The Classics Podcast

A short summary for the thematic section of this mini-series, as Andrew shares whom he thinks benefitted from these developments in urban living that we’ve been exploring.  Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) is an eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project and former Master of Sidney S...

This is bitesize episode in our mini-series covers 'panem et circenses', entertainment for the people of Rome and the imperial response to ancient rioting. Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) is an eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project and former Master of Sidney Sussex College. Ai...

This is a super bitesize episode in our mini-series on Urban Life in Ancient Rome, in which Andrew tells James about methods of local government. Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) is an eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project and former Master of Sidney Sussex College. Aimed at bot...

In part four of our bitesize episode mini-series on Urban Life in Ancient Rome, it's time to talk fire hazards, life in the insulae, and the social impact of Roman housing. Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) is an eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project and former Master of Sidney S...

Io Saturnalia! In this festive episode, Lee answers your questions and spills the tea on Ovid's exile, Horace's festival big number, how (not) to teach Gerundives and where you can visit Little Sparta . 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...

In part three of our bitesize episode mini-series on Urban Life in Ancient Rome, it's time to talk aqueducts, daily baths, whether the Romans did their recycling, and just what was the Cloaca Maxima! Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) is an eminent archaeologist, broadcaster, director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project an...

Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill (formerly University of Cambridge and Director of the British School at Rome) chats with James Renshaw in the second 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 Anc...

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 Anci...

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...

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 ch...

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 k...

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 Classic...

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 o...

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...

"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...

"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 Class...

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...

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 t...

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 C...

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

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 Associ...

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 exclusi...

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 ep...

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 ⁠⁠⁠...

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,...