Welcome to our third Kidstory episode! These episodes are dedicated to all budding historians and anyone studying history or desperate for some help with their history homework... Today we explore Canterbury Roman Museum with our resident kidstorian Felix, and try out some typical tools that Romans would have used in their daily lives. If you´d like to visit the museum then you can find everything you need to know here: Canterbury Roman Museum, Kent Music credit goes to our resident composer Ali...
Aug 13, 2025•15 min
Welcome to the final episode of our Londinium miniseries, where we consider Minerva, make-up and mixing bowls... In June 2025 we visited Roman London´s Amphitheatre at Guildhall Yard. It´s a great place to lose yourself in for an hour or so - you can wander around the remains of the amphitheatre itself (unearthed in 1988), and view the artefacts found there during the excavations of the 1980s and 90s. We share our favourites with you here - follow the photos on our socials or website: https://ww...
Jun 04, 2025•19 min
Welcome to episode 2 of our Londinium miniseries, in which we bring you lovely lamps and sensuous scents! In May 2025 we visited the Crypt Museum at All Hallows Church by the Tower, to find out what it can tell us about Roman London. It´s a small but beautifully formed museum that houses some excellent artefacts from the period, as well as Saxon and 16th century finds. Here, we talk you through our favourites from the Roman selection. Photos are on our social media and website: Photos for Minise...
May 20, 2025•18 min
Welcome to episode 1 of our Londinium miniseries! Where we consider the practicalities of naked initiation ceremonies, and Caroline delights us with her extensive collection of key facts... (Did you know that some Roman keys could fold up? And some were designed to break after one use!?!). In April 2025 we visited the London Mithraeum to explore the excellent exhibition space and peruse the artefacts currently on display. The excavation of 2012-2014 yielded a huge array of over 14,000 finds, abo...
May 07, 2025•20 min
Welcome to our second Kidstory episode! Dedicated to all budding historians and anyone studying history or desperate for some help with their history homework... In this episode, ably assisted by 10yr old Felix, we talk about what the Ancient Romans ate and drank, what their restaurants were like, and what they got up to at dinner parties... Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan (you can find Alice on Instagram - missalicekeys). If you like what you hear today and don't want to...
Feb 28, 2025•16 min
Welcome to our very first kids episode! Dedicated to all budding historians and anyone studying history or desperate for some help with their history homework... In this episode, ably assisted by 10yr old Felix (who's been learning about Egypt at school), we investigate how the Ancient Egyptians used magic and medicine to cure themselves. Think tree bark, magic spells, crocodile poo and lots of honey! Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan (you can find Alice on Instagram - miss...
Jan 14, 2025•15 min
In this seasonal episode from our archive, we take a sensory deep dive into the ancient Roman, mid-December festival of Saturnalia. You can expect a delightful combination of naked singing, elf hats and Christmas jumpers. Plus we find out just how much wine some employers expected their staff to get through during the festival... P.S it's a LOT. Sources for this episode are: Seneca, Letters from a Stoic , XVIII On Festivals & Fasting Martial, Epigrams , 14.1 Pliny the Younger, Letters , 2.17...
Dec 16, 2024•20 min
Join us for a seasonal episode all about the Roman festival of Saturnalia. We talk elf hats, Christmas jumpers & naked singing. If that doesn't tempt you then we don't know what will!!
Dec 16, 2024•1 min
Welcome to the season 3 finale! In this episode we take a sensory stroll down the lanes of Georgian London, to find out how and why gin became so popular. And why it caused so much public disruption that the government introduced no less than 8 Gin Acts in a sustained and determined effort to control its consumption. Our sources are: * Article from The Evening Chronicle (19th February 1835), by Charles Dickens * The Life and Uncommon Adventures of Captain Dudley Bradstreet (1755, p.78-79), by Du...
Dec 11, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Welcome to season 3, episode 5! In this episode we brave the high seas as we discuss some perhaps overlooked aspects of life in the Georgian Royal Navy. Our sources are as follows - you can find the visuals on our social media and website: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/blog * Gold and steel combined fork/knife belonging to Lord Admiral Nelson (visual source) * A Treatise on the Scurvy (p.191-193), by James Lind * A Voice from the Main Deck (extract from chapter 3), by Samuel Leech * Photograp...
