In the rich tapestry of Greek mythology, the Gorgons stand out as iconic and fearsome creatures, particularly Medusa, the most renowned among them. The Gorgons are three monstrous sisters – Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa – who were able to turn anyone who looked at them to stone. Euryale and Stheno were immortal, but Medusa ‘suffered a woeful fate’ and was not. In our documentary, Medusa with Natalie Haynes, we ventured to the beautiful Greek island of Corfu with classicist Natalie Haynes to discover the roots of the extraordinary myth of Medusa and investigate sites closely connec ..read more

The Egyptian city of Alexandria was one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world, and is a place steeped in history, intrigue, and wonder. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC and nurtured by the Ptolemaic dynasty, it has been a centre of scholarship, trade, and culture for over two millennia. Alexandria’s contributions to the world of knowledge through its Great Library and architectural marvels, including its famed lighthouse, remain a symbol of human achievement, and it is also believed to be home to the lost tombs of Alexander and Cleopatra. Islam Issa’s Alexandria: Th ..read more

Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who played a pivotal role in the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. From the age of 16 he grew a reputation in the Roman army, serving in Asia and Cilicia. Returning to Rome, he was pontifex maximus in 63 BC, praetor in 62 BC and propraetor in Hispania Ulterior. He gained the title Imperator (an honorary role assumed by military commanders) in 60 BC and again in 45 BC. Caesar’s military prowess and political acumen propelled him to prominence. His rise was marked by notable victories in Gaul which solidified his reputation ..read more

The Ancient Roman world was a time of grandeur, conquest, and opulence, but it was also marked by political intrigue, power struggles, and the notorious excesses of emperors. In her book, Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World – our book of the month for September 2023 – Mary Beard shines her spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BC) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 AD). Rather than giving a chronological account of Roman rulers one after another, Beard asks bigger questions: What power did emperors actually have, and was the R ..read more

The story of the Greeks who ruled in Asia is one of the most fascinating in antiquity. Situated on the edge of the known world, our knowledge of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom is shrouded in mystery. Yet in 208 BC, it fought for its very existence against one of the greatest warlords of the ancient world. Ascending the throne in 223 BC, Antiochus inherited a Seleucid empire that had fallen into a downward spiral. Bactria, Parthia and large swathes of Syria had been lost by his predecessors. Antiochus aimed to stop the rot and restore uncontested Seleucid supremacy in Asia.  It would be n ..read more

The Wars of the Successors raged wide across the territories of Alexander the Great’s vast empire, which the Macedonian general had brought to heel in conquests that terminated with his death in Babylon in 323 BC. Claimants to his empire, including Alexander’s prestigious bodyguards such as Perdiccas and Ptolemy, fought each other for their piece in the aftermath. Here are more generals who sought fame and fortune in the Wars of the Successors. 1. Antigonus Antigonus served as both a general and a governor in the armies of Alexander the Great and Philip II. Following Alexander’s death, Antigon ..read more

In popular culture, Boudica is a feisty feminist icon with fiery hair, armed with the qualities of leadership, intelligence, aggression and courage. However, the reality is a story of a wronged mother out for vengeance. The story of Boudica, the Celtic queen who waged a brave battle against the Roman Empire in 60 AD, is only recorded in two classical manuscripts. They were written decades after by male classical authors, Tacitus and Cassius Dio. The Iceni tribe Not a great deal is known about the early life of Boudica, but it is understood that she was of royal descent. In the Celtic lang ..read more

The first ever British fleet was called the Classis Britannica. It was the Roman fleet of Britain, created from the 900 ships built for the Claudian invasion in the year 43 AD and had a workforce around 7,000-strong. It was the regional fleet of the province from the mid-1st century to the mid-3rd century AD, at which point it vanishes from records. It was one of ten similar fleets across the empire. It was employed like an army service corps because it reported to the procurator in Britain rather than the governor. The procurator was in charge of tax collection, and so the fleet was there to ..read more

By the end of the 2nd century BC the Roman Republic had become the dominant power in the Mediterranean. Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Philip V, Antiochus III – all had ultimately been unable to stop the rise of this power. Yet in 113 BC a new threat neared Italy – a giant Germanic horde that had descended from the northern reaches of Europe, intent on finding new lands to settle. The greatest threat to Rome since Hannibal Barca, this is the story of the Cimbric War and the shining moment of one of the Republic‘s most famous figures. The coming of the Cimbri In 115 BC a great migration shook central Europ ..read more

In 371 BC two Greek city-states, bound in hatred for one another, prepared to settle their dispute with spear and shield. On the plain of Leuctra, thousands of Theban-lead Boeotian soldiers assembled under the aegis of their leader Epaminondas, a man whose tactical innovations completely revolutionised the Greek art of war. His force aimed to topple the dominant military power of the time: Sparta. The odds appeared firmly stacked against the Thebans. Their army was outnumbered and faced a Spartan-led force confident of victory. Yet the result of this encounter would decide the future for both ..read more