The Ancients

By History Hit

History

What's The Ancients about?

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Aphrodite: Goddess of Love

02.05.2023

This episode contains graphic references. Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology. Her origin story is one of the more colourful ones, being born from the foam of Uranus’s castrated genitals. Her life is no less ...

The Ancients episodes:

02.05.2023 Aphrodite: Goddess of Love This episode contains graphic references. Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology. Her origin story is one of the more colourful ones, being born from the foam of Uranus’s castrated genitals. Her life is no less ...
02.02.2023 The Nazca Lines Carved into the Peruvian landscape over a millennia ago, the Nazca lines are some of the most famed, and ancient, geoglyphs in the world. When viewed from above they create astonishing, detailed images of animals that were sacred to the ...
01.29.2023 Feathered Dinosaurs Having dominated the earth for millions of years, it's no wonder Dinosaurs have always fascinated us. Depicted in films and TV shows as monstrous scaly beasts - they inspire a terrifying image. But what if we told you that the ...
01.26.2023 Babylon One of the most famous cities in history - Babylon is shrouded in mystery and myth. Located in ancient Mesopotamia, now modern Iraq, it was one of the epicentres of ancient culture, architecture, and the home of famous figures such ...
01.22.2023 The Great Serpent Mound Located in the US State of Ohio, the Great Serpent Mound is an iconic monument of Ancient America. Nearly 1,400 feet long, and 3 feet high - it's hard to miss. But what do we actually know about this prehistoric ...
01.19.2023 The Parthenon The unofficial 8th wonder the Ancient World, the Parthenon is still standing today. Located on the Acropolis in Athens, towering above a busy, modern metropolis - it's a symbol of the city's long standing ancient past. But why was this ...
01.15.2023 Orkney: Centre of the Stone Age Orkney, a group of islands off Britain’s north coast, famed for their stunning, rural scenery. But 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Period - or ‘New Stone Age’ - it was a completely different story. Back then, these islands were ...
01.12.2023 The Kings of Rome This episode contains references to sexual assault and suicide. When you think of Ancient Rome, you don't often associate it with the idea of a Monarchy. But long before the likes of Julius Caesar, Augustus, or even Nero - Kings ...
01.08.2023 Hephaestus: God of Fire This episode contains references to sexual assault and terms for groups which were classified that way at the time. Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera, is the God of fire and foundry in Greek mythology. He is the only god ...
01.05.2023 The First Writing The results of a groundbreaking new study were released today [January 5th] by a group of researchers who believe they have conclusively decoded the earliest known form of proto-writing. Dating back to the Palaeolithic era, this combination of abstract markings ...
12.29.2022 Spartacus ‘I’m Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’, is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kibrick, adapted from the Howard Fast novel by Red Scare blacklisted screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, and starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Peter ...
12.22.2022 The First Britons 67 million people currently inhabit the United Kingdom - but what do we know about the original, first Britons? It's no secret when looking back into pre-history that it was a time of mass migration for animals and people alike, ...
12.18.2022 The Rise and Fall of Crassus Often overshadowed by his more successful peers (anyone heard of Julius Caesar?), Crassus' rise and fall from power is that of legend. A Roman General, Statesman, and once called the 'Richest Man In Rome', Crassus' power and influence is undisputed. ...
12.15.2022 Hammurabi: Rise of the Babylonians 2000 BC saw the famed city of Babylon begin to flourish under the rule of a King called Hammurabi. Renowned for his famous law code, the stele of which still survives today, is there anything else to be learnt about ...
12.11.2022 Hera: Queen of the Gods Hera, the wife and sister of Zeus, goddess of marriage, royalty and women, is the Queen of the Gods in Greek mythology. Despite her seat of power, she is an often maligned figure, typically characterised as the jealous and vengeful ...
12.08.2022 Carausius: The Pirate King With ancient Rome often being viewed as a mighty, impenetrable empire - it seems unlikely that one man, let alone a pirate, could ever bring this empire to it's knees. Yet that's exactly what Carausius, posthumously dubbed the 'Pirate King', ...
12.04.2022 Bethlehem Most famously known as the birth place of Jesus, Bethlehem has been immortalised in texts, carols, and imagery across history. But prior to the arrival of Jesus and the nativity, Bethlehem had a vibrant, and unexpected history. Located south of ...
12.01.2022 Uruk: The First Cities A Mesopotamian metropolis that thrived for millennia, Uruk is even claimed by some to have been the first true city in history. Located in modern day Iraq, Uruk was certainly among the oldest urban settlements of the ancient world, and ...
11.27.2022 Alexander the Great: Man and Myth Alexander the Great is one of the most famous figures from history. Legends and fantastical versions of his life were told almost immediately upon his death, often merging fact with fiction. Through his interaction, both good and bad, with so ...
11.24.2022 The Legacy of Tutankhamun Since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the phenomenon of “Tutmania” has continued to capture the worlds imagination on an unprecedented scale. From innovative museum exhibitions that took the phrase 'blockbuster' to a new meaning, ...
11.20.2022 Rise of the Etruscans Situated in the North of Italy, the Etruscan's were once a powerful civilisation, dominating the Italian peninsular. Predecessors to Ancient Rome, the Etruscans excelled in trade, art, and sculpture, surviving for centuries from the early 1st Millenia BC until their ...
11.17.2022 The Valley of the Kings On the west bank of the Nile, across from the ancient city of Thebes, lies the Valley of the Kings - the final resting place of several Pharaohs and their families. The valley is a 1,000 ft wide wadi [valley] ...
11.13.2022 Zeus: King of the Gods Zeus, the chief deity in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of sky and thunder, and is king of all other gods and men. His tale is one of overthrowing fathers, eating babies and seducing women, both mortal and divine, ...
11.10.2022 The Tomb of Tutankhamun In November of 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter, thanks to benefactor Lord Carnarvon, discovered the untouched tomb of Tutankhamun. Otherwise erased from history, the tomb of this 18th Dynasty Pharaoh would go on to change the world. Undoubtedly cited as ...
