The Partial Historians

The Partial Historians
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The Partial Historians

Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Fall of Veii: Part I

    396 BCE is finally here! Rome and Veii have been locked in a competition for space and resources for quite some time and it seems like the tide is about to turn. The year 396 BCE is perhaps one of the most significant years for Rome’s history in the early republic. Given the events at play, this episode is considering how the year begins and it might not be quite the thrills you might expect… Episode 158 - The Fall of Veii - Part I What’s going on with Rome’s magistrates? The situation with Roman magistrates in 396 BCE is quite complicated. We spend some time considering some of the challenges we face with the evidence. There seems to have been some problems with the military tribunes which leads to a changing of the guard. There also seems to be great fondness for the plebeian military tribune with consular power, Publius Licinius Calvus Esquilinus, but is he really fit for public duties? We consider the details. The challenges of our sources While Livy is providing plenty of narrative material for 396 BCE, every other ancient source seems only interested in some of the big ticket events and not the finer details of family politics in Rome. How can we reconcile these different accounts? We’ll try our best! Success is not assured… Rome gets off to a bad start in 396 BCE with a botched Roman ambush led by Genucius and Titinius. After waiting so long with the siege business, it seems a couple of the military tribunes with consular power decide that a little bit of action might be preferable. But things do not go according to plan… it’s only a matter of time for panic to set in among the citizens. Things to listen out for * The gradual Etrurian retreat from Campania in favour of the north * Some of the significant moments between Veii and Rome over the years including the challenges of the Fabian gens at Cremera (see Episode 82 - Fabian Demise), and the death of the king of Veii Lars Tolumnius (see Episode 129 - Lars Tolumnius and the Fate of Fidenae) * The emphasis in the annalist tradition on the TEN years of conflict between Rome and Veii and the questions that might be asked about this * The apparent lack of broader support for Veii from Etruscan city-states further north * Rome’s fondness for building up their enemies in their histories and other written evidence * Chronological issues with the source material? Shock! Horror! * Does Livy have a penchant for family histories? Licinius Macer is worth a mention * Periander as Greek inspiration for Calvus? * Homeric parallels! * Igor taking a short break Our Players for 396 BCE Military Tribunes with Consular Power * Lucius Titinius L. f. M’. n. Pansa Saccus * Publius Licinius P. f. P. n. Calvus Esquilinus (Mr Original Plebeian in the role according to Livy) * Publius Maelius Sp. f. C. n. Capitolinus * Quintus Manlius A. f. Cn. n. Vulso Capitolinus? (Pat) * Gnaeus Genucius M. f. M. n. Augurinus * Lucius Atilius L. f. L. n. Priscus

