Jan 10, 2018
* In 2 BCE, Aug turned 60 and was made consul for the 13th time. * Lucius Caesar turned 15 and became a man. * He was made an augur and joined his brother as a leader of the youth. * He was also permitted to attend the Senate and marked down to be Consul in 4 CE. * On...
Jan 7, 2018
* Augustus is left all alone to run the empire. * In 5 BCE he becomes consul for the 12th time – 18 years since the last time he held the post. * As consul, he led out his oldest adopted son, Caius, on the day he first donned his toga virilis. * Not long...
Dec 31, 2017
Sorry folks. I messed up the first file. Here’s the correct episode. Tiberius suddenly declared he wanted to withdraw from public life. Something happened. Behind the closed doors of the imperial court, there must have been an argument, and Tiberius lost it. He said...
Dec 15, 2017
Tiberius is riding high, the last man standing – until he starts to be overshadowed by Gaius and Lucius Caesar, Augustus’ adopted sons. It is declared that both will become Consul when they are 20 years old. Meanwhile Tiberius is sent away to Parthia. Cam...
Dec 8, 2017
Livia is the Melania Trump of Rome. Julia falls pregnant to Tiberius but the baby is stillborn, which is the beginning of the end for them. Tiberius crosses the Rhine in case the Germanic tribes think the death of Drusus means they are free. To make him feel special,...
Dec 1, 2017
We’re back after a short break. To be fair, this episode started off pretty simple. But quickly it went to some pretty dark places. We’re sorry. You might want to listen to this alone, in a dark room, with a shower handy. Don’t forget to check out...
Nov 16, 2017
Hey folks, I’m trying to gauge interest in a 2018 tour of Europe. I’ve had a bunch of people email me over the last six months asking for details – well, here they are. It’s hard to come up with exact dates or costs until we have a much better...
Nov 4, 2017
10 BCE – Drusus barely escapes from Germany. Augustus celebrates his 52nd birthday. Octavia dies. Antonia gives birth to Tiberius Claudius Drusus – the future emperor Claudius. 9 BCE – Drusus becomes consul. Then he goes back to Germany where he is...
Oct 27, 2017
In 12 BCE, Drusus completed a census in the three Gauls. The other thing Drusus was responsible for during this period was getting ready to cross the Rhine. Around the winter of 13-12 BCE, there was another raid by German warriors into the Roman provinces. It was...
Oct 20, 2017
A very special episode. Over the last 12 months, there’s been a ton of articles in the media comparing Donald Trump to Julius Caesar. A recent Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar in New York depicted Caesar as Donald Trump. We decided that as WE...
Oct 8, 2017
A concise history of both Julius Caesar & Augustus. Take from reputable sources with added humour (much needed sometimes as Ancient Rome can get somewhat tedious). Both Cam the Australian guy & Ray the American fella (Thought I’d specify as many get you both...
Oct 6, 2017
The loss of Agrippa was a huge blow, but Tiberius and Drusus stepped up. However, now Augustus’ daughter Julia was now single again. Who could he find to marry her? Also – what kind of board games did they play in Rome? [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If you’re...
Sep 28, 2017
Augustus buries Agrippa. After the funeral, attention turned to the matter of Agrippa’s will and the disbursement of his enormous estate. Work began on the Ara Pacis Augustae, a temple dedicated to the Augustan peace, that featured the Princeps, his family and...
Sep 22, 2017
Agrippa returned to Rome in 13, stayed a few months, long enough to knock Julia up again, then left to deal with some military problems in Illyricum. On his way back to Rome he fell ill – and died. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If you’re seeing this message,...
Sep 8, 2017
When Lepidus finally died in 13 BCE, Augustus finally accepted the title of Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of Rome. It gave him the responsibility for the entire Roman state cult. Only emperors would hold that role until Rome fell and the pope took the title In...
Sep 1, 2017
Augustus brought better roads, wine and a taste for the nicer things in life to the Gauls. He also brought other aspects of Roman culture, like their religions, their amphitheatres, and he banned human sacrifices. But one of his appointees took advantage of the new...
Aug 25, 2017
Augustus goes back to Gaul and brings his stepsons, Drusus and Tiberius, to help conquer the hilltop tribes in the Swiss Alps. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If you’re seeing this message, it means you aren’t logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the...
Aug 11, 2017
In 17 BCE Augustus decided to throw a huge party, The Secular Games, which was held only once every 110 years. Somehow this gets us talking about sex, animal sacrifices, holy trinities, Barabbas and Leviticus. Don’t ask me. I just work here. ...
Aug 4, 2017
And Im not ashamed to admit it! This isn’t going to be one of the usual witty and funny reviews Ray and Cam usually get, this is just a big thank you to these guys for igniting my love and passion for history, especially roman history. Ray and Cam tell the story...
Aug 4, 2017
There’s a story about how Augustus dined one night with an old friend, Vedius Pollio, an equestrian known for his wealth, love of luxury, cruelty – and his pet lampreys. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If you’re seeing this message, it means you...
