Domina Tempora

Marianne Fisher

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History
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Domina Tempora examines the myths, symbols, and forgotten histories that shaped the ancient world. Hosted by Marianne Fisher, each episode explores how stories of gods, women, monsters, and power were created, interpreted, and transformed. Thoughtful, atmospheric, and sharply researched—this is history told with clarity, elegance, and a touch of danger.

2d ago

20: The Golden Fleece Was the Easy Part. Surviving Medea Wasn't.

In his Argonautica, ancient Greek author Apollonius of Rhodes gives us a rather romantic introduction of Medea as a young woman desperately in love. Unfortunately, this introduction quickly takes on a sinister turn and casts Medea as one of the most famous and controversial figures in Greek mythology. In ancient heroic stories, a helper-maiden is typically personified as a young woman who, usually out of love, helps a hero in his quest. One of them is Ariadne. Ariadne is a princess and daughter of King Minos of Crete. Her father ordered the creation of a labyrinth. In the the center of this maze is the Minotaur, Ariadne’s half-brother. Ariadne falls in love with the young hero Theseus, who is due to enter the maze. Before Theseus enters the maze, Ariadne gives him a ball of string to help him find his way out. After Theseus kills the Minotaur and escapes from the maze, he takes Ariadne as his bride and they sail back to his home. However, before reaching their destination, they stop at an island. Fatigued, Aridane falls asleep and then left on the island by Theseus. Thus the powerful woman who helped the hero and sacrificed her own family is diminished to a state of powerlessness. The story of Medea, another “helper maiden”, follows in similar vein, but with starkly different ending. Tune in!
Jul 29

19: Nero and the Catastrophic Art of Romance

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we examine Emperor Nero’s turbulent love life — a chaotic blend of power, passion, jealousy, and violence that shocked even the jaded elite of Rome. From his loveless political marriage to Octavia (whom he forced to suicide), to his deep attachment to the former slave Acte, his murderous passion for the ambitious Poppaea Sabina (whom he kicked to death while pregnant), his final wife Statilia Messalina, and his scandalous relationships with the men Pythagoras and the tragic Sporus (whom he castrated and “married” as a Poppaea lookalike), Nero’s romances were as dramatic and destructive as his reign. We explore how these relationships reflected the toxic intersection of absolute power, imperial insecurity, and personal desire — and why they continue to fascinate us today. If tales of forbidden love, dangerous ambition, imperial excess, and the personal cost of power captivate you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound dives deep into similar themes of divine politics, forbidden passion, and resistance against tyrannical control. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon
Jul 22

18: Three Daughters of Germanicus, Three Sisters of Caligula

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we turn the spotlight on the remarkable and tragic lives of Agrippina the Younger, Drusilla, and Livilla — the three daughters of the beloved Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, and the sisters of the infamous Emperor Caligula. These imperial princesses navigated the deadly intrigues of the Julio-Claudian court with intelligence, ambition, and fierce loyalty. From Drusilla’s rumored closeness with her brother to Agrippina the Younger’s ruthless rise to power as mother of Nero, their stories reveal the dangerous realities faced by women of the imperial family and the heavy cost of proximity to absolute power. We explore how these three sisters embodied both the glory and the curse of their legendary bloodline. If tales of formidable women, dynastic ambition, palace intrigue, and the complex bonds of family captivate you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound dives deep into similar themes of powerful women, forbidden connections, and resistance against tyrannical control. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon
Jul 15

17: Germanicus Had Charisma. Agrippina Had Fury. Caligula Inherited Both.

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we examine the explosive blend of traits that defined one of Rome’s most infamous emperors — Caligula — and the legendary parents who shaped him. Germanicus, the beloved golden prince and brilliant general, captured the hearts of Rome with his charisma and military victories. His wife Agrippina the Elder, fiercely loyal and unyielding, brought unbridled fury and political ambition to their union. Together they produced Caligula, who inherited both the magnetic charm and the dangerous intensity of his parents — with tragic and terrifying results. We explore how this powerful parental legacy, combined with the toxic environment of Tiberius’s court, helped forge one of history’s most notorious rulers. If stories of charismatic leaders, formidable women, dynastic ambition, and the dangerous inheritance of power fascinate you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound weaves similar threads of divine politics, forbidden love, and resistance against tyrannical control. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon
Jul 8

