The Line of Augustus
With the demise of Nero – the last Julio-Claudian emperor – you would be forgiven for thinking that the extinguishing of that dynasty...
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Sentius the Centurion and Trajan's Conquest of Adiabene
The otherwise unknown Sentius wrote his name into the annals of Roman history, specifically Cassius Dio LXVIII.22.3, on the backdrop of...
A Soldier and a Scholar 9 - Athens Part I
Episode 9: Aric and Dr. Crawford turn their attention to the other great city state of fifth century BC Greece... Athens...
GoTAH VIb: The Harbinger of Change - the Reception of Comets in Eastern Traditions
The mixed reactions to the Red Comet recorded in A Clash of Kings and the concordant early episodes of the second season of Game of...
The Intercalary Triumphs and the Missing Month
What do the Roman victories of Gaius Duilius over the Sicilians and Carthaginians in 260/259BC, Publius Cornelius Lentulus over the...
Monte Cassino and the Destruction of Historical Sites
Is it ever permissible to destroy a site or building of historical value because of possible military applications? The damage done by...
A Soldier and A Scholar 8 - "Because Sparta was Sparta" Part IV - Spartan Military Might
A (hopefully) fun and accessible portal into Ancient History, with some academic and 'real world' insights. Episode 8: Aric and Dr....
GoTAH VIa: Harbinger of Change - The Reception of the Red Comet
As they streak across the sky, striking awe into onlookers, it is easy to forget that such comets could, with just a few degrees...
King After Death – The Post-Mortem Reign of Tarquin the Elder
I have written elsewhere of an instance of the reign of a Persian king, Shapur II, technically beginning before he was born with him...
Not Just the Spanish Armada - Some Uses of Fire Ships in the Ancient World
At midnight on 28 July 1588, a squadron of eight warships were filled them with pitch, brimstone, tar and some gunpowder, and cast them...
A Soldier and a Scholar 7: "Because Sparta was Sparta" Part III - Government and Legal System
A (hopefully) fun and accessible portal into Ancient History, with some academic and 'real world' insights. Episode 7: Aric and Dr....
GoTAH V - The Titan and the Colossus
So far we have seen ancient influences on the use of molten metal, battlefield tactics, the burning of a daughter in search of divine...
The Curious Case of Vetranio III: Loyalism or Usurpation?
But what if there was no such enmity between Constantina and Constantius? What if she was not acting as a kingmaker in her own right, but...
Before the Pyramids: Neolithic Newgrange
It was this writer's great good fortune to enter the Neolithic passage tomb of Newgrange and some of its surrounding environs and...
A Soldier and A Scholar 6 - "Because Sparta Was Sparta" Part II - Spartan Childhood and The Agoge
A (hopefully) fun and accessible portal into Ancient History, with some academic and 'real world' insights. Episode 6: Dr. Crawford and...
Game of Thrones and Ancient History III: Burning a Princess – Shireen and Iphigenia
In S05E09 "The Dance of Dragons," Game of Thrones viewers were confronted with perhaps the most heart-wrenching and harrowing scenes of...
The Curious Case of Vetranio Part II: Constantina Augusta
“her pride was swollen beyond measure; she was a Fury in mortal form, incessantly adding fuel to her husband's rage, and as thirsty for...
The Bann Disc
The Bann Disc was found in March 1939 by men dredging the east bank of the River Bann near Loughan Island, Co. Derry just above Loughan...
A Soldier and A Scholar 5 - ”Because Sparta was Sparta” Part 1
A (hopefully) fun and accessible portal into Ancient History, with some academic and 'real world' insights. Episode 5: Aric and Dr....
GoTAH II: Davos, Ramsay and the Cannae Stratagem at the Battle of the Bastards
In 216BC, the Italian countryside played host to the Battle of Cannae between the forces of Carthage and the legions of the Roman...
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