Special Episode - Exploring Place in Regal Rome with Neil, The Ancient Blogger - Part 2

Neil returns to discuss more about some of the major sites of interest in the regal period of Rome. We recommend his podcast Ancient History Hound to you. You can also find out more details about Neil’s work at his website: The Ancient Blogger.

Special Episode – Exploring Place in Regal Rome with Neil, The Ancient Blogger – Part 2!

When Life Gives You Lemons?

It’s time to take a tour of Rome’s most infamous subterranean chamber, the Tullianum, aka the Carcer.

• What did Livy know about the place? And what that might tell us about the site in its earliest history?
• Does the archaeological structure make sense with the historiographical timeline?
• Possible connections to Tullius Hostilius or Servius Tullius? Other potential etymological possibilities?

The Essential Precursor to Rome’s Success?

Of course, we’re talking about the Cloaca Maxima!

Water, human waste, rats, and methane – is the Cloaca Maxima just a little more dangerous than generally thought? We take a tour with Neil to find out.

The Circus Maximus – Older is Better?

There aren’t many flat places in Rome, so the natural valley that is home of the Circus Maximus marks it out as special. The natural contours shape the space and set the scene for how the Romans then adapted that space into an early sporting arena. Major sporting events included horse racing (in various configurations) and boxing, though in a very different style than you’d see today.

It wasn’t just about the sports though – it was also about being seen. Social standing takes on a new meaning when only some people get chairs.

Why Does Rome Need Ostia?

Well, a harbour can be a great asset to a developing city! Neil takes us through some of the important details associated with the site of Ostia, as the location of the early castrum, and the engineering modifications of the salt lagoons.

Horrea (storehouses) at Ostia Antica. Photograph by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra via Flickr.

Sound Credits

Our theme music was composed by the amazing Bettina Joy de Guzman

Automated Transcript

Lightly edited for Latin terminology and to support our wonderful Australian accents!

Dr G 0:15
Welcome to The Partial Historians.

We explore all the details of ancient Rome.

Dr Rad 0:23
Everything from political scandals, the love affairs, the battles wage, and when citizens turn against each other. I’m Dr. Rad.

Dr G 0:33
And I’m Dr. G. We consider Rome as the Romans saw it by reading different authors from the ancient past and comparing their stories.

Dr Rad 0:44
Join us as we trace the journey of Rome from the founding of this city.

Dr G 0:57
Hello, and welcome to this very special episode of The Partial Historians. I am Dr. G.

Dr Rad 1:06
And I am Dr. Rad.

Dr G 1:08
And we are really, really excited to welcome back, Neil, for what is part two of our extravaganza exploration of regal Rome in terms of its layout and what’s going on with like, the landscape and things like this. So as you know, Neil is the founder of the popular Ancient Blogger website, and is also the host of the Ancient History Hound podcast. So welcome back now.

Neil – History Hound 1:43
Hello, thank you very much for for having me back on again, you just don’t learn is what I’m getting at

Dr G 1:51
It is very few rare guests who get to come back for a second time.

Dr Rad 1:55
That’s true, that’s true

Dr G 1:56
Consider yourself in excellent company.

Neil – History Hound 1:59
When a teacher says when you meet up with a teacher later on in your life, and they say I remember you from school, and that’s rarely a good thing.

Dr G 2:08
Often, that is the presage of some nasty stories. Oh wow, I was that kid

Neil – History Hound 2:14
Oh, I thought I was quiet. But thank you very much for having my back on apologies to everyone listening, I’ve decided to I visited London recently to go to the British Museum to see an exhibition there, which had great fun out. And of course, I’ve picked up the lurgy or a cold or something. So if I’m sounding a bit sinusy that is, I’m fighting against it with rapid amounts of various lem sippy type things. So I’ll try and be as cogent and as clear as I can be, but stick with me if you can.

Dr Rad 2:44
I think you sound very smooth.

Dr G 2:48
I was gonna say as Australians we tend to like we really quite enjoy the English accent it does have a has a bit of a historical resonance for us. So you really can’t do any wrong.

