T&J Subscribers

Bonus episode courtesy of my new South African and Articles of Interest fans! What was the Birkin bag of the T&J era? Could someone tell the difference between a Roman and a Persian based on dress alone? Were couches and bedding like what we have today? 

This episode we go deep into the color purple, marriage belts and baby tunics in a conversation all about sixth century Byzantine bling and threads thanks to the expertise of Dr. Elizabeth Dospěl Williams. 

Betsy is the Curator of the Byzantine Collection at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. Her work includes programs, publications and exhibitions exploring Byzantine dress practice, gender and aesthetics.

An over-preoccupation with gassy foods? Was vegetarianism a thing? And what the hell was a phrenitis diagnosis? This episode we dive into what people thought about their health, disease and what they did about it in 6th century Byzantium with Dr. Jared Secord.

Jared has also co-authored a new book that covers this and more titled Medicine, Health and Healing in the Ancient Mediterranean 500 BCE - 600 CE.

T&J themselves owned enslaved human beings, and they were far from alone. Enslavement in the Roman Empire was the practice of both prostitutes and priests, even rabbis. Justinian hires some VIP jurists to Marie Kondo centuries of Roman law. 

One thing we can definitively say is that the Goths weren’t dressing in all-black and ornamenting their buildings with gargoyles. So how did the name of a single barbarian people make it to the 21st century and still mean so much? 

With what frequency did sixth century Romans move around? How expensive was it? And then, once you got there, how would anyone know you were who you said you were? Byzantine scholar David Parnell joins the show for an in-depth conversation that answers these questions and more, in a brand new, bonus episode format.

David is also the author of a wonderful new book 'Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian' available for order now on Amazon or from your local bookseller.

Justinian, now emperor, decides he wants to restore the Roman Empire to its full territorial glory. Piece of cake, right? Good thing T&J have their favorite couple on-hand to help make it all happen.