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The Ancients

History Hit
Roman Empire
Rome
Christianity
Mesopotamia
Persian Empire
Climate Change
Greek Mythology
Neanderthals
Western Roman Empire
Archaeology
Alexander the Great
Egypt
Ice Age
Carthage
Human Evolution
Bronze Age
Babylon
Ancient Rome
Augustus
Marcus Aurelius

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 weeklyEpisodes733Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Ancients

Latest Episodes

The Pharisees are one of the most familiar names in the ancient world, but are they also one of the most misunderstood?

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Helen Bond to step back into first-century Judea, where the Pharisees were debating law, purity an... more

In July 1799, French soldiers unearthed a stone that would transform our understanding of the ancient world. Discovered in a fort at Rashid, the Rosetta Stone became the key to deciphering Egypt’s long-lost hieroglyphs. Within two decades, scholars b... more

Fifty thousand years ago, Neanderthal artists in Ice Age Europe painted symbols and handprints deep inside caves, leaving behind some of the oldest known art on the continent. These discoveries are transforming how we understand our closest human rel... more

In 73 BC, a gladiator escaped slavery and launched a rebellion that shook the Roman Republic to its core. His name was Spartacus, and his uprising became one of the greatest threats Rome had ever faced from within.

Tristan Hughes is joined by Ben Ka... more

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Recent Guests

Fiona Radford
Co-host of The Partial Historians, expert on Spartacus and ancient history
The Partial Historians
Episode: Spartacus
Rob Collins
Professor of Frontier Archaeology at Newcastle University
Newcastle University
Episode: The Fall of Hadrian's Wall
Tom Moore
Durham University's Professor and leading Iron Age Britain expert
Durham University
Episode: Iron Age Britain
Dr. Asta Mønsted
Visiting researcher at the University of Copenhagen; archaeologist specializing in Greenlandic prehistory and mythology
University of Copenhagen
Episode: Prehistoric Greenland
Ella Al-Shamahi
Paleoanthropologist, presenter, comedian and author
Multiple affiliations referenced in episode (Becoming Human tour)
Episode: The Other Humans: Why We Survived?
Steele Brand
Professor of History, Cairn University
Cairn University
Episode: What If Alexander Fought Rome?
Eric Klein
Professor, author of Digging Up Armageddon
George Washington University
Episode: The Real Armageddon
Andrew Meyer
Professor of history at Brooklyn College, author of To Rule All Under Heaven
Brooklyn College, City University of New York
Episode: Ancient China: The Warring States
Steffen Laursen
Senior Curator at Al Ain Museum; expert on Bronze Age Dilmun
Al Ain Museum
Episode: The Persian Gulf

Host

Tristan Hughes
Host of The Ancients

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 12.6k ratings
  • Why no Adelaide!?

    Great show goes Great Southern Land … but no Adelaide!? Why!?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PhilSerious
    Australia20 days ago
  • Recent Audio Issues?

    Like the content, but taking a break until the sound quality improves. There’s often a “boomy” low-middle presence that detracts from the delivery

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Professor Vornoff
    United States24 days ago
  • Other humans

    Please have Ella Al-Shamahi on again. Her enthusiasm is infectious. I am so so shocked at how much has changed from the basics that I learned in school. I am just so surprised and delighted about these finds.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vegftrapeye
    United States25 days ago
  • Amazing new info and insight and enthusiasm. WOW

    Podcast Addict
    5
    yop host jnr
    a month ago
  • Superb

    Like The Rest is History but without the giggling at big moustaches.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tom best boy
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise how the host steers conversations with leading academics and keeps topics engaging without becoming dull.
Some listeners feel certain episodes (e.g., Judas) miss the mark or rely on sensational framing, suggesting a need for rigorous evidence and clear debate.
Episodes are valued for their broad topic variety and depth from multiple disciplines.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Spartacus
Q: What makes Spartacus such a flexible figure across history?
Its enduring appeal lies in its malleable core—the idea of rebellion against oppression—which numerous cultures repurpose to comment on their own political moments, while the gaps in ancient sources invite sensational reinterpretations.
Prehistoric Greenland
Q: Can you explain the role of the Angakalp or shaman in these communities?
The Angakalp served as spiritual advisor and sometimes leader, with training and narratives that prepared them to negotiate with otherworlds, while also potentially sharing leadership duties with the community's hunter, reflecting a flexible and reciprocal social structure.
Prehistoric Greenland
Q: How do myth and ritual connect to the everyday objects found in Greenlandic houses?
Linguistic clues show ritual significance in architecture, such as the house being described as a face with a throat, nostrils, and eyes, suggesting objects inside and the building itself encode cosmological beliefs that connect daily life with spiritual worlds.
Prehistoric Greenland
Q: What makes Greenland's earliest inhabited sites stand out to archaeologists today?
The combination of coastal settlement patterns, artifacts preserved in permafrost, and stories linked to the landscape reveals a long, continuous relationship between people and their environment, with sites showing repeated usage across layers and the presence of winter houses that endured harsh winters.
The Real Armageddon
Q: And is there a particular mention of Megiddo and Solomon in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Book of First Kings mentions Megiddo as one of the fortified cities attributed to Solomon, though the Chicago excavations later revised some of these identifications to later rulers like Ahab or Omri; the broader point is that Megiddo features prominently in biblical and archaeological records as a city that was repeatedly fortified and contested.

Audience Metrics

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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 consistently explores the ancient world through scholarly conversations with historians, archaeologists, and scientists. Episodes blend archaeology, DNA research, and textual analysis to unpack long-running debates about early humans, ancient trade networks, warfare, daily life in antiquity, and the rise and fall of empires. A hallmark is coupling rigorous evidence with accessible storytelling, often featuring hands-on field experiences, vivid archival anecdotes, and cross-disciplinary insights that illuminate how past civilizations shaped the present. A few episodes stand out for their ambitious scope—imagining alternate histories, tracing global connectivity across seas, and bringing to light the lives of ordinary people in monu... 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 733 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. Fiona Radford
2. Rob Collins
3. Tom Moore
4. Dr. Asta Mønsted
5. Ella Al-Shamahi
6. Steele Brand
7. Eric Klein
8. Andrew Meyer

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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