The Ancients

Rise of King Herod

He’s the villain of the Nativity. An alleged killer of innocents, remembered as one of history’s great monsters. But the truth about Herod the Great is far more dramatic, far more complex, and far more shocking. On today's special episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes asks: who was the real Herod behind the legend and the infamy? Joined by Professor Benedict Eckhardt, Dr Kimberly Tchaikovsky and Professor Helen Bond, he charts the gripping rise of one of antiquity’s most formidable and misunderstood rulers. From perilous beginnings to becoming Rome’s chosen King of Judea, Herod’s story blends Greek-style tragedy with ruthless Roman politics and features encounters with towering figures like Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Join us to step into the turbulent world of Roman Judea and discover how Herod defied the odds to seize his throne. MORE The Wise Men: Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000679904941] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/30JcS3z8gUODOvbR8k47mh?si=JG2RbFkLRdGfmwf0voQ9yA] The Great Jewish Revolt: Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000702731647] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mlQHW3xI2HDTGv5PCiePt?si=z_36uqxgRMSQLpIG2pTpTw] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Ten Commandments

Did Moses really receive the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, or is that just ancient legend? Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Dylan Johnson to unpack how the Book of Exodus disagrees with Deuteronomy, what “do not take God’s name in vain” really meant, and how these commands blurred law and morality for ancient peoples. MORE The Ark of the Covenant Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ark-of-the-covenant/id1520403988?i=1000659406495] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/74y1JdV8UmePJzD4TjvUK4] Moses & The Exodus Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/md/podcast/moses-the-exodus/id1520403988?i=1000658678416] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ET1ixWEqsKpCkHqy2SvyK] Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Origins of Chocolate

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Cameron McNeil, Mesoamerican archaeologist, to explore cacao, in ancient Mesoamerican societies like the Maya, Aztecs, and Olmecs. They discuss how was used as food, drink, currency, and in ritualistic practices, and learn about its journey from South America to becoming a highly valued commodity in Mesoamerica. MORE Origins of Beer Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/origins-of-beer/id1520403988?i=1000666034832] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lpvSrb89CDVeqZjn0z0jV] Pyramid of the Sun Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pyramid-of-the-sun/id1520403988?i=1000662581221] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VqXfgDDeIAYB7P113yUCq] Presented by Tristan Hughes. The audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Khmer Empire: Angkor Wat

How did Indian culture shape the wonders of Southeast Asia? Tristan Hughes is joined by William Dalrymple to explore the fascinating first millennium AD, from vibrant trade dynamics with the Roman Empire to the establishment of powerful Indian trading guilds and the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism after Rome's decline. They dig in to the construction of the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world which boasts a central area four times the size of Vatican City, with carvings depicting epic Hindu legends. Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast] MORE The Romans and India with William Dalrymple Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-romans-and-india-with-william-dalrymple/id1520403988?i=1000668187744] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RSacQ0ngYW2YjrE2UMeVF] Prehistoric Ireland: Newgrange Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/prehistoric-ireland-newgrange/id1520403988?i=1000704905645] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zcgcrW1h1pZpirb1hhmLV] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The World's Oldest Letters

What do the world’s first letters reveal about life in the Bronze Age? Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Amanda Podany to uncover the remarkable written culture of ancient Mesopotamia, when clay tablets carried messages across vast distances and a proto-postal system linked cities like Ur and Babylon. From royal correspondence and diplomatic negotiations to worried family notes and furious consumer complaints -including the iconic rant against the merchant Ea-Nasir for terrible copper - these texts offer a vivid, relatable window into everyday life 4,000 years ago. Step into the earliest age of writing and discover how humanity first learned to communicate across time and space. Translations in this episode taken from A. Leo Oppenheim, Letters from Mesopotamia (1967) & J. M. Sasson, From the Mari Archives (2015). Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.