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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•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•Transcript available on Metacast One of the greatest military commanders in history - it's no wonder Hannibal and Rome so frequently fought. In the second episode of our Hannibal mini-series, Tristan is once again joined by Dr Louis Rawlings from Cardiff University to examine Hannibal's movements and clashes post-Trasimene. Looking at the Roman reaction to their second defeat and what happened next, why are these 10 months so important? With horses bathing in vinegar, famed military strategies, and animals being sacrificed - wh...
Jul 31, 2022•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast In May 2020, four unique Roman artefacts were unearthed near Ampleforth, North Yorkshire by two amateur metal detectorists. A bronze bust that is thought to depict Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, a beautifully crafted horse, and a one of a kind figurine of the Roman god Mars, to name a few. But who buried these beautiful artefacts - and what can they tell us about life in Roman Britain? In this episode Tristan takes a special behind the scenes look at one of Roman Britain's greatest mysterie...
Jul 28, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Towards the beginning of the Second Punic War on 21 June 217 BC, a Carthaginian force under Hannibal launched a vicious ambush on a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius. The resulting battle, at Lake Trasimene in Italy, saw a complete capitulation of the Roman forces - with thousands of legionaries meeting their end at the bottom of the blood-sopped waters. In this episode - part of our special miniseries on Hannibal's wars with Rome - Tristan is joined by Dr Louis Rawlings from Cardiff Unive...
Jul 24, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Known as the Eternal City, ancient Rome was one of the greatest civilisations in human history, but how did it come about? With a turbulent history of Kings, civil wars and imperial desires - Rome has an incredible history. But who founded it? Were Romulus and Remus real brothers fighting for their kingdoms, or did a Trojan hero found one of the mightiest Italian states? Recent archaeological discoveries indicate a far more complicated picture of Rome's beginnings - but where does its mystic pas...
Jul 21, 2022•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Despite being one of the first civilisations in human history, Sumer is not as well-known as other Bronze Age societies such as Babylonia and, of course, Ancient Egypt. Recent research indicates that the first ever writing system emerged in the Sumerian heartland of southern Mesopotamia around 3500 BC. So who were these Near Eastern pioneers forming some of the first urban settlements along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Dr Paul Collins from the Ashmolean ...
Jul 17, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Famed across the ages and around the world - everyone knows the name Cleopatra. But how did she become one of the most infamous women in history? Born in 69BCE, a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Hellenistic Egypt, Cleopatra VII lived a tumultuous life. Within two turbulent decades of taking the throne of Egypt, Cleopatra had emerged the victor of a brutal civil war. She won the hearts of two of Rome’s most powerful men, and successfully restored a golden age for her kingdom - she ...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast In the final part of our Samnite Wars episodes, Tristan is once again joined by Dr Kathryn Lomas from Durham University to find out more about these conflicts and the effect they had on the rise of Rome as an ancient superpower. With three wars between the Roman Republic and the Samnite armies, beginning in 343 BC and ending with a Roman victory in 290 BC - what happened in those 53 years? In this episode, Tristan and Kathryn cover the second and third wars, and look at the impact these fabled e...
Jul 10, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this first episode of a two-parter on the Samnite Wars, we focus in on one of Rome’s greatest rivals in early Italy. Based in modern day Campania, who were the Samnites? With three wars between the Roman Republic and the Samnite armies, beginning in 343 BC and the ending with a Roman victory in 290 BC, what happened in those explosive 53 years? In part one, Tristan is joined by Dr Kathryn Lomas from Durham University to find out more about these conflicts and the effect they had on the rise o...
Jul 07, 2022•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dozens of incredible examples of prehistoric rock art have been found across western Europe in recent decades - but what do they mean? Artworks can be discovered all along the Atlantic seaboard, from Spain to Scotland, where one stunning example was uncovered just last year. Ancient peoples left traces of their prehistoric cultures across the length and breadth of the landscape - but what does this art reveal about them? In this episode Tristan is joined by Dr Joana Valdez-Tullett to discover mo...
Jul 03, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
