What was the deal with slavery in Ancient Rome? It's a difficult topic, but also nuanced and interesting. So often we hear about the nobility and higher status people of the past, but in this episode we shine a light on a less privileged, but no less important, part of Roman society.

As usual we'll be doing the honours with the help of four lovely primary sources:

- Martial, Epigram 14.220 "The Cook"

- Seneca, 47.2-4 "On Master & Slave"

- Seneca, Letters 95.24

- Pliny the Younger, Letters 3.14

Want to find out more about this week's topic? Try these two articles about slavery in Ancient Rome:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/nero-man-behind-myth/slavery-ancient-rome#:~:text=Under%20Roman%20law%2C%20enslaved%20people,from%20texts%20written%20by%20masters.

https://www.historyhit.com/what-was-life-like-for-slaves-in-ancient-rome/

And we couldn't resist this one... Here's the YouTube link to all the episodes of "Up Pompeii!" - the Frankie Howerd classic comedy series centred on the exploits of Roman slave Lurcio:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPGcD5LGrp4FJVyyhr_t9bYB6D1E_rEO

 

Follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and contact us at [email protected]. Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan, who you can also find on Instagram - missalicekeys. 

 

If you like what you hear then don't be shy - please do take the time to like, rate and subscribe!

How did the Romans holiday? Where did they go? How did they get there? Did hotels exist? Did they buy souvenirs? So many questions!

 

Join us as we explore this topic via four contemporary ancient sources:

- Seneca, Letters 51 "On Baiae and Morals"

- Seneca, Essay About Peace of Mind 2.13

- Juvenal, Satire 3 "And Then There's the Traffic"

- Horace, Satire 1.5

 

Here are suggestions for further reading if you fancy:

https://www.historyhit.com/locations/baia/ (article about the ancient city resort of Baiae)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/imperiumromanum.pl/en/article/holidays-and-tourism-in-ancient-rome/amp/ (article about tourism in Ancient Rome)

http://www.parcosommersobaia.beniculturali.it/ (article about the underwater archaeological park of Baiae - scuba diving tours available)

https://www.google.com/search?q=model+reconstruction.pliny+villa&rlz=1CDGOYI_enGB1007GB1007&hl=en-GB&prmd=insv&sxsrf=APwXEdczNmbGcg_tav-OWEjRj8mTuK3zug:1680162031884&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwing82ok4P-AhXHEsAKHc_TD8kQ_AUIHygB&biw=360&bih=664&dpr=3 (Google image search for reconstructions of Pliny's villa)

https://www.google.com/search?q=Ancient+Roman+litter+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjA2K3qioT-AhVGpCcCHbe5DGEQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=Ancient+Roman+litter+&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQAzIECAAQHjIFCAAQogQ6BAgjECc6BggAEAgQHjoHCCMQsAIQJzoGCAAQHhANUL8GWOVbYLhhaABwAHgAgAH4AYgBqxqSAQYwLjE4LjGYAQCgAQHAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=QbolZIC0JMbInsEPt_OyiAY&bih=664&biw=360&client=ms-android-oppo-rvo3&prmd=isnv (Google image search for Ancient Roman litter)

 

"Life & Leisure in Ancient Rome" - J.P.V.D Balsdon

 

Follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and contact us at [email protected]. Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan, who you can also find on Instagram - missalicekeys.

If you like what you hear then don't be shy - please do take the time to like, rate and subscribe!

How did the Romans deal with death? Did they believe in an afterlife? What were their funerals like?

Join us as we discuss four contemporary ancient sources that focus on the sensory elements of today's theme:

- Polybius, Histories 6.53-54

- Lucan, Civil War 2.21

- Seneca, The Trojan Women

- Petronius, Satyricon 77-78

Here are a few topical links if you're inspired to find out more:

The mausoleums of Rome: tombs become beautiful monuments (walksinsiderome.com)

Roman burial unearthed at hidden Garforth cemetery - BBC News

Horrible Histories - Crazy Roman Funeral Tradition | Rotten Romans - YouTube

Follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and contact us at [email protected]. Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan, who you can also find on Instagram - missalicekeys.

If you like what you hear then don't be shy - please do take the time to like, rate and subscribe!

Ever wondered what Roman dinner parties were like? What was on the menu? Was there entertainment? Was it all orgies and sausages?

In this episode we discuss another four contemporary ancient sources, considering them from a sensory perspective. Here's a quick introduction to our dinner guests and their respective party offerings:

- Plutarch, Table Talk 5.679

- Martial, Epigrams 3.50 (To Ligurinus)

- Pliny the Younger, Letters 2.6

- Petronius, The Satyricon 40

Head over to Instagram to check out our dinner-themed photos, and links for further reading. 

You can follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter, and contact us at [email protected].

In this episode we take another four extracts from contemporary ancient sources and consider them from a sensory perspective. Here we talk about the (very!) popular Roman past time of visiting the bath house. Was everyone really naked? Could slaves use the baths? And why is that sausage seller here again?!? 

Our sources are as follows: 

- Martial, Epigrams 12.82 

- Seneca, Letters 56.1-2 

- Seneca, Letters 86.8 

- Petronius, Satyricon 28

You can check out our Instagram for some topical photos, and here are a few links in case you'd like to find out more, or maybe visit a bath house to see what all the fuss was about: 

https://www.thecollector.com/roman-baths-an-integral-part-of-life-in-the-ancient-empire/ 

https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/ 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Articles-lpv0L83PgpaU-Baths_of_ancient_rome.html 

Follow sistoryhistory on Instagram and Facebook, and contact us at [email protected]. 

Big thanks to our composer Alice Morgan, who you'll also find on Instagram - missalicekeys.

We visited the Japan Courts & Culture exhibition at Buckingham Palace in January 2023 and chose three items to share with you that resonated with the sensory theme of the podcast. Visit our Instagram page (sistoryhistory) to see photos of the artefacts if you'd like the benefit of visual accompaniment: https://www.instagram.com/p/CospOsorUiC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

In this episode we consider four extracts from contemporary ancient sources that talk about the very Roman experience of going to the games. Think gladiators, wild animals, the colosseum, sausage sellers... As with all our episodes, we'll focus on the sensory side of things - sight, touch, smell, sound and taste. (You can follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, and contact us at [email protected]. Huge thanks to our composer Alice Morgan, who you'll also find on Instagram - missalicekeys).

Welcome to Sistory History, the brand new podcast from sisters Laura & Caroline. If you like the sound of accessible history interspersed with light-hearted chat, then look no further! Listen to this trailer to find out about the format of the podcast, and what's coming up in season 1. (You can follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, and email us at [email protected]).