Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) chats with James Renshaw in the first part of our bitesize episode mini-series on Urban Life in Ancient Rome. Andrew is an eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project and former Master of Sidney Sussex College. Aimed at both a general audience and Ancient History students studying the Interpretation Question about the benefits of imperial rule for th...
Dec 13, 2024•9 min•Season 6Ep. 21
In this third and final episode focusing on the historian Josephus, Dr Jon Davies of Copenhagen University explores the presentation of Claudius in Books 19 and 20 of the Jewish Antiquities . As the earliest source for the life and rule of the Emperor Claudius, this is a particularly interesting and important source for the Ancient History A Level syllabus . To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast ...
Dec 10, 2024•13 min•Season 6Ep. 21
In this second episode focusing on the historian Josephus, Dr Jon Davies of Copenhagen University explores the presentation of Caligula in Book 19 of the Jewish Antiquities, an important source for the Ancient History A Level syllabus . Jon discusses with James Renshaw the events leading to Caligula's assassination, the key players and conspiracies he faced, and Josephus' assessment of his character. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow...
Dec 08, 2024•16 min•Season 6Ep. 20
Dr Jon Davies , Copenhagen University, gives a comprehensive overview of the life and times of Josephus, who wrote during the first century CE and is an important source for the Ancient History A Level syllabus. Jon describes how a prophecy changed Josephus' fortune, explores why he wrote in Greek, his early role as a rebel commander, his purpose in writing history and some of the content of his key works - the Jewish War and the Jewish Antiquities. To find further episodes of our Roman History ...
Dec 05, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 19
What is the best thing about being a Classics teacher? Why is Classics important? Would you rather be mates with Ovid or Catullus? These are just some of the questions that Lee answers in this introductory episode and he's looking forward to answering your questions in the next episode. Ask him here! Lee is a Classics teacher at St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow and the chair of the Scottish Classics Teachers’ Network; he also works closely with the Classical Association of Scotland and Classics f...
Nov 26, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 7
All good things have to come to an end and this is our last episode with Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent). We're going out with a bang, though, with some expert analysis of Dio's treatment of the Emperor Nero, with all of his proclivities and dastardly behaviour. Huge thanks to Christopher and James for a brilliant mini series on Cassius Dio. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast on I...
Nov 13, 2024•20 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Beginning with the assassination of Caligula and Claudius' accession, Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent) and James Renshaw discuss Dio's character study of Claudius. 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 ....
Nov 12, 2024•17 min•Season 6Ep. 17
"He’s at once very conventional and yet also extremely distinctive - Dio repeats all of the standard criticisms we might find of Caligula, but, in this account, he tries to make his horse a priest, not a consul!" Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent) and James Renshaw discuss the third Julio-Claudian emperor in this episode. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive clas...
Nov 11, 2024•23 min•Season 6Ep. 16
"Dio gives us a Tiberius that is extremely shrewd - and that's not necessarily a criticism!" Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent) and James discuss the second Julio-Claudian emperor in this episode. 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...
Nov 08, 2024•17 min•Season 6Ep. 15
First up in this week's episodes, ‘the big Daddy of them all’ - Augustus - gets the Dio treatment in Books 53-56 and, as Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent) tells us, it makes for fantastic reading! “It’s a sham...but Dio thinks it’s essential” - listen now to find out what this is referring to! 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 Ass...
Nov 05, 2024•19 min•Season 6Ep. 14
We've made it to the last of the Julio-Claudians! Professor Catharine Edwards (Birkbeck, University of London) talks to James Renshaw about Suetonius' biography of Nero, his interest in games, his 'quinquennium' and how things take a turn for the worse in the second half of the narrative... To find other episodes of our Roman History series click here! Follow Catharine on X , and the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, join the Classic...
Oct 31, 2024•19 min•Season 6Ep. 13
Claudius - useless ruler or an effective administrator? Professor Catharine Edwards (Birkbeck, University of London) talks to James Renshaw about Suetonius' biography of the often misunderstood emperor. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here! Follow Catharine on X , and the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, join the Classical Association...
Oct 30, 2024•11 min•Season 6Ep. 12
A short rule, but what a rule it was! Professor Catharine Edwards (Birkbeck, University of London) sheds light on Suetonius' invective against Gaius Caligula... To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here! Follow Catharine on X , and the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, join the Classical Association...
Oct 30, 2024•14 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Tiberius is the focus of Professor Catharine Edwards (Birkbeck, University of London) and James Renshaw's conversation as they explore how Suetonius' account differs from that of Tacitus. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here! Follow Catharine on X , and the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, join the Classical Association...
Oct 29, 2024•17 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Professor Catharine Edwards (Birkbeck, University of London) talks to James Renshaw about Suetonius' biography of Rome's first emperor, the first part in our emperor-by-emperor look at the Julio-Claudians through the eyes of ancient historians. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here! Follow Catharine on X , and the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, join the Classical Association...