    59 min

  2. FEB 6

    Special Episode - Gladiator II with Dr Lindsay Steenberg

    WARNING! This post and episode both contain spoilers! In case you somehow missed it, the hotly anticipated sequel to Gladiator (2000) hit the cinemas in November 2024. Gladiator II follows the story of Lucius Verus, the child of Lucilla and the hero from the first film, Maximus. Nope, we did not know that was a thing either. Poster for Gladiator II, Source: https://deadline.com After being separated from his imperial family following the death of his uncle (the Emperor Commodus), the adult Lucius ends up in the arena. His owner is Macrinus, an actual historical figure who served as emperor briefly in the third century CE. The film follows Macrinus and Lucius as they navigate the complicated political world of Rome under the Emperors Caracalla and Geta. Will Lucius be able to rid Rome of corruption, once and for all? (Dramatic music)    Joining us today to discuss the film is the delightful Lindsay Steenberg. Special Episode - Gladiator II with Dr Lindsay Steenberg Dr Lindsay Steenberg is currently a Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at Oxford Brookes University where she co-ordinates the graduate programme in Popular Cinema. Her research interests are violence and gender in postmodern and postfeminist media culture. If you like true crime, you should definitely check out her back catalogue. Whilst Dr Steenberg has published widely and regularly presents at conferences, our particular point of connection is her interest in gladiators.  She is the author Are you not entertained? Mapping the Gladiator Across Visual Media, which was published by Bloomsbury in 2020. We hope that you enjoy our conversation as we unpack: * Arena action scenes * The naumachia scene from Gladiator II * Macrinus’ role in this film * Gladiators and celebrity * Historical inaccuracy on screen * Our vision for Gladiator III: Tokyo Drift Sound Credits Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman. Dr Lindsay Steenberg's book Are You Not Entertained? Mapping the Gladiator Across Visual Media. We recommend it! Automated Transcript Dr Rad 0:00Hello. You're about to listen to a special episode of the partial historians, which is all about gladiator two, a movie set in the reign of Caracalla and Geta so Dr G 0:12so we are warning you in advance that this conversation will contain spoilers if you have not yet gone to the cinemapost haste, my friends get there soon and come back and listen. Or if you don't care about spoilers, and in fact, you thrive in an environment where you know all of the details before you see a thing, please continue listening and enjoying. Dr Rad 0:35And it pretty much turns out as we all expected. Dr G Maximus came back to life and married me in the future, just as I always wanted. Finally, a New Zealand man finds his Australian bride, that's right, and now on with the show you. Music. Welcome to the partial historians. Dr G 1:10We explore all the details of ancient Rome, Dr Rad 1:15everything from political scandals, the love affairs,

    1h 17m

  3. JAN 23

    Enemy of My Dreams with Jenny Williamson

    We were titillated to speak to the scintillating Jenny Freaking Williamson. Jenny is one of the co-hosts of Ancient History Fangirl, which we like to consider part of the unofficial but highly exclusive #ladypodsquad. Jenny and Genn have been on our show before to discuss their fabulous book, Women and Myth, which was released in 2023. However, today Jenny is here to discuss a solo venture. She has just completed her debut novel, a historical romantasy called Enemy of My Dreams, slated for release through Harlequin in February 2025 and available for pre-order now. Enemy of my Dreams is set during the late Roman Empire and focuses on a romance between an imperial princess named Julia and a ‘barbarian’ leader, Alaric of the Visigoths. Julia was largely inspired by three historical figures: Julia the Elder (daughter of Augustus), Galla Placidia and Honoria. It was a delight to hear about Jenny’s process in crafting historical fiction. Special Episode - Enemy of my Dreams with Jenny Williamson Here are some quick bios for the ladies in question! Julia the Elder Julia the Elder was the only biological child of Augustus, which was a nasty surprise for him. Without a son, Julia’s importance as a dynastic pawn grew. She was married off to her cousin, then Augustus’ BFF Agrippa, and finally her stepbrother, Tiberius. Although it was normal for an elite woman to marry for the benefit of her family, there was a huge amount of pressure on Julia to in these scenarios, especially as her last marriage a trainwreck. Let that be a lesson to you – don’t marry your step-siblings! Julia was suddenly exiled for scandalous behaviour in 2 BCE… or was she plotting against her father? We will never know. All we can be sure of is her fate. Julia was exiled to the island of Pandataria before her exile was moved to Rhegium. She was never allowed to return and died of “malnutrition” early in the reign of Tiberius, her ex-husband. If Augustus intended to put his errant daughter in her place, mission accomplished.      Bust of Julia the Elder by Egisto Sani on Flickr.  Galla Placidia Galla Placidia lived hundreds of years after Julia, in the twilight of the 4th century CE. She was the daughter of Theodosius the Great, a very capable emperor (as the name implies). Sadly for Rome, he died in 395 CE and left the purple to his sons, Honorius and Arcadius, who split the empire between them. Placidia resided in the west with Honorius These were not easy times for Rome as there was a lot of movement around their borders, and within the empire. The Goths were looking for a new home and the Roman Empire was it! The Romans were not always so thrilled by this prospect. In Placidia’s youth, they decided to unite behind a Visigoth named Alaric. Alaric was a pretty successful guy, and in 410 CE he and his followers managed to penetrate the walls of Rome itself. It’s hard to put into words how shameful and shocking this event was for the Romans. It became even more embarrassing when Placidia was taken captive by the Goths.