Neil – History Hound 2:57
Well, I actually got some feedback on I get some occasional feedback on my YouTube channel. And someone give me feedback the other day. Couldn’t couldn’t last one minute with his voice. A fair enough. I just didn’t know my mom was on YouTube. A bit harsh.

Dr Rad 3:18
Like you can’t please them all. We’re constantly told our fellow laughing cackling and being immature so…

Dr G 3:24
How dare you do history and have fun at the same time. I take umbrage.

Dr Rad 3:30
This is very serious stuff.

Neil – History Hound 3:32
Yeah, I can very lightly I gotta be honest with you. I don’t have much in the way of criticism. I have nice comments, which is always nice. But I appreciate that people sometimes get some real unfair, unfair stuff come their way. Just remember if you’re listening to this, most people who do your podcast do it because their hobby. They do it because they love the subject. And all they’re trying to do is share that subject with you. They’re just trying to get ideas across topics across helping you think about a particular area. No one’s charging you necessarily anything. And so sometimes just bear that in mind because I always think of it like shops if I’m walking along a parade of shops. And I don’t need to go into a particular shop to buy an item. I don’t go into that shop and tell them they’re wrong for stocking that item. I just go past the shop. And I think with podcast sometimes we have I think it’s because culturally we’re not yet. fine tuned. We haven’t worked out to critique podcasts correctly. So you can go into these as I said, the shops and think about it again. I go past things all the time. I’m not interested in buying I do not go into that shop and go you know what? That those those size nine high heels you’ve got in the window? Useless. I’d never wear those or not. Not only that, I don’t even like them. I think you’re wrong for having them the shop window. People will be just looking at you going. “Yeah, okay. Do we Do you need some help?” But that’s the way sometimes.

Dr Rad 4:53
And ‘=they’d also be saying, Neil, come on. We know you want their shoes

Neil – History Hound 4:58
With those calves? Probably not? Yeah.

Dr Rad 5:03
Maybe Maybe wax first. Yeah, but no, you know, you’re very right. I don’t think everybody does understand podcasting, particularly for independents like ourselves. I’ve certainly talked to some very intelligent friends of mine who’ve never really put it together that we don’t necessarily get paid per se. Like, we’re very lucky to have patreon supporters as I think you probably are as well. But it’s still not like a paid job. And it’s certainly not enough that we can quit our full time paying jobs to you know, to go into the podcasting.

It’s

Neil – History Hound 5:39
It’s certainly one of the biggest misnomers most people do podcasting. In fact, they sort of 99.9% are doing it. It’s a hobby, they’re not making money out of it. And they’re just trying to create something that people like, so when you’re listening to it, if you can give back criticism, and I’m always up for constructive criticism, I’m fine with that. And people have come back and said, Actually, I’ve had some in the past, that might work better, or I enjoyed this. But you know what, that wasn’t so good. Great. It’s just that kind of mindlessness sometimes in the comment that What are you trying to do? What What’s the achievement value for you by submitting me that anyway, I apologize. But if you are listening, and you are listening to podcasts, currently, you know, sometimes it’s just nice to tell people that you really enjoy their stuff. And if you’ve got constructive, constructive criticism, give it but just just making constructive because, you know, we just, we just want to live our lives and go on with it. Because it’s pretty tough sometimes. So yeah. Anyway, there we go.

How

Dr Rad 6:30
How dare you refuse to change your voice for a listener, Neil?

Neil – History Hound 6:33
Oh yeah, you’re right. On another one, I did have someone call out that I was a bit heavy to be a hoplite. Because I was showcasing a shield.

Dr G 6:43
Ouch

Neil – History Hound 6:43
Oh no, to be fair, I was like, I didn’t have any color that I’m like, Yeah, you know what? I’m a bit overweight, and I’m a bit over age. I’m not a live 19 year old leaping around the battlefield.

Dr G 6:54
But yeah, so also, we just have so much more access to food.

Neil – History Hound 6:59
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Like the world feeds is very well, indeed. And it’s like your chances of looking like a hot plate from the ancient world. Slim to none, when they’re eating a very different diet.