Oct 29, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 9
There’s so much to unpack when it comes to Nero - from the death of his mother Agrippina to the Great Fire of Rome, Tacitus lived through these years as a young boy, so how much did his personal experience impact his historical narrative? Listen to the final part of Hannah and James' discussion now. Follow Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) on X here . To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast ...
Oct 22, 2024•16 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Beginning at the end of Claudius' rule and the accession of Nero, Hannah looks back with James upon Tacitus’ treatment of Claudius, the role of freedmen and imperial wives, especially the machinations of Agrippina, and political and military affairs. Follow Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) on X here . To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, ...
Oct 21, 2024•12 min•Season 6Ep. 7
As Hannah explains, not much survives of Tacitus' account of Gaius Caligula, but in this bitesize episode, there are still some conclusions we can draw... Follow Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) on X here . 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...
Oct 21, 2024•6 min•Season 6Ep. 6
In this jam-packed episode, Hannah discusses Tiberius’ relationship with the Senate, the Germanicus situation, the trial of Piso, and Tacitus’ perspective on Sejanus and Drusus. Follow Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) on X here . 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...
Oct 18, 2024•22 min•Season 6Ep. 4
In this first emperor study, Hannah and James talk Augustus. Tacitus only gives us a potted history of Augustus in his Annals - Hannah explores why Tacitus choses NOT to start with Augustus’ life, who the key players are and whether they should really be called the Annals ... Follow Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) on X here . To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classi...
Oct 18, 2024•10 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Is it Cassius Dio or Dio Cassius? Who was he, when was he writing and what was he writing about? Dr Christopher Burden-Strevens (University of Kent) spills the tea to James Renshaw on this enigma of an historian and how useful his source material is for understanding the Julio-Claudian Emperors! 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...
Oct 16, 2024•24 min•Season 6Ep. 3
In this introductory episode about the source material of Suetonius, Professor Catharine Edwards (Birkbeck, University of London) tells James Renshaw who Suetonius was, when and why he was writing, and what was his approach to writing history. To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here! Follow Catharine on X , and the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classical benefits, join the Classical Association...
Oct 16, 2024•22 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Welcome back to a new season of TCP does Ancient History A Level: Roman Edition and we're kicking off with the OG historian, Tacitus! Your favourite teacher, James Renshaw, is back to host the series and he'll be talking to a ream of experts, beginning with the wonderful Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) - you can follow Hannah on X here . To find further episodes of our Roman History series click here and follow the Classics Podcast on Instagram. To access exclusive classi...
Oct 16, 2024•16 min•Season 6Ep. 1
It's competition time! What were ancient tokens, why do some of them have numbers on them, and what do these mean? Let your imagination run wild and enter the Tokens Competition here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/warwickclassicsnetwork/events/tokens/ Learn more about the Tokens Communities Project, led by Clare, here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/research/dept_projects/tcam/resources/...
Sep 24, 2024•22 min
Content Warning: some listeners may find some parts of this episode upsetting. In this Q&A, Chella answers your questions on topics as disparate as lost books, childrens' myths and opticians, and we cover multilingualism in the ancient world, a day in Chella's life and whether Homer might have be a woman... Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA. Show Notes Episode 1 with Chella Podcast with Chell...
Aug 07, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Prof. Judith Mossman narrates this original composition by Maya Le Her, winner of the Senior Category of the CA's 2024 Poetry Competition. To read Maya's work and the rest of our winning writers, click here . CW: this recording does contain adult themes.
Jul 22, 2024•2 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Winner of our 2024 Poetry Competition Open Original Category, Emily Lord-Kambitsch, created a brilliant new take on the story of Persephone - listen now to her poem, narrated by Prof. Sharon Marshall. To read Emily's work and the rest of our winning writers, click here . CW: this recording does contain adult themes.
Jul 22, 2024•7 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Professor Armand D'Angour narrates the winning translation in our Open Competition by C. Luke Soucy of Horace Odes 4.1. To read Luke's work and the rest of our winning writers, click here
Jul 19, 2024•5 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Hannah Gilmore's translation ' That Hollow of her Hand ' of Tibullus 2.4 won the Senior Category in our 2024 Competition, judged and here read by Professor Armand D'Angour. Read Hannah's work and that of the other winners here
Jul 18, 2024•10 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Content Warning: some listeners may find some parts of this episode upsetting. In this episode we get to know Dr Marchella (Chella) Ward, a lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University, who is also a podcaster, researcher, children's author, and the recent winner of the Working Classicist of the Year Award. Chella takes us from a night market in Singapore to Oxford University's Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama as we explore the multifaceted nature of classical reception a...
Jul 16, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 5
