Two Friends Talk History

In this episode of Two Friends Talk History, host Zofia is joined by Stefano Carlo Sala, a doctoral researcher at the University of St Andrews, to explore the fascinating world of Dionysius of Halicarnassus—a Greek historian living in Rome at the dawn of the Empire. Together, they dive into how Dionysius used monuments, myth, and memory to connect early Roman history to a classical Greek past. If you're curious about how contemporaneous historians tried to explain Rome's rise, justify its rule over the Greek world, and shape cultural identity in an evolving political landscape, this episode is for you.

What did it mean to be bought, sold, and sexually exploited in the ancient world? In this powerful episode of Two Friends Talk History, Zofia is joined by doctoral candidate Florence Felsheim to explore the hidden realities of sexual trafficking in ancient Greece and Rome. Drawing on literary texts, archaeological evidence, and cognitive science, Florence unpacks how systems of enslavement and exploitation operated in societies often romanticized in popular culture.We examine the scale of the ancient slave trade, the gendered dimensions of exploitation, and how enslaved women were commodified—expected to provide not just labor, but sexual access. From Roman brothels to banquet halls, the episode reveals how normalized sexual violence was embedded in the fabric of ancient daily life.As part of Sexual Violence Awareness Month, this conversation sheds light on uncomfortable histories, connecting past systems of abuse to present-day conversations on power, consent, and human dignity. Listener discretion is advised.

In the latest episode of Two Friends Talk History, Zofia and Dr Briana King return to our discussion into Classical Receptions studies. This time, we go into some of the heavier subject matter that we felt deserved its own episode.  Briana joins me to unpack the dark and often overlooked threads of sexual violence in ancient history and its modern reinterpretations through case studies from film and television. We discuss ancient precedents for modern cinematic and television representations of sexual violence - made spectacle – in retellings of Roman narratives.We're diving deep into how classical reception shapes public perception—and why that matters.

In the latest episode of Two Friends Talk History,  Zofia invites the brilliant Florence Felsheim, a PhD candidate in Classics at the University of St Andrews, for a fascinating deep dive into the intersection of virtual reality (VR), art, and cultural heritage. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the ways we visualize and interpret the past—and why that matters for both academics and the general public.From high-tech field surveys to immersive visualizations that bring ancient history to life, Digital Archaeology is revolutionizing how we explore and share the past. But with innovation comes big questions—where does creativity meet caution in this rapidly evolving field?If you're fascinated by history, technology, or the future of cultural heritage, this episode is a must-listen. Florence Felsheim's insights into the ethical and methodological complexities of virtual archaeology will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the ways technology is reshaping our connection to the past. Tune in to Two Friends Talk History to explore how VR is breathing new life into ancient worlds—and what that means for historians, artists, and the curious minds who love to explore them.To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In part 2 of our collaboration, Zofia guest-hosts the Visualising War and Peace Podcast to interview project founder, Dr. Alice König. In this conversation, Alice she unveils the groundbreaking Ancient Peace Studies Network—the first of its kind dedicated to examining how peace was understood, experienced, and represented across different ancient cultures.Discover why peace narratives have received far less scholarly attention than war stories, and how Dr. König's team is working to change that by investigating whose voices and experiences are reflected in ancient accounts of peace and reconciliation.What can ancient approaches to conflict resolution teach us about modern peacebuilding? In this thought-provoking special episode, we explore how elite-centered peace narratives shaped societal attitudes in antiquity and continue to influence our understanding of peace today. Dr. König reveals how her interdisciplinary network is "reading against the grain" of ancient sources to uncover ordinary people's lived experiences of peace—voices that have been historically marginalized but might offer valuable insights for contemporary peace literacy.Don't miss our conversation about bridging academic research with creative outreach, as Dr. König shares details about the network's collaboration with a professional theater company, NMT Automatics, and the upcoming multi-authored publication, "New Visions of Ancient Peace." This episode offers a perfect blend of historical scholarship and practical application, demonstrating how ancient wisdom might help us visualize and build more effective paths to peace in our modern world. We hope you enjoy this collab episode!If you would like to get in touch with Alice regarding her work, please visit the University of St Andrews' Visualising War website and the Visualising Peace Project.The music for the episode was composed by Jonathan Young, and Zofia Guertin mixed the episode. To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

