. Plus I take a look at what present options there were and the whole politics of gift giving.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

My first go at an episode swap and it's with The Delicious Legacy Podcast which explores food throughout history.

In this episode Thomas travels back to ancient Rome to consider what the average Roman ate. He unwraps the workings of a Roman kitchen and how the Romans cooked their food.

Food and ancient history - what's not to love!

In this Halloween special I pick out a few characters from antiquity who you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, or pretty much anywhere. A Mesopotamian demon, shapeshifters and a terrifying trio all feature.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

A re-release of a previous Night of the Livy Dead Halloween special. This one was all about witchcraft and demons in Mesopotamia and how you might counter them.

If you enjoy this why not have a scroll through and find other Night of the Livy Dead Halloween specials?

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Bees and honey have been incredibly important for different peoples for a long, long time. In this episode I discuss exactly how bees were kept, how honey was produced and what it was used for. I also get into how the bee manifested in different cultures.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

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