Nov 07, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Welcome to season 3, episode 4! In this episode we meander through the walkways (some brightly lit, some dimly lit), of Georgian London's pleasure gardens. Think entertainments, music, fireworks, wandering hands and overpriced snacks... Our sources are: * Edinburgh Encyclopedia , 1830 edition * Evelina (Letter 46) , by Frances Burney * The Microcosm of London , 1808-1810 * Bill of Fare for Vauxhall Gardens, 1823 (visual source) Accompanying photos can be found on X, Instagram and our website: BL...
Sep 19, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Welcome to season 3, episode 3! In this episode we explore the sensory delights of Georgian coffee houses. And it wasn't all just coffee and cake... In fact it wasn't at all coffee and cake! There were a huge variety of activities on offer, from lectures to business deals to medical consultations. All washed down with a nice dish of bitter, brown liquid. Maybe with a bit of sludge at the bottom if you were lucky. Our sources for today are: * Regency coffee recipe from: The House Book; or, Family...
Aug 23, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Welcome to season 3, episode 2! In this episode we delve into the depths of the Georgian ballroom. We consider the people, the clothes, what the ballroom looked and felt like, and the rules...there were a lot of rules! Luckily there were also a lot of etiquette manuals available to help you along the way. As usual we consider all this from a sensory perspective, using a selection of primary sources: * Jealousy Glass or Polemoscope https://www.vanleestantiques.com/product/polemoscope-18th-century...
Jul 25, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this episode we're joined by historian, author and broadcaster, Professor Michael Scott, to talk about his book "X Marks the Spot: An Adventurous History of Archaeology". The book explores 8 amazing archaeological discoveries, which we discuss from our usual sensory perspective. From Machu Picchu to the Silk Roads, to the Uluburun Shipwreck, there's something for everyone and plenty of awe-inspiring moments to choose from. And if that's not enough to convince you to tune in, the episode also ...
Jun 17, 2024•46 min
Welcome to season 3! Whether you're a loyal follower or a new listener, it's lovely to have you with us. In this first episode we explore Georgian Fashion. Perhaps not the usual things you might expect though... We've headed down a less well-trodden path strewn with umbrellas, fake bottoms, glasses and hair towers. As usual we'll be considering our topic from a sensory perspective and using contemporary sources to help us. The sources for this episode are: * Article from the Bath Chronicle , 31s...
Jun 09, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Welcome back to Sistory History, the sensory history podcast hosted by sisters Laura & Caroline. This time we've fast-forwarded a few thousand years to see what the Georgians got up to. Our conclusion? They got up to quite a lot! From enormous hair to coffee house conversations, there's plenty to talk about. Make sure to subscribe now so that you don't miss anything! Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan, (you can find Alice on Instagram - missalicekeys). If you like what y...
Jun 02, 2024•37 sec
Our campaign concludes here, with episode three. We consider cavalry masks, dragon standards and also discuss some of the merits of Emperor Septimius Severus. (Definitely one of the better ones in our view). Head over to X, Instagram or our website to look at the accompanying photos: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/post/photos-for-miniseries-third-legion-life-in-the-roman-army If you're reading this before 23rd June 2024 then you still have time to catch the British Museum exhibition that this ...
Apr 24, 2024•16 min
Marching onwards (in very orderly and organised Roman fashion)... We continue our miniseries dedicated to the British Museum exhibition, "Legion: life in the Roman army". Here we have episode two, where, among other things, you'll learn a surprising amount about tent flaps. Head over to X, Instagram or our website to look at the accompanying photos: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/post/photos-for-miniseries-second-legion-life-in-the-roman-army If you're reading this before 23rd June 2024 then y...
Apr 18, 2024•13 min
What do tweezers and tent flaps have in common? Or purses and party invitations? Barrels and brooches? Give up yet...? The Roman army of course! In March 2024 we visited the British Museum exhibition, "Legion: life in the Roman army". There was so much to see that instead of our usual exhibition-based bonus episode, we decided to make a miniseries instead. Here we have the first episode in that series - head over to X, Instagram or our website to look at the accompanying photos: https://www.sist...
Apr 10, 2024•14 min
Tea will likely always be associated with Britain, referred to by many as its national drink. But the first tea was reputedly drunk in China, way back in the 3rd millennium BC. The story goes that a tea leaf fell into some water being boiled for the emperor, and he found the taste so refreshing that he felt compelled to start a trend... Japan followed suit in around the 8th century, and soon popularised the now famous tea ceremonies, but it wasn't until the 17th century that large scale importat...
Feb 21, 2024•13 min
In this episode we're back at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, immersing ourselves in the life and works of Hans Holbein the Younger, via the excellent Royal Collection Trust exhibition: "Holbein at the Tudor Court". Widely thought to be one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century, Holbein didn't restrict himself to just one field of expertise, but worked across many art forms excelling in pretty much all of them! Here we talk with Kate Heard, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawing...
