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Real reviews from history: old newspaper complaints, travel diaries, or court recordsUSE AS DIRECTED... more
FAQs about Ancient Yelp:How many episodes does Ancient Yelp have?The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.
August 05, 2026Five Taverns You'd Exit Through the Window: Athens' Worst Watering HolesWatered-down wine, surly servers, and philosophers who wouldn't shut up—ancient Athens had taverns that would make you wish you'd stayed home with a jug of vinegar. We're ranking the five drinking establishments that earned the most scathing reviews from their customers, from Aristophanes' satirical roasts to angry graffiti scratched into walls....more18minPlay
July 16, 2026The Complaining Tablet: Ea-Nasir's Copper CatastropheIn 1750 BCE, an irate customer named Nanni carved his fury into clay, demanding to know why merchant Ea-Nasir delivered substandard copper ingots and treated his servant like dirt. We excavate the full story behind history's first one-star review, explore why Ea-Nasir kept this scathing complaint in his house, and reveal what archaeology tells us about Bronze Age consumer protection....more12minPlay
June 19, 2026Bath House Brawl: Caracalla vs. Diocletian's ThermaeWhen ancient Rome's elite wanted to soak, steam, and socialize, they had choices—and opinions. We're diving into the scalding hot rivalry between the Baths of Caracalla and the Baths of Diocletian, where everything from mosaic quality to towel service to 'caldarium temperature consistency' became grounds for brutal one-star takedowns....more15minPlay
June 08, 2026Five Flames: Rome's Worst-Rated InsulaeBefore slumlords, there were insulae lords. We're ranking the top five tenant horror stories from Ancient Rome's crumbling apartment blocks—featuring collapsing walls, chamber pot showers from upper floors, and landlords who made Crassus look charitable. Turns out 'luxury building with Colosseum views' meant something very different in 100 CE....more15minPlay
May 23, 2026One Star for the Bread: A Pompeii Bakery Gets RoastedIn 79 CE, someone was so fed up with their local baker that they carved their grievance into a wall—and it lasted 2,000 years. We dive deep into the scathing review left for Gaius Julius Polybius, what it tells us about Roman bread drama, and why ancient customers weren't afraid to publicly drag bad service into eternity....more13minPlay
FAQs about Ancient Yelp:How many episodes does Ancient Yelp have?The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.