11.06.2022 The World's Earliest Cave Art 200,000 years ago in what is now Tibet, two children left a set of hand and foot prints on a travertine boulder, still identifiable today and is thought to be the earliest example of cave art. In today’s episode, Tristan ...
11.03.2022 Tutankhamun Tutankhamun is one of the most famous names in ancient history. Known as the 'Boy King', he ascended the Egyptian throne at the age of 9 and ruled for just under a decade. In this time, there's evidence of his ...
10.30.2022 Ukraine's Ancient Greek City Located in modern day Ukraine, Olbia was the largest ancient Greek settlement on the coast of the Black Sea. A mix of Scythian and Greek culture, Olbia interacted with settlements and cultures across the ancient world. In this episode, Tristan ...
10.27.2022 Colosseum Nicknamed the 8th wonder of the ancient world, the Colosseum still stands in splendour today. Located in the heart of Rome, nestled at the bottom of the Palatine Hill, neighbouring the ancient Roman Forum - the Colosseum is nearly 2000 ...
10.23.2022 The First Black Archaeologist Born to slaves in 1863, John Wesley Gilbert was the first student of the Paine Institute, a graduate of Brown University, and the first black archaeologist. While at Brown, he was awarded a scholarship to study abroad at the American ...
10.20.2022 Virgil One of Antiquity's greatest poets, Virgil's legacy is seen across history. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor's Homer and Hesiod - Virgil's work inspires people even today. With inspiration for his poems coming from the political turmoil and change ...
10.16.2022 End of Stone Age Orkney Around 5200 years ago, during the Neolithic period, when farming first took hold, Orkney was a hugely influential cultural centre. Yet, as Europe moved into the Bronze Age, the islands’ influence dwindled and Orkney became more insular. But what do ...
10.13.2022 Rosetta Stone In July 1799 a group of French soldiers stumbled upon a stone that was set to change our understanding of the ancient world. The iconic Rosetta Stone, a stela or inscribed slab, was dug up in the foundations of a ...
10.09.2022 Race in Antiquity History is littered with devastating accounts of prejudice that shines a harsh light on the atrocities humans have inflicted on each other for centuries. But has racism always plagued our society? From the African son of Peter the Great of ...
10.06.2022 The March of the 10,000 Recorded by Xenophon, the 10,000 were a force of Greek mercenaries employed by Cyrus the Younger, with the aim of taking back the Persian Empire from his brother, Artaxexes. Travelling over 1,766 miles to the north of Babylon, where forces ...
10.02.2022 The Rise and Fall of Roman London In 43 AD, the Romans set up temporary forts along the banks of a river to wait for their Emperor, Claudius, to march onto the enemy capital of Camulodunum (Colchester), and eventually conquer Britain. The river was the River Thames. ...
09.29.2022 The Real King Arthur: Ambrosius Aurelianus A friend of Merlin, the husband of Guinevere, and the inspiration for numerous Hollywood blockbusters - the story of King Arthur is known by many across the globe, but who is the man behind the myth? Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged from ...
09.25.2022 Top Five Dinosaurs They’re big. They’re fierce. And they’re extinct. This is how today’s guest - palaeontologist, evolutionary biologist and Senior Editor of the science journal Nature, Henry Gee, sums up why we have a continued fascination with dinosaurs. Join Tristan and Henry ...
09.22.2022 Karnak: Egypt's Greatest Temple Located on the banks of the River Nile in Luxor, Egypt, the Karnak Temple complex is one of the largest buildings ever constructed for religious purposes. Dedicated to the god Amun-Ra and covering over 200 acres - the Karnak Temple ...
09.18.2022 Art of Neolithic Orkney Located in the Northern Isles of Scotland, Orkney is a remote and wild environment. With over 5000 years of history, this small archipelago of islands is a treasure trove of ancient sites and secrets. Today Tristan is joined by Archaeologist ...
09.15.2022 Neanderthals Neanderthals are stereotypically viewed as thoughtless savages - but is this an accurate depiction or was there more to Neanderthal society? Discovered only 160 years ago what can they tell us about the Palaeolithic past? In this episode, Tristan is ...
09.08.2022 Treasures of Tutankhamun One of the most famous names in history - who is Tutankhamun? In 1922 Howard Carter discovered one the most intact ancient tombs in history, filled with 5,000 priceless artefacts from the boy-king's life. But is Howard Carter truly responsible ...
09.04.2022 Rise of the Persians The Achaemenid Empire, or better known as the First Persian Empire, was one of the largest empires in History - led by Cyrus the Great it covered 2.1 million square miles. But where did it come from? And what do ...
09.01.2022 Prosthetics in Antiquity Prosthetics - an artificial feature or body part commonly used to either help restore functions of lost limbs, or change a person's appearance. Today, advancements in technology mean prosthetics can sense touch and be controlled by the mind - a ...
08.28.2022 Ancient Americas: the South American Stonehenge One of the largest archaeological sites in South America, located near Lake Titicaca in Western Bolivia - Tiwanaku is a brilliantly mysterious place. Believed to have been founded around 200BC, Tiwanaku is filled with monumental structures, mighty monoliths and incredible ...
08.25.2022 Ancient Americas: The Moche Known for their iconic ceramics and notable artwork - the Moche people flourished in ancient northern Peru. But who were the people behind the clay? In this special bonus episode of our Ancient Americas series, Tristan is joined by Doctor ...
08.21.2022 Ancient Americas: The Olmec Heads One of the the earliest Mesoamerican civilisations discovered so far - Olmec influences are visible throughout history. But who were they? And what do we actually know about them? In the third episode of our 'Ancient Americas' series, Tristan is ...
08.18.2022 The Origins of Jerusalem One of the oldest cities in history, and revered by religions across the world - what do we know about the origins of Jerusalem? In this episode, Tristan is joined, once again, by Professor Jodi Magness to talk us through ...
08.14.2022 Ancient Americas: Teotihuacan A jewel of Mesoamerica, Teotihuacan was a vibrant, painted city - but who built it? And who actually lived there? In the second episode of our August series 'The Ancient Americas', Tristan is joined by professor Annabeth Headrick to help ...
08.11.2022 The Oracle of Delphi "If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire." That was the prophecy the Oracle of Delphi delivered to the Lydian King - she just left out that fact it was his own empire that would be destroyed. ...
08.07.2022 Ancient Americas: Debunking The Maya Apocalypse One of the most famous, and sophisticated, cultures of Mesoamerica, why are the Maya known only for predicting the end of the world? In the first episode of our new mini series 'The Ancient Americas', Tristan is joined by Professor ...