Send us a textIn this special crossover episode, I interview Alice König about her recent research on ancient habits of visualising war and peace on her podcast, the Visualising War and Peace Podcast. Alice has recently co-edited a new book with Nicolas Wiater, on ancient conflict narratives, called Visualising War across the Ancient Mediterranean: Interplay between Conflict Narratives in Different Genres and Media (Routledge 2025). In this podcast episode, Alice introduces the book and discusses some of the themes at the heart of it.This episode explores the conception of visualisation: the ways in which narratives of war not only reflect or depict conflict but also envision it, in ways that shape how conflict gets pursued or prevented in the real world. She also discusses the role that interplay between narratives and discourses can play in cementing and amplifying influential war imaginaries. And she considers the impacts which all of this war-storytelling has on ordinary lives in the everyday. We hope you enjoy this collab episode. If you would like to get in touch with Alice regarding her work, please visit the University of St Andrews' Visualising War website and the Visualising Peace Project.The music for the episode was composed by Jonathan Young, and Zofia Guertin mixed the episode. To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, I interview  Dr Carlos Machado from the University of St Andrews about the social perceptions and realities of poverty in the Late Antique period. Dr Machado is a Roman historian whose work focuses on aspects of urban space in the Late Antique Roman world, from elite building, honorific monuments, and domestic spaces; he is now working on shedding a light on the strata of society that seldom received attention in the historical record or monumental commemorations - the poor - which is what we shall dig into today. We discuss preconceptions about who the 'poor' of antiquity were, and how the early Christian church tried to deal with the shifting fortunes of their communities when facing historical realities of cycles of poverty in the past. I have included some links below for anyone wishing to find out more about Dr Machado's  recent publications, and his upcoming project work. Urban space and aristocratic power in late antique Rome: AD 270-535Machado, C., 25 Oct 2019, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 317 p.The epigraphic cultures of Late AntiquityBolle, K. (ed.), Machado, C. (ed.) & Witschel, C. (ed.), 2017, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag. 615 p. (Heidelberger althistorische Beiträge und epigraphische Studien; vol. 60)Dr Machado has recently won an AHRC-DFG partnership grant for a project entitled ‘Land and loyalty: the politics of land in the later Roman world (4th to 6th century)'. This forthcoming project will analyse the politics of imperial and royal land grants and how this practice changed the dynamics of Mediterranean societies between 300 and 600 CE. To follow Carlos on Twitter (X); @AmianoMarcelino, or you can check out his Academia.edupage or University of St Andrews contact page. To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtist

In this episode, I conduct an in-person interview with the Assistant Director of the British School at Athens, Dr Giorgos Mouraditis. Giorgos' research focuses on athletic self-representation in inscriptions from the Hellenistic and Imperial periods.  Listeners will be familiar with the British School of Athens from the last episode when I met with its Director, Professor Rebecca Sweetman, to discuss the exciting public engagement work that the institute is working on.  I returned to the BSA for a short visit in May of this year during the fieldwork I am conducting for my thesis chapter in Greece. I thought it might be fun to throw my mic in my rucksack and do some field interviews while I am on the road!Giorgos' upcoming project, ‘Athletics and Paideia' investigates the role of monuments in preserving and the diffusion of knowledge about Hellenic culture and civic education. Giorgos has an upcoming publication that explores Money and Honour in athletics this autumn, and a chapter in a forthcoming volume on Paideia and Performance (2023).You can follow Dr Mouraditis on Twitter @Giorgos_m776 and Instagram @Giorgos.m776. If you would like to find out more about what is going on at the British School at Athens, you can check out their website, www.bsa.ac.uk, or linktree . To read his publications and stay connected through Academia.edu.  If you would like to get in touch, you can contact Dr Mouraditis by email, contact Giorgios at: assistant.director@bsa.ac.uk If you would like to apply to the BSA for ‘Communicating Archaeology: knowledge exchange, impact, and public engagement', apply here: https://www.bsa.ac.uk/courses/communicating-archaeology/ This course will be aimed at PG students or professionals looking to gain hands on experience communicating archaeology to public audiences. This is a brand new programme, with exciting seminars and speakers planned including the fabulous Classicist and award-winning author, Natalie Haynes, journalists, heritage practitioners, and me, podcast and graphic art nerd, Zofia!The deadline for application is October 30th  2023.To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this week's episode, Zofia flips the script and is interviewed by returning guest, Dr Briana King. This episode will be part one of an ongoing look at how the ancient world is used in different media today!I discuss with Dr King the history of “Classics” and what we mean when we discuss classical reception. Our first conversation is meant to lay down the foundational context for understanding what it means when classical images and stories are incorporated into modern media through books, music, film, and more. I will explore the history of the transmission of the ‘Classical Past' into the  Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, with a special focus on the art of Empire of Jacques-Louis David, and Neo-Classical Edinburgh and its architectural legacy of appropriating the past to project a colonial future of the British Empire.   To follow Dr King's academic work, check out her page on Academia.Edu.My chapter in the Palgrave Macmillan volume, Comics, and Archaeology: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-98919-4_5To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this week's episode, Zofia interviews the Director of the British School at Athens (BSA), Professor Rebecca Sweetman. Rebecca has stepped into the role of Director of the BSA for the next few years and has really hit the ground running. We discuss the role and responsibilities of the institute and the exciting outreach she is leading with her fantastic teams in Athens and Knossos. With the 50th anniversary of the Fitch Laboratory coming up next year, we discuss how researchers, academics, artists, poets, and more are making use of the incredible library, archives, and collaborative space to engage with  Greece of the past and future. Professor Sweetman has published on the religious networks and economies of Roman and Late Antique Crete, and the Peloponnesus. She is currently working on a project on the Cycladic islands and the networks that connected them throughout changing social circumstances in the Roman and Late Antique periods. She is also one of my PhD supervisors at the University of St Andrews!Follow this link, if you would like to read about Rebecca's fascinating work!To get in touch with the BSA, you can email admin@bsa.ac.uk, and for more information about the exciting events taking place, check out the link here.You can follow the exciting events going on at the BSA on Twitter, Facebook , andYoutube !To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. See you soon with new friends, on Two Friends.