    57 min

  4. JAN 9

    Special Episode – Storylife with Professor Joel P. Christensen

    We are thrilled to sit down in conversation with Professor Joel P. Christensen to discuss some of the ideas explored in his forthcoming book Storylife: On Epic, Narrative, and Living Things (Yale University Press). Special Episode - Storylife with Professor Joel P. Christensen Joel Christensen is Professor of Classical Studies at Brandeis University. He received his BA and MA from Brandeis in Classics and English and holds a PhD in Classics from New York University. His publications include A Beginner’s Guide to Homer (2013), A Commentary on the Homeric Battle of Frogs and Mice with Erik Robinson (2018), Homer’s Thebes: Epic Rivalries and the Appropriation of Mythical Pasts with Elton T. E. Barker (2019),  and The Many-Minded Man: the Odyssey, Psychology, and the Therapy of Epic (2020).  Professor Christensen is also famous online for his engaging work on ancient Greece and Rome through his website sententiaeantiquae.com In this episode we delve into some of the ideas that Christensen explores in his forthcoming book Storylife: On Epic, Narrative, and Living Things (Yale University Press). With chapters exploring Homer in tandem with the COVID-19 pandemic and people’s response to it, particularly in the context of the United States. Things to listen out for * The power of epic poetry to have therapeutic benefits * Biological analogies for the considering the life of narratives * Approaching our understanding of the world and the affairs of people with generosity * The Homeric Question(s) * The dangers of the God-Author model when considering written texts * On the significant differences between oral approaches to authority and written approaches to authority * The arboreal metaphor for thinking of the Iliad and the Odyssey as objects * Epic poetry and DNA (and some of the poetic meter!) * The challenges of language whether its epic poetry or just going to language class * The problem with Greek heroes and the protective nature of epic poetry * The opportunity for ‘rehumanisation’ that comes from engaging with stories * A call for an education revolution! The cover for Storylife It's All Greek to Me! Keen on the Ancient Greek recited by Professor Christensen in this episode? He recites the opening line of the Iliad: μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

    1h 8m

  5. 12/26/2024

    From Delphi, With Love

    In 398, the Romans received some worrying signs from the gods, and now we return with a special message for them: From Delphi, With Love. Episode 157 - From Delphi, With Love In 397 BCE, the Romans were waging war on all fronts. On top of their ongoing siege at Veii, they were contesting their hold on Anxur with the Volscians, and their colony at Labici against the Aequians. Never ones to shy away from drama, the Romans were also dealing with internal division between the patricians and the plebeians. PHEW! Sounds exhausting. Rude Raiders The Tarquinii, from another part of Etruria, also noticed that the Romans had a lot on their plate. Now was their moment to attack and score some booty! The Romans were highly offended that anyone could even THINK of attacking them when they were already so busy. It was time for an etiquette lesson… The Romans wiped the floor with these rude raiders, but the rest of their campaigns were in a stalemate. They weren’t losing, but they weren’t winning either. Clearly they needed some divine help, direct from Delphi. The Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The ambassadors that had been seen to the Delphic Oracle after the sudden rise in the levels of the Alban Lake in 398 returned at this moment. They confirmed what the kidnapped soothsayer from Veii had told them in 398. Lower the levels of the lake and you will have your victory at Veii. Suddenly their captive seemed much more valuable. Getting Square Aside from their lack of military victories and the higher levels of water in the Alban Lake, the Romans discovered another sign that all was not right. When the magistrates for 397 had been proclaimed, something had gone wrong. Magistrates were proclaimed during the annual Latin festival for Jupiter Latiaris. If a mistake was made during the sacrifice or proclamation, there was only one thing to do. Get rid of this lot of magistrates and start all over. An interregnum ensued whilst the Romans sorted out their magistrate woes. Very unusually, the Romans set their sights on someone who was not even campaigning, Publius Licinius Calvus. Calvus had been the first confirmed plebeian to become military tribune with consular power and was known to be very moderate. But how would the Romans pull off his election? Tune in to find out more! Things to Look Out For: * Aeneas’ dad, Latinus   * The Etruscans giving Veii the cold shoulder, AGAIN! * Tips on the proper way to sacrifice a bull * Volcanic activity * Roman-style Christmas hampers * Highlights of happenings in the wider Mediterranean world Our Players for 397 BCE Military Tribune with Consular Power * L. Iulius L. f. Vopisci n. Iullus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 401 * L. Furius L. f. Sp. n. Medullinus (Pat) Cos. 413, 409, Mil. Tr. c.p. 407, 405, 398, 395, 394, 391 * L. Sergius M. f. L. n. Fidenas (Pat) * A. Postumius – f. – n. Albinus Regillensis (Pat) * P. Cornelius P. f. M. n. Maluginensis (Pat) Cos. 393? Mil. Tr. c.p. 390 * A. Manlius A. f. Cn. n. Vulso Capitolinus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 405, 402 Legates; Ambassadors