Older episodes

The Ancients

What's The Ancients about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Ancients episodes:

Aphrodite: Goddess of Love

The Nazca Lines

Feathered Dinosaurs

Babylon

The Great Serpent Mound

The Parthenon

Orkney: Centre of the Stone Age

The Kings of Rome

Hephaestus: God of Fire

The First Writing

Spartacus

The First Britons

The Rise and Fall of Crassus

Hammurabi: Rise of the Babylonians

Hera: Queen of the Gods

Carausius: The Pirate King

Bethlehem

Uruk: The First Cities

Alexander the Great: Man and Myth

The Legacy of Tutankhamun

Rise of the Etruscans

The Valley of the Kings

Zeus: King of the Gods

The Tomb of Tutankhamun

The World's Earliest Cave Art

Tutankhamun

Ukraine's Ancient Greek City

Colosseum

The First Black Archaeologist

Virgil

End of Stone Age Orkney

Rosetta Stone

Race in Antiquity

The March of the 10,000

The Rise and Fall of Roman London

The Real King Arthur: Ambrosius Aurelianus

Top Five Dinosaurs

Karnak: Egypt's Greatest Temple

Art of Neolithic Orkney

Neanderthals

Treasures of Tutankhamun

Rise of the Persians

Prosthetics in Antiquity

Ancient Americas: the South American Stonehenge

Ancient Americas: The Moche

Ancient Americas: The Olmec Heads

The Origins of Jerusalem

Ancient Americas: Teotihuacan

The Oracle of Delphi

Ancient Americas: Debunking The Maya Apocalypse