It's a big welcome to our new Expert in Residence, Dr Jessica Clarke, Roman historian and archaeologist! In this introductory interview, Katrina discovers Jessica's most exciting excavation; her first experience of archaeology as a child growing up on the Isle of Wight; how Roman magistrates were tasked with putting on public shows; and what a snarky Cicero thought about the theatre!

It's now your time to ask Jessica a question so please do so here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=THyQHm_hgUCNzPS6f8RgumBajqZzGFNNmsrdI0K0H-FUOFlPVEhaREhYUlBCWkZZV0JFUDBLOFg4Sy4u

Jessica is a historian and archaeologist, specialising in ancient Roman theatre and entertainment. She grew up on the Isle of Wight and moved to London to study at University College London in 2019, where she received her BA, MA, and PhD. She currently works as an Archaeologist for the Museum of London Archaeology. Her first academic book, entitled A New History of Ancient Roman Theatre, is being published by Liverpool University Press, and her first trade book, entitled Julius Caesar: Murder at the Theatre, is being published through Nurnberg Literary Agents. As well as academic publications, Jessica’s writing has appeared most recently in the BBC History Magazine, History Today, La Repubblica, The Ancient History Magazine, and The History News Network. You can find her on X (formerly known as Twitter) @drjessicaclarke

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

Find out more about our Expert in Residence scheme

From pulling pints to interviewing world experts, Erica tells Katrina how MoAn Inc was born, how she went from hating Latin to fangirling with Emily Wilson and Stephen Fry. She reveals the secrets behind some of her most popular videos, her plans for the future, and we have a very personal shoutout to one particular author…Pierce Brown we see you!

Erica Stevenson is a self described 'Classicist Head Nerd' who was named on HistoryExtra's 30 Under 30 List in 2024. Since graduating from New York University in 2017 she's been a growing, vibrant creator in the classics sphere and has amassed large followings on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Follow Erica on YouTube and Instagram

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In this episode, Katrina talks to former BBC Young Dancer of the Year (Contemporary), Matthew Rawcliffe, who is combining his love for dance and ancient art to retell myths such as Narkissos and Hades & Persephone for new audiences. Listen to other episodes in our ⁠Careers series here⁠

SHOW NOTES

Watch Matthew's Final performance from 2022 Young Dancer of the Year and follow Matthew on Instagram

Matthew's website and his current work on Hades and Persephone

Matthew's project is part-funded by a CA Grant - find out more about our scheme here

Tickets for the last show on 21 February 2025

Enjoy ⁠⁠highlights⁠⁠ from the 2004 Athens Olympics Opening Ceremony

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CW: in this episode, Rhodessa does talk about difficult themes including ab*se and dr*g-taking; the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

Performer, teacher, director Rhodessa Jones is Co-Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed, performance company Cultural Odyssey.  She founded and directs The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women, an award-winning performance workshop committed to the personal and social transformation of women.

In this fascinating episode, she tells the story of her work and how it has been interwoven with classical themes; how the minotaur is paralleled in American society; the project 'Baby Medea'; dramatic performances in Russia; and her creative inspiration.

Find out more about the Medea Project and Rhodessa here

For Nancy Rabinowitz's work: Queering the Past(s)

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And find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠classicalassociation.org⁠

Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History and the Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research and our 2024 CA Prizewinner shares why he thinks the ancient world is important. He and Katrina talk about what Byzantine studies involves, his interest in texts like the Alexiad , the place that resonates with him the most, his love for libraries, and why you should enter our CA Competition!

Enter our Write | Speak | Design Competition

Nominate your winner for the 2025 CA Prize

Listen to Peter and Afua on Legacy

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

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And find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠classicalassociation.org⁠

In the final episode of this mini-series, Sam discusses several coins that reflect the different periods of Nero's rule - from his accession through to the Vindex rebellion, covering his mother's influence and his relationship with the Roman people.

Look out for the following time stamps:

2.40 - the deification of Claudius

6.00 - Nero as lyreplayer

11.16 - Nero and Agrippina

14.19 - handouts to the people

17.40 - Vindex's rebellion

Sam Moorhead is a former staff lecturer in Archaeology at the British Museum, where he worked for over 25 years, including as National Finds Adviser for Ancient Coins in the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Between 2013 and 2022, he worked as the curator of 'Rome: City and Empire' a British Museum international touring exhibition and he is a widely published author on Roman archaeology and numismatics.

To find further episodes of our Roman History series⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classics Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram.

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In Episode 3, Sam tells James about how coin imagery developed across these three very different imperial reigns. Look out for the following time stamps:

6.05 & 9.08 Gaius Caligula's coins

12.01 Claudius - intro and the praetorians 

15.50 The Drusus Aureus 

17.35 - Claudius' Conquest of Britain 

20.50 - Claudius' Dupondius about the corn supply

Sam Moorhead is a former staff lecturer in Archaeology at the British Museum, where he worked for over 25 years, including as National Finds Adviser for Ancient Coins in the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Between 2013 and 2022, he worked as the curator of 'Rome: City and Empire' a British Museum international touring exhibition and he is a widely published author on Roman archaeology and numismatics.

To find further episodes of our Roman History series⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classics Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram.

To access exclusive classical benefits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the Classical Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For the first time, Katrina welcomes three guests to the podcast with illustrators and classicists, Dr Cora Beth Fraser, Laura Jenkinson-Brown (aka Greek Myth Comix) and Flora Kirk sharing their perspectives on bringing the ancient world to life through art; their early encounters with classics; the influence of AI; the birth of ClassicsTober; being inspired by texts; and just how cold mural painting can be!

Enter the CA's prize draw and you could win a voucher for Flora, Laura or Cora-Beth's shops on Redbubble:

Greek Myth Comix

Florah

TheCobra

Check out their work - GMC, FK, CBF - and enjoy the rest of our Classics and Careers series.

Find Katrina, Flora and Laura on Cora Beth's Comfort Classics.

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

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Episode 2 focuses on Augustus, and how his coinage changed to reflect his victory in the civil war, his creation of the principate, his military victories and self-image as ‘father of the homeland’. Sam and James discuss coins from the early part of his reign, including a victory coin with wreath and palm, as augur and celebrating his triumph in Egypt, as well as those where he asserted his religious position as ‘divi filius’ and a civilian leader. The episode concludes with a discussion about Augustus’ succession problems. 

Sam Moorhead is a former staff lecturer in Archaeology at the British Museum, where he worked for over 25 years, including as National Finds Adviser for Ancient Coins in the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Between 2013 and 2022, he worked as the curator of 'Rome: City and Empire' a British Museum international touring exhibition and he is a widely published author on Roman archaeology and numismatics.

To find further episodes of our Roman History series⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classics Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram.

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Dr Sam Moorhead gives us the perfect introduction to Roman coins: what were they made from, where were they made, what did they depict and how were they spread across the empire? What is a coin legend, and how do different Emperors present themselves strikingly on their coins? 

In this first episode, Sam and series host James Renshaw highlight two coins in particular, depicting Venus and Aeneas, and Brutus as liberator. Head to our website to find out more.

Sam Moorhead is a former staff lecturer in Archaeology at the British Museum, where he worked for over 25 years, including as National Finds Adviser for Ancient Coins in the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Between 2013 and 2022, he worked as the curator of 'Rome: City and Empire' a British Museum international touring exhibition and he is a widely published author on Roman archaeology and numismatics.

To find further episodes of our Roman History series⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classics Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram.

To access exclusive classical benefits, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the Classical Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.