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...
Jul 28, 2017
Augustus was a pretty approachable guy (like us!). We tell some stories about how he made himself readily available to everyone from Senators to the general public. And yet they weren’t trying to assassinate him, which says a lot about his popularity by 18BCE....
Jul 13, 2017
Julia the Elder, the only legitimate biological child of Augustus (which makes her the daughter of the son of god), was definitely hot stuff. She had what you might politely call “a reputation”. We don’t know much about Julia’s childhood or early teenage...
Jul 7, 2017
In this episode, we’re dealing with events around 18 BCE: The most important innovation Aug created around this time was his new small council, the consilium principis (advisers to the princeps). Another thing he did to reduce the numbers of the Senate was...
Jun 15, 2017
A quick break from the Augustus story and the usual frivolity to have one of our long-time listeners on to tell us his incredible story. Arsen Nisanyan has just graduated from the Classics department at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and has...
Jun 8, 2017
Augustus returns to Rome and he comes up with a cunning plan. He also fires the entire Senate. And Cam finds out who Vanna White is. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If you’re seeing this message, it means you aren’t logged in as a...
Jun 2, 2017
When we started this show, we never thought we’d see the day when the Princeps himself would appear on the show as a guest. I guess we’ve made it. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If you’re seeing this message, it means you aren’t logged in as...
May 18, 2017
Aeneas reflects Augustus in many ways – they both place duty and piety before their own comfort and interests. Both have to endure great hardships and struggles for many years before final victory is won and the greater community can enjoy peace and...
May 11, 2017
It would be a mistake to see Virgil’s poetry as purely political propaganda. It was a matter of self-respect for Augustus to allow artists to do their art. He genuinely wanted to be admired for what he did for Rome – not for what he could do to you....
May 5, 2017
“I sing of arms and the man”. Get ready for that classical education you missed out on because your parents couldn’t afford to send you to a real school (in the 19th century)! We’re going to spend the next THREE EPISODES talking about Publius...
Apr 20, 2017
Augustus does a deal with the Parthian King Phraates IV to return the standards and prisoners from their previous encounters with Crassus and Antony. And Lucius Cornelius Balbus gets a triumph – the last one awarded to a private citizen (eg who wasn’t a...
Apr 14, 2017
While Augustus is out in the provinces, he tends to give his speeches in Greek rather than Latin, to show how much he respects their regional cultures. He also treats them fairly magnanimously – except when he doesn’t. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If...
Apr 7, 2017
One of the client rulers who is best known during these years is Herod The Great. He was brutal, but the Romans didn’t mind, as long he paid his respects and kept his people under control. He built the Second Temple in Jerusalem but it didn’t buy him...
Mar 24, 2017
For the people in the provinces, Augustus was just the latest in a long line of foreign rulers, like the Greeks and the Persians before him. For Augustus, the provinces provided him with the opportunity to let it all hang out. [powerpress] HOW TO LISTEN If...
Mar 16, 2017
In the year 22 BCE, Augustus went to Sicily, Rome’s oldest overseas province. But the people aren’t prepared to let him go that easily. They start burning shit down and breaking the furniture, until he pays them attention – and sends Agrippa home....
