Domina Tempora

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we shine a light on Drusus the Younger — Tiberius’s only natural son, affectionately nicknamed “Castor” by the Roman people — the capable prince who was largely erased from history. A respected military commander known for his integrity and popularity with the legions and the public, Drusus represented the best hope for a stable succession in the early Julio-Cla...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we explore why twins have fascinated and unsettled humanity for millennia — from the divine Gemini Castor and Pollux, inseparable yet divided by mortality, to the countless twin myths that echo across cultures. We examine how these legendary brothers, born of Zeus and Leda, embodied the eternal tension between mortal and immortal, loyalty and rivalry, protection...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we descend into the misty forests and ancient fountains of medieval Europe to uncover the enigmatic legend of Melusine — the beautiful fairy with two serpent tails, spirit of fresh water, builder of castles, and mysterious ancestress of kings. Born of the fairy Pressyne and cursed by her mother to transform into a serpent (or fish) from the waist down every Satu...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we dive into the sacred, surprising, and sometimes terrifying world of ancient hygiene — where cleanliness was far more than physical. Water was a divine force of purification, capable of washing away both dirt and spiritual pollution, while the humble latrine held its own powerful guardians and lurking dangers. From Egyptian priests bathing multiple times daily...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we spread our wings into the shadowed realm of the owl — a creature of night, mystery, and duality that has haunted and inspired humanity for millennia. Regarded as the “monster of the night” and harbinger of death by Pliny and many ancient cultures, the owl was linked to desolation, ill omens, and the underworld. From the ukuku of Sumerian curses and Phoenician...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we explore the dangerous, glittering world of child emperors — infants and teenagers who sat on thrones while others truly ruled. From frightened toddlers crowned in grand ceremonies to boys who grew into legendary conquerors, these stories reveal how fragile power can be when placed in small hands. We meet the outrageous teenage Emperor Elagabalus of Rome, a bo...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we unleash the wild, sacred power of the Maenads — the raving priestesses and fierce warriors of Dionysus, god of wine, ecstasy, vegetation, and divine madness. Adorned with ivy, snakes, and panther skins, these women were far more than “mad” followers. They were holy initiates who danced in frenzied ecstasy to the thunder of drums, performed miracles that summo...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we follow the daring tricksters and rebellious heroes who stole fire from the gods — that most sacred and dangerous element — to place its creative and destructive power into human hands. From the Titan Prometheus, who defied Zeus by smuggling heavenly fire to humanity in a hollow reed, only to suffer eternal torment as an eagle devoured his regenerating liver,...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we uncover the ancient obsession with blond hair — a shimmering symbol that has represented divinity, erotic rebellion, political power, and dangerous desire for thousands of years. From the golden tresses of Aphrodite and Freyja, to the fair-haired gods and heroes of Homer, Hesiod, and Pindar, blonde hair was repeatedly linked to the divine. Sculptors like Phei...

In this episode of Domina Tempora , we step into the radiant and ruthless light of Apollo — the eternally youthful god who embodied the Hellenic ideal, yet whose arrows could bring both healing and devastating plague. Far more than the charming patron of music, poetry, and prophecy, Apollo is a god of striking polarities. He is the protector of children and young men, the gentle teacher of Chiron,...

Long before therapists’ couches or self-help books, music was the original soul-medicine — a divine force capable of shaping character, harmonising societies, and even bending the fabric of reality itself. In this episode of Domina Tempora , we journey across ancient civilisations to uncover how music was revered as far more than entertainment. From the earliest playable flutes unearthed at Jiahu...

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we descend into the shadowed throne room of Olympus to examine Hera — not as the bitter scold of popular retellings, but as the fierce guardian of marriage, sovereignty, and divine order. From her ancient roots as a powerful pre-Hellenic goddess to her relentless pursuit of those who threaten the sacred bonds she protects, Hera reveals herself as a force of unyie...

The Greek goddess of love has always been far more than just beauty and desire. In this episode we explore Aphrodite beyond the familiar image of the sea-born beauty celebrated in classical art. From her widespread cult worshipped by prostitutes and magistrates, virgins and soldiers, to her roles as patroness of marketplaces, police officials, and military harmony, Aphrodite emerges as a powerful...

