A thought inspired by @belovedofoizys.bsky.social 's podcast

Our episodes now have ads inserted into them. This is great news for us as it helps us keep the show on air. But, if you really want to avoid ads completely, you can find every episode, ad free, in our new subscriber tier - no interruptions for only $3 a month. buymeacoffee.com/ancienthisto...

I love the new addition to NAM...

It is so easy to boycott Eurovision.

The hate march in London is being shown on Greek news channels, by the way. Can't understand a word of the commentary but I can tell it isn't flattering...

Wow, the experience of visiting the Acropolis is a LOT different to when I last visited in 2014...

Just want to state now that I have officially retired from writing about what Musk et al. says about antiquity in screen and I need you all to hold me to that.

Just two more days of the 20% PREORDER20 discount with bookshop.org to get my book (out 4th June) uk.bookshop.org/p/books/all-...

I really don't know if I can afford to see everything I want to, now that their are no combo tickets in Athens anymore. Which is a shame, seeing it has been nearly a decade since I was last here and I've got a greater ability to interpret what I see.

Y'all, I've been lucky enough to read this in advance and it's *so* good! Pre-order it here (with the discount code PREORDER20 until 17th May) uk.bookshop.org/p/books/glad...

And if you've enjoyed Owen's episodes on the Spartan Mirage or his biography of Xenophon, enter our giveaway to win a free, SIGNED copy of his excellent book - The Far Edges of the Known World...

Proofs day!!!

3 lectures given, and it has been one of the weirdest, most wonderful experiences of my career so far. I'm back to being a land lubber tomorrow.

I mean, I'm glad I came. But does anyone want to join my Arthur Evans Sucks club?

One more comment about this. You thought A&M was bad for censoring Plato's Symposium? Well, Texas Tech said "hold my beer" and banned Plato's REPUBLIC from a philosophy class because there's a brief mention of homosexual love in it.

New episode alert! Owen Rees at @badancient.bsky.social has a really important chat about exactly what we know about Spartans - and just how much remains a complete mystery. If you've ever wanted to know how historians work, this is the episode for you: "What is the Spartan Mirage?"

A Palestinian musicians’ initiative is calling on #Eurovision boycott supporters to share a song recorded as an Israeli military drone flew over a children’s music session in Gaza City last year: www.middleeasteye.net/news/palesti...

Since I last visited a million years ago, Bodrum Castle has become home to a dozen peacocks. I might have taken more photos of them than I did the underwater archaeology exhibits, no regrets. I did make a point of bisiting this guy, though

Bougatsa ✅ Loux (gazoza) ✅ Sleepy Greek island ✅ I am so happy right now

So this is what I'm up to this week...

Casually sailing past Salamis at sunset, though thankfully not on a trireme.

Seeing the Panathenaic stadium and acropolis from the plane window never fails to take my breath away. Athens, it has been far too long

Question for those with more experience - if I only have say, 5, 6 at most hours to do Knossos AND Heraklion museum, will I be rushed off my feet or is that easily manageable? I'm on a strict timetable and want to manage my expectations. If it's tight, what should I be prioritising?

ENTER OUR DRAW TO WIN A BOOK! We have signed copies of @badancient.bsky.social's The Far Edges of the Known World to give away! Click the link for instructions on how to enter. Open until May 20th, UK residents eligible only. www.ancienthistory101.org/GIVEAWAY

Galba had a rather unusual route to becoming emperor of Rome... Listen to the full episode on the Year of the Four Emperors with special guest @nathanielskatz.bsky.social, out now

Ah bollocks, the kerameikos is closed for works...

Oooh

So the acropolis is €30 now? Woof.

Second in our special double bill this week: @belovedofoizys.bsky.social investigates what was happening in Athens in 416/415 BCE, to see if contemporary events inspired the pen of tragedian Euripides...

It's that time of the week again! First up in our double bill, @nathanielskatz.bsky.social is on the show to talk about a year in Roman imperial history that would put Game of Thrones to shame. The Year of the Four Emperors, out now!

A listener just commented that they really appreciated that @ancienthistory101.org did critical source analysis in the episode they listened to, and that makes me so happy. I'll continue putting it into every episode for as long as the podcast is running.

I am going to be in Athens on the 16/17th. THIS IS NOT A DRILL

I do not need a £120 Folio edition of Herodotus. I do not need a £120 Folio edition of Herodotus. I do not need a £120 Folio edition of Herodotus. I do not need a £120 Folio edition of Herodotus. I do not need a £120 Folio edition of Herodotus... www.foliosociety.com/uk/the-histo...

Reminder that when Gladiator II was imminent, I was regularly told to "relax, it's just a movie - not a documentary" 💅

This is great! Also, how to support an academic: - read their papers - cite their articles and books - tell your friends and students about their work - include their work in your reading lists and syllabi - ask your library to buy their books - tell them you liked their work or that it was helpful

My 10 year old has long worked out that she can delay bedtime by asking to learn about ancient history. She's just asked for Thermopylae again, but when I started talking she told me to shush. Reader, she got the TV remote and started searching YouTube for @roelkonijn.bsky.social...

Coming up on the podcast this Wednesday! One of the messiest years in the history of Roman emperors, masterfully explained by @nathanielskatz.bsky.social

Such an amazing milestone to hit so quickly!! @belovedofoizys.bsky.social is a superb host! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

What's better than a free book? A free book signed by Owen Rees!! Perfect for a gift, or for treating yourself. The Far Edges of the Known World is such a wonderful book, I cannot recommend it enough. If you're in the UK, enter this giveaway for your chance to win...

A great episode with interesting discussions around what it meant to be a slave in the Ancient Roman world. On the subject of shackles, which is mentioned in the episode, we have some on display at Colchester Castle. Physical evidence of the brutality of enslavement in Colchester 2000 years ago.

I gave my last lecture of the year today, "The Roman Republic in Perspective." I have studiously avoided commentary on or even allusion to contemporary concerns in this course on the Roman Republic. Not today. Here's a bit of what I said (none of it particularly original). 1/5

For enslaved people in Rome, did manumission mean true freedom? Listen to the full episode on slavery in Roman society with special guest of the week @chancebonar.bsky.social shows.acast.com/ancient-hist...

We've got a new episode! @isisnaucratis.bsky.social stopped by the pod for a bonus episode on what the war started by the US-Israeli Axis is doing to cultural heritage in Iran and Palestine. classicalantiquitypod.com/2026/05/01/s...

I have the hardback of this and seriously, you need to buy a copy. It's a magnum opus.

A lot of talk about antisemitism in Britain today, but zero chat about islamophobia or genocide. Somebody should tell the press that there aren't participation trophies for complicity.

Got a bit distracted on the recording last night and went on a rant about much Julius Caesar sucks. I'm recording for someone else's show today, so I should probably try not to do it twice in two days. He would deserve it, though

Suddenly remembered this stupid thing I made.

Given that academic job interview season is in full swing, for those of you who are in permanent positions - maybe check in on your precarious colleagues. I can guarantee a lot of them are having an awful time which is exacerbated by the fact that they have to do this every year.

Come listen to our (undergrad-friendly) discussion about Roman slavery!