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, by changing his own form. He's one of the most complex figures in history, and his story is one that's been retold throughout millennia. To try and make sense of it all, we're going back to very beginning, to the origins of Zeus, starting with his grandfather and grandmother, Ura...
Nov 13, 2022•55 min•Ep 261•Transcript available on Metacast 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 one of the greatest archaeological finds in human history, do we really know what happened in November 1922? Or is there more to the story? In the second episode of our Tutankhamun series, Tristan is joined by Egyptologist and author Bo...
Nov 10, 2022•38 min•Ep 260•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Hughes is joined by Dr Sally Reynolds from the University of Bournemouth, who describes the evidence that suggests this was a deliberate act of creativity, highlighting the human urge to make art goes back millennia. We also learn that these feet and hands likely belong to Denis...
Nov 06, 2022•34 min•Ep 259•Transcript available on Metacast 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 sporting activities, his religious restoration, and even his penchant for an ancient Egyptian board game. But is there more to the Boy King than his tomb tells us? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Joyce Tyldesley to launch our new November mini-series diving into all things ...
Nov 03, 2022•48 min•Ep 258•Transcript available on Metacast 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 is joined by Dr Owen Rees to talk about the fascinating and wonderful history of this peripheral city state - that despite all odds, managed not only to survive, but ultimately thrive. For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter h...
Oct 30, 2022•40 min•Ep 257•Transcript available on Metacast 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 years old. But who is responsible for this colossal amphitheatre, and what exactly was it built for? Tristan is joined by Dr Nathan Elkins to talk about this monument of Roman imperialism, and to take a look at the role it has played throughout history. Taking 10 ...
Oct 27, 2022•44 min•Ep 256•Transcript available on Metacast 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 School of Classical studies in Athens, Greece. Here, he helped to shape modern archaeology as we know it today. Working tirelessly, and meticulously on excavations where he helped uncover the ancient city of Eretria, Gilbert also travelled across the country to beau...
Oct 23, 2022•39 min•Ep 255•Transcript available on Metacast 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 around him, Virgil's work offers insight into the tumultuous time he was living in. But who was Virgil, and why are his work's still so revered? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Dr Anne Rogerson from the University of Sydney to help sh...
Oct 20, 2022•42 min•Ep 254•Transcript available on Metacast 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 we know about the arrival of the Bronze Age in Orkney and Scotland? In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan is joined by Professor Martin Richards from University of Huddersfield, one of the leaders of an exciting new research project. Working alo...
Oct 16, 2022•28 min•Ep 253•Transcript available on Metacast 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 fort in the town of Rasheed - a port city east of Alexandria. The Stone was central in kickstarting antiquarians such as Jean-Francois Champollion and Thomas Young down the path of unlocking ancient Egypt’s enigmatic language within just c.20 years of the Stone's rediscovery. Today, it ...
Oct 13, 2022•46 min•Ep 252•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Russia, to the one-eyed black leader of the Kushite army - Warrior Queen Amanirenas, it seems skin colour presented no barriers for a person of African decent to amount to greatness in antiquity. In this episode, Tristan is joined by Luke Pepera who is a write...
Oct 09, 2022•34 min•Ep 251•Transcript available on Metacast 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 eventually clashed at the Battle of Cunaxa, Cyrus ultimately perished in the battle leaving the Greeks stranded and leaderless. Choosing to flee the scene rather than see themselves become slaves to the Persians, the Greeks began the perilous journey back to t...
Oct 06, 2022•48 min•Ep 250•Transcript available on Metacast 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. At the time, it was an area of marshy low-lying land, mostly composed of little islands. A far cry from the wall enclaved mercantile seat of authority it would become. In today’s episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Dominc Perring, Director of the UCL Centre for A...
Oct 02, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep 249•Transcript available on Metacast 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 the chaos of 5th Century AD Britain in the aftermath of the Roman retreat and is believed to be the main inspiration for the Legend of King Arthur. In this episode Tristan welcome Dr Miles Russell back to the podcast to talk about who Ambrosius Aurelianus was, and t...
Sep 29, 2022•46 min•Ep 248•Transcript available on Metacast 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 as they take a deep dive into their top five dinosaurs - from the Iguanodon to the Tyrannosaurus rex, plus a few surprises along the way. For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. If you'd like to l...
Sep 25, 2022•46 min•Ep 247•Transcript available on Metacast 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 complex is bigger than some ancient cities. Earlier this year, Tristan visited the Temple complex, and spoke to the Director of Karnak Temples, El-Tayeb Gharieb Mahmoud. In this special, on location episode, Tristan and Tayeb give us a tour of one of the most colossal...
