A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes.
One of the most famed classes of soldiers from antiquity, the Spartan warrior has been immortalised in media today. Characterised as super soldiers, formidable fighters who would rather perish than surrender – their reputation truly did proceed them. But how accurate is this image – and does it correlate with what the ancient sources actually tell us?
In the second episode of our Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes Dr Roel Konijnendijk from the University of Oxford, to take a deep dive into the life of a Spartan warrior. Looking at their education, training, and familial expectations – how do you separate fact from fiction when it comes to the Spartans? And is it possible to know what their society was truly like?
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This episode contains references to sexual assault.
Medusa stands as one of the most iconic yet misconstrued figures of Greek mythology.
Recognised as one of the three Gorgons, she is notoriously portrayed with serpentine hair and petrifying eyes that turn onlookers to stone. Her life is famously ended by Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus. Popular culture often reduces her to a monstrous caricature, even using her name interchangeably for all Gorgons. But how much of this aligns with ancient records, and how much is a Hollywood construct? To unravel this enigma, Tristan welcomes classicist, author, and broadcaster Natalie Haynes. Together, they dissect Medusa’s origins, delve into her tragic narrative marked by betrayals from Perseus and Athena, and ponder the implications of her myth in today’s context.
You can purchase Natalie Haynes’s book on Medusa, Stone Blind, here and pre-order her new one Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth, here.
Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie
Script was written by Andrew Hulse
Voice over was performed by Nichola Woolley
Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe
Editor was Aidan Lonergan
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