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The Ancients

History Hit
Roman Empire
Rome
Mesopotamia
Persian Empire
Climate Change
Christianity
Neanderthals
Western Roman Empire
Human Evolution
Ice Age
Alexander the Great
Egypt
Babylon
Carthage
Augustus
Greek Mythology
Archaeology
Julius Caesar
Tiberius
Homo Sapiens

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.

New episodes every Sunday and Thursday.

From History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes782Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Ancients

Latest Episodes

How do you make a giant stone statue walk? On one of the most isolated islands on Earth, the people of Rapa Nui carved AND moved the extraordinary Moai, colossal faces hewn from soft volcanic rock that still inspire wonder today.

Today, Tristan Hugh... more

Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Hittites usually dominate the story of the Bronze Age. But Syria was home to some of the region's most powerful cities and kingdoms and helped forge the ancient Mediterranean world.

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Amanda Po... more

YouTube

Why did Emperor Constantine abandon Rome to build a spectacular new capital from scratch? In the year 312 a bloody civil war and a miraculous heavenly vision changed the Roman world forever.

Tristan Hughes and Professor Judith Herrin uncover the epi... more

It's one of history’s most compelling cold cases. What happened to the Ninth Legion, a crack unit of 5,000 Roman soldiers who vanished from the historical record without a trace?

Tristan Hughes is joined by Roman historian Dr Simon Elliott to invest... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Judith Herrin
Professor and historian of Byzantine history, author of Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire
Episode: Origins of Constantinople
Simon Elliott
Roman historian, archaeologist and author of Roman Britain's Missing Legion.
Episode: The Ninth Legion: Did They Disappear?
Marianne Hem Eriksen
Research Professor of Viking Studies at the National Museum of Denmark
National Museum of Denmark
Episode: Viking Origins: The Nordic Iron Age
Miles Russell
Author of Caratacus, Great King of Britain
Bloomsbury (publisher)
Episode: Caratacus: King of the Britons
John Long
Professor, paleontologist and world expert on early sharks and fossil fish
Episode: Ancient Antarctica
Steve Brusatte
Professor of paleontology and evolution, Edinburgh University; author
University of Edinburgh; author of The Story of Birds
Episode: Prehistoric Penguins
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
Professor at University of Cardiff, author of Babylon, The Mother of All Cities
University of Cardiff
Episode: Life and Death in Ancient Babylon
Helen Bond
Professor of Christian History, expert on biblical history
University of Edinburgh (as inferred from discussion)
Episode: The Gospels: Are They Historical?
David Stuart
Professor of Mesoamerican Art, Archaeology and Epigraphy at the University of Texas
University of Texas
Episode: Maya Hieroglyphs Decoded

Host

Tristan Hughes
Host of The Ancients

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 13.4k ratings
  • Great show

    such a wide range of topics! Each treated with such care. A gem.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hydrolizard
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great Podcast!

    I really enjoy this podcast and look forward to it for my daily commute. I often purchase books written by guests to dive deeper into topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hgibu
    United Statesa month ago
  • Hi

    Hi I’m 12 and I don’t listen to it but my mom dose and I hear some of it and it sounds for real and NOT AI 😜😜😜😜😜 but it is a little annoying with all the ads. Me and my mom listen to you in the car 🚗 but it is 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ also I ❤️🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪😜

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Corgi Girl!
    United Statesa month ago
  • Good but marred by self-advertisement

    I really loathe the constant ads for other podcasts on the same channel.

    Few are interesting, some sound downright awful, especially the Dan Snow one.

    Apart from that,

    Wide range of mainly very interesting subjects discussed in a way that’s generally interesting and informative

    Some guests are better than others but most are great.

    And I like the way so many periods, and so many areas, are covered, with an emphasis on real, lived history rather than kings and queens, wars and dynasties

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Worcester Boy
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Always enjoyable

    Something new to learn each time and in small bites that make it less overwhelming for me

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LilyViolet$
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few critiques about long-form episodes or attention to non-Western histories.
Strong guest quality and host interviewing style praised by many.
Thoughtful, scholarly and accessible—great guest mix and pacing.
Occasional sound issues/boomy audio noted by some listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#14
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/History
Spotify
#12
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#104
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#108
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#6
Canada/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Viking Origins: The Nordic Iron Age
Q: So what do we know about the bog bodies when we get to the Iron Age in Scandinavia?
Bog bodies were deliberately treated differently from customary burials, but there is no single explanation for the practice. Some show trauma, while others do not; associated deposits also include hair, clothing, food, and weapons.
Viking Origins: The Nordic Iron Age
Q: Now, I'm sorry, I have to start with the word Vikings and the question, who really were the first Vikings?
Eriksen says identifying the first Vikings is difficult because the terms are retrospective and people did not necessarily call themselves Vikings. She questions the traditional start date of 793 CE and says the Viking Age may have begun earlier.
The Ninth Legion: Did They Disappear?
Q: Which theory do you like the most?
Elliott says the available evidence cannot settle the question, but he considers it most plausible that the legion was lost in some way in Britain during the late 110s. He points to indications of serious trouble in Britain around Hadrian's accession and the arrival of an emergency expedition, while leaving open whether the crisis was in the north or south.
Origins of Constantinople
Q: Why did Constantine think that Rome needed replacing, that he needed a big new kind of grand capital city?
Herrin explains that Rome had become less useful as a government center, while emperors wanted to assert authority beyond the Senate and position the court near strategic routes. Constantine built on earlier imperial capitals but sought to make Constantinople the dominant one.
The Ninth Legion: Did They Disappear?
Q: Can you give us a sense of what a Roman Legion was like at that time? What do we mean by a Roman Legion?
Elliott describes a legion as a frontline unit of roughly 5,500 to 6,000 soldiers, equipped and trained to fight together, with specialist personnel and artillery. He explains that recruitment of men without property could make legionaries highly dependent on, and loyal to, the commanders who recruited them.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ancients

What is The Ancients about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers ambitious deep-dives into ancient history, blending archaeology, classical literature, and myth with accessible narrative and expert guests. Episodes routinely explore how past societies organized power, religion, warfare, and daily life, using concrete artifacts, inscriptions, and source texts to illuminate big questions—from the realities of slavery in Rome to the engineering feats behind legendary sieges. A standout aspect is the seamless integration of scholarly rigor with storytelling, bringing in renowned historians and museum curators to connect material culture with broader cultural memory. Fans can expect thoughtful debates on interpretation, vivid episode-specific case studies, and occasional forays into how anci... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Ancients?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Ancients:

1. Gone Medieval
2. Dan Snow's History Hit
3. Not Just the Tudors
4. HistoryExtra podcast
5. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

How many episodes of The Ancients are there?

The Ancients launched 6 years ago and published 782 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Ancients?

Recent guests on The Ancients include:

1. Judith Herrin
2. Simon Elliott
3. Marianne Hem Eriksen
4. Miles Russell
5. John Long
6. Steve Brusatte
7. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
8. Helen Bond

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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