16: Castor: The Roman Prince History Forgot

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we shine a light on Drusus the Younger — Tiberius’s only natural son, affectionately nicknamed “Castor” by the Roman people — the capable prince who was largely erased from history. A respected military commander known for his integrity and popularity with the legions and the public, Drusus represented the best hope for a stable succession in the early Julio-Claudian dynasty. Yet his promising life was cut short in 23 CE amid the deadly palace intrigues of his father’s court, with Sejanus and others suspected of poisoning him to clear their own path to power. We explore why this virtuous prince was overshadowed, what his death reveals about the toxic environment of Tiberius’s reign, and how the loss of “Castor” accelerated Rome’s slide into tyranny. If stories of forgotten heirs, imperial betrayal, family tragedy, and the brutal cost of power intrigue you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound dives deep into similar themes of divine politics, forbidden love, and resistance against tyrannical control. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon
Jul 1

15: Castor, Pollux, and Humanity’s Ancient Twin Obsession

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we explore why twins have fascinated and unsettled humanity for millennia — from the divine Gemini Castor and Pollux, inseparable yet divided by mortality, to the countless twin myths that echo across cultures. We examine how these legendary brothers, born of Zeus and Leda, embodied the eternal tension between mortal and immortal, loyalty and rivalry, protection and sacrifice. Their story of shared destiny, heroic quests with the Argonauts, and ultimate transformation into the stars reveals deep human anxieties about identity, duality, and what it means to be truly connected to another. If the mysterious power of twins, divine brotherhood, fate, and the thin line between gods and men captivates you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound dives deep into similar themes of forbidden connection and cosmic consequences. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon
Jun 24

14: Melusine, or: Why Medieval Men Kept Marrying Monsters

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we descend into the misty forests and ancient fountains of medieval Europe to uncover the enigmatic legend of Melusine — the beautiful fairy with two serpent tails, spirit of fresh water, builder of castles, and mysterious ancestress of kings. Born of the fairy Pressyne and cursed by her mother to transform into a serpent (or fish) from the waist down every Saturday, Melusine marries the noble Raymondin on one condition: he must never spy on her during her secret day of seclusion. Under her guidance, the region of Poitou flourishes with new cities and grand castles. She bears him ten sons — some marked by strange deformities — whose descendants would found royal dynasties across France, Cyprus, and beyond. Yet like so many fairy tales, curiosity and broken promises bring tragedy. When Raymondin spies on her and later denounces her as a monster, the heartbroken Melusine sprouts wings and flies away, forever circling her beloved castles with mournful cries. Her story echoes across Luxembourg, where she still awaits redemption, and her iconic two-tailed image endures today — even as the hidden inspiration for the Starbucks logo. We explore how this powerful serpent-fairy mother embodies themes of fertility, prosperity, betrayal, and the supernatural origins claimed by European nobility in turbulent times. If tales of forbidden love, powerful women who straddle the human and the monstrous, divine curses, and ancestral magic resonate with you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is waiting. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their desire could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon. Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your promises hold and your waters run deep.
Jun 17

13: Sacred Waters and Toilet Demons: The Ancient Magic of Cleanliness

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we dive into the sacred, surprising, and sometimes terrifying world of ancient hygiene — where cleanliness was far more than physical. Water was a divine force of purification, capable of washing away both dirt and spiritual pollution, while the humble latrine held its own powerful guardians and lurking dangers. From Egyptian priests bathing multiple times daily before rituals, to Hindu ritual bathing in sacred rivers, Roman public baths, Japanese toilet gods promising beautiful children, and the Chinese Purple Goddess Zi Gu — we explore how every culture infused washing and waste with deep mythological and spiritual meaning. Meet Sulis of the healing springs, Cloacina the Roman goddess of sewers, the Babylonian demon Sulak who punished improper toilet etiquette, and a host of fertility deities and vengeful spirits who watched over the most private spaces of daily life. This episode reveals how ancient peoples understood the profound link between bodily purity, divine favor, and cosmic order — turning even the most mundane acts into sacred rituals. If the powerful intersection of ritual, desire, divinity, and the raw realities of human existence calls to you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is waiting. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their desire could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your waters be sacred and your guardians watchful.

Domina Tempora examines the myths, symbols, and forgotten histories that shaped the ancient world. Hosted by Marianne Fisher, each episode explores how stories of gods, women, monsters, and power were created, interpreted, and transformed. Thoughtful, atmospheric, and sharply researched—this is history told with clarity, elegance, and a touch of danger.

Creator

Marianne Fisher
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

20
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Marianne Fisher
Show Website

Domina Tempora