Romans podcast episodes

Adrian Goldsworthy answers listener questions on what life was like in the armies of ancient Rome – from revolting rations and brutal discipline, to promotion prospects and the chances of settling down

Guy de la Bédoyère unveils the hidden stories of the enslaved Romans who shaped the fate of their empire from behind the scenes

Mary Beard takes listeners on an ancient cruise down the Nile, as she follows the Roman emperor Hadrian's journey through Egypt in AD 130

Kate Cooper reveals how St Augustine’s Confessions offers a unique window into the lives of women in the late Roman empire

Popular historian Mary Beard tackles some of the biggest questions about life as a Roman emperor, from what they actually did all day to whether they were really as bloodthirsty as legend suggests

Emma Southon discusses the women of ancient Rome whose stories illuminate experiences of war, empire and political machinations

From Mars to Minerva, Philip Freeman answers listener questions on the Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses

Popular historian Tom Holland explains how the Romans maintained the peace across their vast empire in the second century AD

Harry Sidebottom shares the sensational story of the notorious Roman emperor whose short time in power was packed with sex, violence and decadence

Adrian Goldsworthy discusses the evolving relationship between two superpowers of the ancient world, and explains why neither was ever able to vanquish the other

Peter Stothard charts the eventful life of Marcus Licinius Crassus, an enormously wealthy politician and general, who rivalled Caesar and Pompey in late Republican Rome

Caroline Vout takes us under the dust covers and presents the flesh and blood realities of life in ancient bodies

Philip Freeman answers listener questions on the dramatic battles between Rome and Carthage – two of the ancient world’s great powers

Honor Cargill-Martin outlines the sexual scandals and ruthless success of the notorious Julio-Claudian empress Messalina in the first century AD

John Rapley and Peter Heather explore the parallels – and differences – between the fall of Rome and the decline of the modern west

As we approach the 1900th anniversary of the building of Hadrian’s Wall, Rob Collins answers listener questions on the Roman fortification

Garrett Ryan explores some of the most commonly asked questions about the ancient Greco-Roman world

Philip Freeman discusses the life of the brilliant Carthaginian general who almost brought Rome to its knees

Hannah Platts offers a multisensory tour of the Roman home – from the smells of the kitchen to the surprises of the dinner table

Duncan Mackay delves into Rome’s brutal conquest of Britain and the ferocious rebellion against it, led by an infamous warrior queen

Dominic Perring uncovers London’s Roman history and reveals how the city was connected to the wider empire

Professor Kate Cooper answers listener questions on women in the Roman world, from experiences of marriage and childbirth to female-led armies

Alice Roberts reveals how new scientific techniques can shed light on life in Britain between the first and tenth centuries AD

The Ninth Legion of the Roman army was last recorded in York in around AD 107. After that it simply vanished from history. To this day no-one knows what caused the destruction of this elite army unit, although many theories have been put forward.