Autocrat- A Roman History Podcast

We've reached double digits! To celebrate, we're going to look ahead at the 159 people calling themselves Roman emperors. What was your fate likely to be? Sources for this episode: Bernard, J. (1693), Lives of the Roman Emperors from Suetonius to the Fall of the Empire. London: Flower de Luce. Bury, J. B. (1889), A History of the Later Roman Empire from Arcadius to Irene (395 A.D. to 800 A...

In a holdover from when the gods divided the world, we're going to explore a story supposedly set in the 9600s BCE or earlier, with Poseidon's descendants ruling over the mythical island of Atlantis! A story made all the more intriguing by the fact that some people believe it to be true, despite Plato's imagining it for his Dialogues... Slight correction- we mention Spence's work a...

After our trio of astronomy-themed episodes, we return to the squabbles and troubles of the Olympians. This week, we will see a reprehensible act from Zeus, a cameo from the poet Sappho, and Gaia getting up to her old prophecy-spouting tricks... Sources and extra information for this episode: Adler, E. (2008), Late Victorian and Edwardian Views of Rome and the Nature of “Defensive Imperialism”. In...

In our final instalment of space-themed episodes, we wrap up with some other constellation stories! Orion, Draco, Callisto and the Pleiades take centre stage in the stories today. Along the way, we will have cameos from Gaia, prophecies, Artemis and our first reference to a Minos of Crete! Unfortunately, we'll also see Orion take a page out of Zeus' reprehensible book... Sources for this e...

The zodiac is the topic of today's episode! As we make our way through the myths of the twelve familiar star signs, we will have opportunity for plenty of tangents. Get ready for intrigue, retribution, Sumer and Akkad, and far more ideas for future episodes than anyone could have thought necessary. That and a new motto for Greek mythology- don't make Aphrodite jealous... Sources for this e...

With some of the foundational myths behind us, let's go on a little tour of our Solar System and see just how Greco-Roman mythology inspired the names of our planets and moons! Along the way, we have time for plenty of tangents on planetary exploration, Planet X and Indo-Europeans! Sources for this episode: Bond, P. (2022), Solar Surveyors: Observing the Sun from Space. Chichester: Springer in...

More avuncular trouble for Zeus, and this time it's the giants causing a fuss! They'll be dealt with soon enough, but in the meantime let's watch Athena get brutal and Zeus enlist the help of another character we will talk about in future- his illegitimate son Heracles! Sources for this episode: Evelyn-White, H. G. (1943), Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: William Heinema...

After the downfall of her children, Gaia has a trick up her sleeve- Typhon, her monstrous child with Tartarus. Get ready for a story of lullabies, single combat and far too much impromptu surgery, plus confusion between the podcasters about which son of Zeus is actually which! Sources for this episode: Celoria, F. (1992), The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis: A translation with a commentary. L...

Families can be complicated- especially when you're a son overthrowing his divine father. It's time for the Titanomachy, and for the cosmos to be divided among a new generation of gods. Get ready for a new order in the revolving door of regimes... Sources for this episode: Bellows, H. A. (1923), The Poetic Edda. London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press. Cooke. T. (1728), The Works...

It’s our first proper episode! As we’re starting our journey through mythology and Roman history at the very beginning, let’s talk about just that- the beginning, or the creation of the cosmos and the gods. Strap in, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride full of coups, violence and intrigue… Sources for this episode: Bellows, H. A. (1923), The Poetic Edda. London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford Universi...

A quick introduction to who we are and what we will be covering. Look forward to tales of insanity like Caligula, dramatic stories like Aurelian and Heraclius I, the vision of Justinian I and Augustus, and many more! Sources for this episode: BBC, YouTube (2023), Be honest…how often do YOU think about the Roman Empire? (online) (24/09/2023). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Autokrator (on...

Hi! Welcome to our show. Hope you enjoy the ride!