    59 min

  6. 12/12/2024

    Special Episode – Totally Chaotic History with Dr Emma Southon

    Are you ready to have a Totally Chaotic time? We certainly hope so, as we are thrilled to welcome Dr Emma Southon back on the show for the FOURTH TIME (not the third, as incorrectly said by Dr Rad). Emma has released her first children’s book, which was co-authored with Greg Jenner and illustrated by Rikin Parekh. Special Episode - Totally Chaotic History with Dr Emma Southon The cover of Totally Chaotic History: Roman Britain Gets Rowdy! This powerhouse trio have produced Totally Chaotic History: Roman History Gets Rowdy! Whilst the target audience for this latest instalment in the Totally Chaotic series is 7-12 year olds, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Turns out that we didn’t know as much about Roman Britain as we thought!   If you would like to chuckle and LOL your way through the lengthy history of the British and their interactions with the Romans, you need to grab a copy of this book. We were intrigued to find out how Greg, Emma and Rikin managed to pack so much historiography into a children’s history book. It was intriguing to find out about the process that went into building the layers of historical meaning on every page.    Are you ready to get rowdy? Things to Listen Out For: * Robot hamsters * Chaos ratings * Tips on sight-seeing in Britain * Emma’s upcoming projects Ask Santa for Totally Chaotic History: Roman History Gets Rowdy! Naturally, Mr Claus shops at your local independent bookstore. Want more from Emma Southon? Check out our previous interview about A History of Rome in 21 Women from 2023. Sound Credits Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman. Automated Transcript Dr Rad 0:15Music. Welcome to the partial historians. Dr G 0:18We explore all the details of ancient Rome, Dr Rad 0:23everything from political scandals, the love affairs, the battles wage and when citizens turn against each other, I'm Dr Rad and Dr G 0:33I'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 0:44Join us as we trace the journey of Rome from the founding of the city. Welcome to a special episode of the partial historians. I am one of your hosts, Dr Rad, and I am Dr G and Dr G, we are joined by someone who is now, I think, a triple guest, which I don't think we've ever had before. We are joined by Dr Emma Southon, who is without doubt, our top drag race fan to have on the podcast, but she also happens to be a top notch historian and hilarious, so that's very handy for us. She is the author of a biography of Agrippina the Younger as well as a book called A fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and, most recently, a history of Rome in 21 women, all of which you need to check out if you have not read them already, Emma is also the co host of the podcast. History is sexy, but we are here today to graduate her on her latest book, which is totally chaotic history Roman Britain gets rowdy, and in this collaboration, Emma gets together with a podcaster and all around famous author Greg Jenner and illustrator Rikin Parekh. So Emma, welcome,

    53 min

  7. 11/28/2024

    Episode 156 – Kidnapped!