Sep 22, 2022•40 min•Ep 246•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Dr Antonia Thomas to talk about the art in some of the incredible sites and excavations across Orkney. Touching on famous locations like Skara Brae, or the legendary tomb Maeshowe, what can neolithic art tell us about the lives of the people who lived there ...
Sep 18, 2022•44 min•Ep 245•Transcript available on Metacast 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 joined by archaeologist and author Rebecca Wragg Sykes to help dispel some of these myths. Using cutting edge technology and looking at recent discoveries, archaeologists are able to give a clearer picture of what Neanderthal life was actually like. ...
Sep 15, 2022•46 min•Ep 244•Transcript available on Metacast Queen Elizabeth II has died after 70 years on the British throne. Born in April 1926, Elizabeth Windsor became heir apparent, aged 10, when her uncle Edward VIII abdicated and her father George VI became king. In 1947 – She married navy lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, a Greek Prince, at London’s Westminster Abbey before being crowned there in 1953 in the world’s first televised coronation. In this special episode of Dan Snow’s History Hit, Dan is joined by historian Kate Williams to look at The Q...
Sep 08, 2022•29 min•Ep 243•Transcript available on Metacast 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 for this momentous discovery? And what can we learn about Tutankhamun beyond his famous death mask? In a special live episode from the Chalke Valley History Festival, Tristan is joined by Egyptologist and author Toby Wilkinson to talk about some of the mos...
Sep 08, 2022•47 min•Ep 242•Transcript available on Metacast 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 we know about their society? It was in their DNA to travel and explore - so why did the Persians settle on the Eurasian plateau? Tristan is once again joined by Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones from Cardiff University to talk about the rise of the Persians and how they fit into this turbu...
Sep 04, 2022•45 min•Ep 241•Transcript available on Metacast 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 far cry from their origins in antiquity as ivory embellished arms or hair extensions made out of plant fibres. In this episode, Tristan is joined by Dr Jane Draycott from University of Glasgow to talk about the brilliant uses of prosthetics in ancient soc...
Sep 01, 2022•41 min•Ep 240•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ceramics - but who built it? And why? In the final episode of our Ancient Americas series, Tristan is joined by Dr Alexei Vranich to help shine a light on this spectacular site. With 20 tonne stones carried from miles away, acr...
Aug 28, 2022•46 min•Ep 239•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Jeffrey Quilter from Harvard University to tell us more about this incredible society. Temples, tombs and treasure - what do we know from these sources about the Moche, and what can we still learn? For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter...
Aug 25, 2022•54 min•Ep 238•Transcript available on Metacast 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 joined by Professor Jillian Mollenhauer to help shed some light on this mysterious civilisation. Taking a look at their culture, legacy, and their iconic colossal statues - what can we learn from the archaeology, and why were the Olmec so influential? Fo...
Aug 21, 2022•42 min•Ep 237•Transcript available on Metacast 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 the origins of this important city. Looking at evidence from Egyptian New Kingdom texts, the Hebrew Bible and other surviving literary accounts - where does the archaeology align with these sources, and what can it tell us about Jerusalem that these fascinating sources are unab...
Aug 18, 2022•42 min•Ep 236•Transcript available on Metacast 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 shine a light on one of ancient history's most marvellous mysteries. Taking us on a journey through the city, examining the monumental structures, the mythology it was built on, and a quick detour to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent - there is no doubt Teotih...
Aug 14, 2022•51 min•Ep 235•Transcript available on Metacast "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. Known as the Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi was the High Priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Responsible for delivering divine prophecy to those that visited her - she was one of the most revered women in antiquity. In this episode, Tristan is joined by classicist and author Dr Ga...
Aug 11, 2022•44 min•Ep 234•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Matthew Restall from Penn State University to help debunk the idea of a Maya Apocalypse. Together, Tristan and Matthew take a look at where this idea of an apocalypse originated from, and why our modern conceptions of the Maya calendar are incorrect. A civilisation kn...
Aug 07, 2022•42 min•Ep 233•Transcript available on Metacast One of the most studied military victories in history, and arguably one of the worst Roman defeats - what went wrong for the Romans at Cannae? In our final episode in the Hannibal mini-series, Dr Louis Rawlings explains just what happened at Cannae in 216BCE, and why that battle is still so important today. With 50,000 Romans dead, 20,000 captured, and only 10,000 managing to escape - Cannae is truly Hannibal's greatest victory. Using tactics that are still studied and used in modern military ac...
Aug 04, 2022•32 min•Ep 232•Transcript available on Metacast 
