By Nick Barksdale (host) and Rebecca Futo Kennedy Abstract: Dr Futo Kennedy describes the 2017 controversy around the presence of non-white soldiers in Roman armies stationed in Britain which Mary Beard and other…
By Tom Sapsford Abstract: In this article, Sapsford explores the relationship between ancient military cultures and gender through instances of boundary-breaking behaviour. He examines the Graeco-Roman cinaedus, a…
by Christa Steinby Abstract: Steinby provides an account of the Second Punic War which shows that whilst there were relatively few direct naval engagements in the Second Punic War, events at sea should not be…
By Melvyn Bragg (host), Mary Beard, Jo Quinn and Ellen O’Gorman (guests) Abstract: Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Destruction of Carthage. The North African city of Carthage was rich and powerful, but in the…
By Rosemary Barrow Abstract: In this chapter, Barrow uses Poynter’s Faithful unto Death and other Victorian artistic works such as Bulwer-Lytton’s The Last Days of Pompeii to explore the way in which the golden-age…
By Hannah Cornwell Abstract: In this article, Cornwell examines the place of imperialism in the Roman mindset. She shows that the extension of Roman influence abroad was conceived of by some as a profoundly ethical…
By Joanne E. Ball Abstract: Ball discusses battlefield looting in Rome’s wars, showing that this was a phenomenon which occurred extensively, not least given the absence of fallen swords, shields and armour from areas…
By Rachel Feig Vishina Abstract: Vishnia provides an account of the apparently contradictory evidence in literature from both the Republican and Imperial periods and then tries to divine who the lixae were. Ultimately,…
By Kate Gilliver Abstract: The paper discusses the appearance of Roman armies in battle and the contribution of arms and equipment to intimidating displays in the spectacle of pitched battle. After arguing for…
By Tristan Hughes (host) and Jo Ball Abstract: We know all about the battles of the Roman Empire: the opposing sides, their weapons and incentives. But if history is written by the winners, what happened if you lost?…