    In 398 BCE, the Romans were still enmeshed in their siege at Veii. Whilst the Romans waited, worrying portents started to appear. What did they all mean? Episode 156 - Kidnapped! The most concerning portent was a sudden increase in the levels of the lake in the Alban Woods. It was positively spooky. An embassy was despatched to visit the Delphic Oracle so that the mystery could be unravelled. Lake Albano, courtesy of Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulconologia. Whilst the ambassadors were on the road, some casual conversation between enemies led to a revelation.  An old man from Veii seemed to have the answers the Romans needed, and unfortunately this led to him being kidnapped and interrogated. How else could the Romans get the information? They want the truth! The old man and the Oracle both indicated that the Romans needed to figure out a way to draw off the water from the lake. Then, and only then, Veii would fall, and the Romans would be victorious. Sounds simple! Just make the water go away, Rome. Things to listen out for: * LOTS of patricians in power * Dangerous shortages of Etruscan soothsayers * Sneaky Roman youths * Road trips! * An owl suddenly covering for Igor Our Players for 398 BCE Military Tribunes with Consular Power * L. Valerius L. f. P. n. Potitus (Pat) Cos. 392, Mil. Tr. c.p. 414, 406, 403, 401 * M. Valerius M. f. M. n. Lactucinus Maximus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 395 * M. Furius L. f. Sp. n. Camillus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 401, 394, 386, 384, 381 * L. Furius L. f. Sp. n. Medullinus (Pat) Cos. 413, 409. Mil. Tr. c.p. 407, 405, 397, 295, 394. 391 * Q. Servilius Q. f. P. n. Fidenas (Pat) Mil. Tr. 402, 395, 390, 388, 386 * Q. Sulpicius Ser. f. Se. n. Camerinus Cornutus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 402 Legates, Ambassadors * (Cn. Cornelius) Cossus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 406, 404, 401 * (P.) Licinius (Calvus Esquilinus) Mil. Tr. c.p. 400, 396 * (L.) Valerius Potitus (Pat) Cos. 392, Mil. Tr. c.p. 414, 406, 403, 401, 398 OR * (C.) Valerius Potitus (Volusus) (Pat) Cos. 410, Mil. Tr. c.p. 415, 404 * (K.) Fabius Ambustus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c.p. 410, 404, 401, 395, 309? OR * (Num.) Fabius Ambustus (Pat) Our Sources * Dr Rad reads Livy, 5.14-15. * Dr G reads Dionysius of Halicarnassus 12.10-33; Cicero, On Divination, 1.44; Diodorus Siculus, 14.82; Plutarch, Life of Camillus 2.3-4.4. * Bradley, G. 2020. Early Rome to 290 BC (Edinburgh University Press). Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association) * Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c.

    57 min

  8. 11/14/2024

    Special Episode - Gods and Mortals with Liv Albert

    We love it when we get to chat with some of our podcast friends, and this week we got to catch up with the hilarious Liv Albert from 'Let's talk about myths, baby!' to talk about relationships between gods and mortals. Please be warned, this episode does contain references to sexual assault. Special Episode - Gods and Mortals with Liv Albert The lovely Liv Albert herself! When we get together with Liv, we pick a theme and compare the Roman and Greek myths on the topic. This episode, we decided to compare what each civilisation had to say about gods and mortals get involved with each other. We found some interesting points of divergence as we delved into the tales of Rhea Silvia and Mars, Servius Tullius and Fortuna, and Aphrodite and Anchises. Join us for this mini-myth conversation!   Things to Look Out For: * Mars Bar controversy * The debut of 'The Trojan Connection' * Roman studio executives planning to reboot Aeneas' myth * Bold promises about re-reading The Aeneid Sound Credits Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman.

    56 min
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About

Dr Rad and Dr G explore all things ancient Rome. With source analysis, interviews with experts, and looking at how the ancient world appears in popular culture, we take you you through the sources for ancient Rome while having a good laugh along the way. Dr Rad is an expert on Kubrick's Spartacus and Dr G is an expert on the Vestal Virgins.

Information

  • Creator
    The Partial Historians
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Partial Historians
  • Show Website
    The Partial Historians

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