Jan 24, 2024•30 min
In this episode we don our drinking hats, grab a kylix (or a few...) of wine, and end the season in true classical Greek style - at our very own symposium. Join us at this exclusive gathering to find out what happened at these popular events, who attended, and why it was essential for the host to make sure they had a good supply of ribbons... Sources for the episode are: - Plato, Symposium , 212d-213b - Xenophon, Symposium , 1.3-1.4 - Plato, Symposium , 214a-d - Plato, Symposium, 176a-c Here are...
Dec 30, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this sensory deep dive of the ancient Roman, mid-December festival of Saturnalia, you can expect a delightful combination of naked singing, elf hats and Christmas jumpers. Plus we find out just how much wine some employers expected their staff to get through during the festival... P.S it's a LOT! Sources for this episode are: - Seneca, Letters from a Stoic , XVIII On Festivals & Fasting - Martial, Epigrams, 14.1 - Pliny the Younger, Letters, 2.17 Fancy finding out more? Try these links: S...
Dec 13, 2023•20 min
In this episode we take a virtual trip to the some of the biggest, best and most entertaining games the ancient world had to offer. What events could you compete in? Was celery really one of the prizes? We reveal all this and more, including why it was a REALLY bad idea to cheat... Sources for this one are: - Statue bases from Olympia, Greece - check out the photo on X, Instagram or our website: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/post/photos-for-s02e05-ancient-greece-going-for-gold - Epigram - a d...
Nov 29, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Join us as we explore the world of Ancient Greek theatre-going. Was it anything like the modern experience? How big were the theatres? Do we need to do another sacrifice? And, most importantly...were there snacks?? The sources for this episode are: - Theatre mask dating from 4th/3rd century BCE - check out the photo on X, Instagram or our website: Photos for S02E04: Ancient Greece - Show Time! (sistoryhistory.co.uk) (Photo credit: Giovanni Dall'Orto, 9th November 2009, mask on display in the Anc...
Nov 15, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Join us for a whistle-stop tour of the Villa Ventorum, a replica Roman villa located at the Newt Hotel in Somerset. We take a look at the luxury bathhouse, (we definitely have mosaic envy!) and discuss the merits of dice towers... Here we talk you through some of our favourite sensory things. To see the photos, head over to Instagram, X or our website: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/blog If you're then in the mood for some more bathhouse action, try our season 1 episode, "The Romans - Bath Tim...
Nov 08, 2023•15 min
In this episode we explore the medicine cabinet of the Ancient Greeks, whilst regaling you with fun facts and medical anecdotes. Plus we reveal why you definitely shouldn't go peony gathering with a woodpecker... Our sources for this episode are: - Cure Inscription 8, Stele 1 (from Epidaurus, mid-4th century BCE) Cure Inscriptions from the Asclepieion of Epidaurus - Aristophanes, Wealth, lines 660-669 - Hippocrates, Regimen in Health, section 5 - Hippocrates, On the Nature of Women, section 3 If...
Oct 25, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 3
How many jurors is too many jurors? We'll ponder this important question alongside other topics such as men dressed as wasps, spiky balls and massive urns... And if you'd like to know how to make your own ancient water clock using only gardening paraphernalia, we can help with that too. Have a listen and learn something fun! The sources for this episode are: - Visual source: Ancient Water Clock - 'Clepsydra'. Check out the photo on Twitter (X) and Instagram, and also this website: Agora Image 20...
Oct 11, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
What do bread, acorns and smoke have in common? Any idea? Yes, it's divination! But we wouldn't blame you for not guessing that - these aren't exactly standard techniques for fortune-telling. These were however perfectly valid methods used by the Ancient Greeks for communicating with the gods, and searching out knowledge of the future. Intrigued? Then join us as we seek divine inspiration from these contemporary sources in our quest to learn more: - Euripides, Ion, lines 80-125 - Aristophanes, B...
Sep 27, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Welcome back to Sistory History! The sensory history podcast, hosted by sisters Laura & Caroline. This season we've time-travelled back to Ancient Greece and the Classical period. We've got lots for you to look forward to - from drinking parties and high drama, to democracy and naked wrestling... Make sure you subscribe now so that you don't miss an episode! You can follow Sistory History on Instagram and Twitter/X, and email us at sistoryhistory@gmail.com
Sep 14, 2023•1 min