Apples are never just fruit. They are thresholds—between worlds, between innocence and knowledge, between mortal limitation and divine punishment. Across mythologies, the apple appears wherever paradise curdles into danger, wherever knowledge exacts a price, and wherever desire proves… educational. Long before it was pinned on Eve, the apple was already busy ruining lives. In this episode: • Why “...

The Sibyls were never passive cave-dwellers murmuring riddles into the dark. They were political weapons, divine mouthpieces, and dangerous women whose prophecies shaped empires. Long before Hollywood mystics and Renaissance murals softened them, the Sibyls walked into palaces, burned books in kings’ faces, defied gods, survived curses—and redirected the futures of entire civilizations. In this se...

The Sirens were never “sexy.” That was a re-brand—a smear campaign against women whose voices held power. Long before Disney’s mermaids, they were winged, wise, and catastrophic: guardians of knowledge, not temptresses of flesh. In this first voyage of the all new Domina Tempora Podcast , we uncover how language, religion, and fear transformed the Siren from philosopher-musician to femme fatale—an...

For centuries, witches have occupied a space between fear and fascination, their presence signaling both power and peril. From the three haggard figures in Macbeth to the Fates of Greek mythology, women who wield influence beyond the expected have been cast as threats to order. But why? In this episode, we examine the historical and cultural forces that turned witches into symbols of chaos, contro...

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary lives of Euphemia and Theodora, two women who rose from obscurity to become empresses of the Byzantine Empire. Their stories—filled with ambition, resilience, and reform—challenge traditional narratives of power and privilege in late antiquity. From the sensational accounts of Procopius to the lasting legacies of their reforms, we’ll uncover how their...

In this episode, we explore the lives of the women who shaped and supported the reign of Emperor Augustus, the first ruler of the Roman Empire. From political alliances forged through marriage to personal sacrifices and public displays of loyalty, these women played vital roles in Augustus' ascent to power. While Livia Drusilla eventually became the first Empress of the Julian Dynasty, the stories...

In this episode, we dive into the passionate, often heart-wrenching love life of Heracles, the demigod whose adventures went far beyond his legendary labors. Known for his superhuman strength, Heracles’ story is also woven with deep, complex relationships that reveal the hero’s vulnerabilities. From the loyalty of his male lover Iolaus to the tragic fate of his first wife Megara and the jealousy-d...

Soon after the study of the inscriptions of the Daochos Monument was published in 1897, an interest in the study of the sculptor Lysippos was renewed. The inscription on a statue base found at Pharsalos was discovered to be identical to a somewhat shorter epigram of Agias at Delphi, and the name Lysippos, presumably the statue’s sculptor, was written at the bottom of the Pharsalos inscription. Whe...

At the height of the Roman Empire, Germanicus Julius Caesar was unanimously regarded as one of the greatest warriors the Empire had ever produced. With this in mind, it is somewhat unfortunate that Caligula, through his reputation as Rome's mad Emperor, eclipsed his father's popularity. Germanicus' three daughters were just as scandalous as their brother. To find out more about Germani...

Once upon a time, Zeus spent nine consecutive nights with Mnemosyne, the Titan goddess of memory, giving birth to the nine Muses: Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, Urania, Calliope, and Clio. These Muses inspired countless poets and artists, including Shakespeare and Milton, who invoked their divine influence in their works. The tradition of calling upon the Muses dates b...

In 29 AD, Livia, the Empress of Rome and the widow of Emperor Augustus, died at the age of eighty-six. Although she was the mother of Tiberius, the current emperor of Rome, and an empress through her own marriage to Augustus, her funeral was very low-key by the standards of the Roman imperial family. But Livia’s cult had grown throughout the empire even during her lifetime, and upon her death, Liv...

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of dreams and their interpretations in ancient civilizations. We explore how dreams played a crucial role in government, religion, and daily life in early civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt. Key Quotes: “The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest known works of literature, presents dreams as a powerful tool for foretelling and guiding the...