Mar 16, 2024
As soon as Nero was declared dead by the Senate, rumours started appearing that he was still alive, just in hiding, waiting for the right time to re-claim the throne. Those stories persisted… for centuries. Just a reminder – this episode, and the rest of our new...
Mar 2, 2024
Vitellius starts his march on Rome with seven legions. He’s 54, popular with his men, and a good career behind him. But his troops’ reasons for supporting his bid for emperor may have less to do with him, and more to do with their own interests. On the other hand,...
Feb 18, 2024
With Galba dead, Otho is made the new emperor of Rome. Long may he reign. Just a reminder – this episode, and the rest of our new series, will available exclusively to our subscribers. Join now for less than a cup of coffee. If you're seeing this message, it...
Feb 10, 2024
At the altar of Apollo, Galba was still praying to the gods to protect him and the empire, when suddenly he got news that a senator of unknown identity was being conducted to the Praetorian barracks with an armed guard. A little while later the man was identified as...
Jan 20, 2024
Otho didn’t take the news of Piso being chosen as Galba’s heir very well. He’d already been screwed over by one emperor and he bloody well wasn’t going to let it happen a second time. A plot is formed to usurp the throne. Just a reminder – this episode, and the...
Dec 22, 2023
On Jan 1, 69 CE, the beginning of the new Roman year, life looked pretty rosy for Emperor Galba. He had no obvious threats to his power from outside or inside the empire. On Jan 3, the Senate offered vows and sacrifices for his long health and reign. Unbeknownst to...
Dec 10, 2023
In our last episode, we finished on June 9, 68. Nero was 30 years and six months old. He had ruled for 13 years and 8 months. On June 10, 68, while he was still in Spain, The Senate declared Galba to be the new Emperor. The first person from outside of the...
Dec 7, 2022
News of Galba’s betrayal makes its way to Nero who is shocked into action. He sends troops to stop Galba – but they switch sides and join the conspiracy. Nero goes into hiding with the intent of running away to Alexandria and Greece, but even that plan is...
Nov 19, 2022
Nero celebrates two official triumphs. Not for military victories, but for singing. It’s the last straw. A new rebellion is formed, lead by Vindex and Galba. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium...
Nov 2, 2022
Nero didn’t visit Athens or Sparta while in Greece because he was scared of religious and political retribution. Besides, he was too busy trying to become the periodonikes, the Grand Slam champion of all of the Games. But things weren’t going well back at Rome, so he...
Oct 22, 2022
The year is 67 CE. Nero is still on his 14 month tour of Greece. He dropped into the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and tickled the Omphalos. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of...
Sep 30, 2022
It’s 67 CE. Before he sets out for his World Tour of Greece, Nero first needs to insult the Senate, then he needs to deal with a new conspiracy, this one involving Corbulo. While Greece, he becomes unhappy with Vespasian who apparently doesn’t clap loudly enough at...
Sep 17, 2022
Nero gets, not one, but TWO new wives. One of them is a dude. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of episodes on the lives of Julius, Augustus, Tiberius,...
Aug 30, 2022
Nero’s first attempt at building a single property that covered his estates on the Palatine Hill and the Esquiline Hill was The Domus Transitoria, the House of Passage. It burned down in the Great Fire. He replaced it with the Domus Aurea (Golden House), designed by...
Aug 20, 2022
Nero built his Domus Aurea between 64-68 and, in doing so, revolutionised Roman architecture. He also built a massive statue of himself, because, hey, why not? If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the...
Aug 12, 2022
Nero was a lover, not a fighter. Not a great leader of armies. He thought of himself as an artist. He wanted to be on stage, not on horseback. He was very proud that he closed his Janus. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If...
Jul 23, 2022
If you want to marry a woman, remember to kill her husband first If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of episodes on the lives of Julius, Augustus, Tiberius,...
Jun 20, 2022
The Stoics Thrasea and Soranus go on trial. And we run out of Tacitus. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber. If want to listen to the premium episodes of the series - hundreds of episodes on the lives of Julius, Augustus,...
Jun 11, 2022
When you’ve been up to no good, and you get caught out, you have two options. Nero, like Ray, is a Number 2 kind of guy. In this episode, he goes after two significant Stoics, Thrasea Paetus and Barea Soranus, with trumped up charges. And we farewell one of our fans...
May 24, 2022
A family commits suicide together to escape Nero’s prosecution, while others just get stabbed to death. But Tacitus’ explanations for Nero’s behaviour still leave us scratching our heads. If you're seeing this message, it means you aren't logged in as a subscriber....
