The Ancients

History Hit

Roman Empire

Rome

Mesopotamia

Persian Empire

Alexander the Great

Climate Change

Christianity

Western Roman Empire

Neanderthals

Carthage

Human Evolution

Ice Age

Archaeology

Babylon

Egypt

Julius Caesar

Ancient Rome

Greek Mythology

Augustus

Ancient Egypt

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

13k ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	752	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Category	History

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Latest Episodes

Shapur I: Rome's Greatest Enemy?

Few rulers humbled Rome quite like Shapur I. A King of Kings, he rebuilt the Sasanian Persian Empire, defeated Roman armies and captured Emperor Valerian in one of antiquity's most remarkable military triumphs.

In this episode of The Ancients, Trist... more

9 Aug 2026 • 58 min

Scotland's First Warriors

Three thousand years ago, prehistoric Scotland was a landscape of rival communities, raids and warfare. Bands of warriors fought for power and territory leaving behind extraordinary weapons that reveal a more violent side to Scotland’s ancient past. more

6 Aug 2026 • 56 min

The Catiline Conspiracy

In 63 BC, Rome faced a conspiracy that threatened to tear the Roman Republic apart. At its centre stood two figures: Marcus Tullius Cicero, the grand old orator of Rome and Lucius Sergius Catilina, accused of plotting violence, rebellion and the over... more

2 Aug 2026 • 1 hr 4 min

Alexander the Great's Mad Scientist

WARNING: graphic descriptions of violence and warfare

Meet Diades, Alexander the Great’s overlooked military engineer, the man who made the impossible siege of Tyre happen.

Tristan Hughes and Professor Edmund Richardson retell the thrilling, brutal... more

30 Jul 2026 • 1 hr 12 min

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Recent Guests

Dr. Matthew Knight

Senior Curator of Prehistory at the National Museum of Scotland

National Museum of Scotland

Episode: Scotland's First Warriors

Catherine Edwards

Renowned classicist, professor

Episode: The Catiline Conspiracy

Edmund Richardson

Professor at Durham University, author of a book on Alexander

Durham University / author

Episode: Alexander the Great's Mad Scientist

Richard Walter

Professor of Archaeology at the University of Otago

University of Otago

Episode: The First New Zealanders

Emily Hauser

Classicist and novelist

Self / Contributor

Episode: Odyssey | Sea of Monsters & Slaughter of the Suitors

Jason Nesbitt

Associate Professor, expert on early complex societies in the Central Andes

Toulon University

Episode: Caral: Oldest City in the Americas?

Yekaterina Barbash

Curator of Egyptian Art at the Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum

Episode: Egypt's Book of the Dead

Sophus Helle

Writer, translator and expert on ancient Babylonian literature

Independent scholar / Babylonian literature expert

Episode: The Flood Myth

Michael Scott

Professor, author and broadcaster

University of Dublin (assumed from context)

Episode: Delphi: Centre of the Ancient World

Host

Tristan Hughes

Host of The Ancients

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 13k ratings

More sieges please!
I loved the Siege of Tyre episode, both the content and your guest. Another on Rhodes as you mentioned, or just in siege engines in general with the same expert would be great.
Apple Podcasts
5
Perth_Pete#
Australia10 days ago
Summer Discovery
Came across this podcast this summer wanting to learn more about The Odyssey. Been going through the catalogue and love all the different subjects to offer!
Apple Podcasts
5
JBPhoto
United States11 days ago
Host and guest catchphrases
•HOST CATCHPHRASE BINGO: “Absolute/Absolutely”; “how/ that’s so interesting”; “(absolutely) fascinating”; “Correct me if I’m wrong”; “legend” (of a guest); without further ado; “No such thing as a stupid question”, “last but certainly not least”; “The one. The only”; ~ •EPISODE: “Aphrodite, Goddess of Love”. Guest Plug: podcast. Guest Catchphrase: “explicit(ly)”. ~ •EPISODE: “Iron Age Scotland: Clachtoll Broch” , in which the host refers to the non-existent year “zero BC”. ~ •EPISODE: “Messalina... more
Apple Podcasts
3
(Gibberer)
Australia11 days ago
Diades
Just listened to The podcast about Alexander the Great’s Mad Scientist - Diades. Very interesting and informative. The level of ingenuity and relentless effort (at the cost of many lives) is astounding. Worth a listen.
Apple Podcasts
5
Williamclarke123
Australia12 days ago
The Odyssey The Podcast
I seriously cannot take any more odyssey podcasts. One star for them all.
Apple Podcasts
1
Kaydoggo
United States17 days ago

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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.

Spotify	#15	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#192	United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts	#10	United States/History
Spotify	#191	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Spotify	#13	United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts	#113	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Scotland's First Warriors

Q: What type of warfare would they be engaged in?

Raiding and small-scale conflict between neighboring communities, typically organized as raiding parties of roughly 30 to 50 combatants, driven by resource, territory, prestige, or desperation.

Scotland's First Warriors

Q: Do we have a lot of swords surviving from Bronze Age Scotland?

Yes, hundreds of swords survive across Bronze and Iron Age contexts in Scotland, indicating significant weapon production and use.

The Catiline Conspiracy

Q: How does the episode affect Cicero's career and reputation in the years that follow?

The Catiline affair initially boosts Cicero's standing as a savior of the state, yet it also leaves him politically embattled. He is celebrated by some but challenged by tribunes who contest the legality of executing citizens without trial. Over time, Cicero defends his actions and faces political pushback, including exile later due to other political rivalries, illustrating how the episode anchored both his legendary self-image and enduring critiques of his methods.

The Catiline Conspiracy

Q: What is Cicero's view of Catiline during the crucial moments of the conspiracy, and how does this shape his actions as consul?

Cicero portrays Catiline as a grave threat to the Republic, using vivid rhetoric to terrify the Senate and justify drastic measures. He presents evidence of plotting violence, the gathering of armed bands, and conspiratorial communications to persuade others of the danger. This framing leads Cicero to take decisive action as consul, including executions, which he believes are necessary to save Rome—even as critics argue about due process and the limits of his authority.

The Catiline Conspiracy

Q: Can you briefly explain Cicero's road to the consulship and whether he had been active in the political sphere for a long time?

Cicero was an ambitious, talented orator from a non-senatorial family who built his career through law courts and public speaking. He gained experience during the civil wars era, became quaestor and then praetor, and leveraged his oratorical skill to secure the consulship in 63 BC, a significant milestone for a novus homo. His path shows a combination of legal prowess, strategic alliances, and a talent for shaping public perception through speeches and writings.

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 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 752 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. Dr. Matthew Knight
2. Catherine Edwards
3. Edmund Richardson
4. Richard Walter
5. Emily Hauser
6. Jason Nesbitt
7. Yekaterina Barbash
8. Sophus Helle

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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