In this episode of Two Friends Talk History, Zofia interviews Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of St Andrews, and founder of the Visualising War and Peace Project, Dr Alice König. In this interview, Zofia asks Alice about ideas of representing war in antiquity, and if concepts like a ‘peace movement' was possible in a period of Roman Imperium. We discuss the absences in war narratives, and war's impacts on women and children, and then turn our attention to the podcast series that Dr König and Dr Nicolas Wiater, launched in 2021, the Visualising War and Peace podcast. The Visualsing War and Peace podcast has over 60 episodes and seeks to present listeners with cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives on how war and peace were visualised in the past and how new narratives these established frameworks are seeking to disrupt the ways we talk about, teach and reproduce conflicts.We also discuss the upcoming exhibition Alice has organised with the artist, Diana Forster, opening May 25th at the Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews, 'Somewhere to Stay'. The exhibition focuses on the forced migration experienced by Diana's mother, a young Polish woman, during WWII.To hear Diana's episodes, you can listen to Art and War with Diana Forster or Visualising Forced Migration Through History.We also discussed the upcoming exhibition collaboration with Hugh Kinsella Cunningham,  titled 'Picturing Peace in the Congo'. you can find more information linked here. You can get in touch with Dr Konig at the University of St Andrews and her work on the Visualising War and Peace project here. Alice is also on Twitter @KonigAlice or @VisualisingWar. You can also follow the project on Facebook and Instagram, and there is an excellent blog series that you can follow through the project website/blog.  For links to show topics:On the appropriation of Classics topics/symbols etc by alt-right groups, helpful scholarship can be read here on Pharos' website: https://pharos.vassarspaces.net/To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this week's episode of Two Friends Talk History, Zofia is joined by Dr Sam Ellis, an expert in the language of tyranny in antiquity and the study of monocratic power in the Greek polis from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period.  We explore how the language used to frame the actions of sole rulers has created a construct of 'tyrant' that remains with us today.  For a suggested reading list and more information, please check out my website for a blog post on this episode and more resources.You can get in touch with Dr Ellis on the Universität Mannheim website here,  or you can follow him on Academia.edu. Sam is also on Instagram & Twitter @SamEllis1993. Seriously, check out his Instagram. The photos are stunning.To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

This week on Two Friends Talk History, I spoke with Dr Maxime Ratcliffe, hot off the press with his recently awarded doctorate, to discuss Romano-British well depositions and the tantalising mysteries that were buried within them. We explore their persistence in the British landscape, and their possible uses in antiquity.For a suggested reading list and more information, please check out my website for a blog post on this episode and more resources. If you would like to get in touch with Dr Ratcliffe on the Durham University Archaeology department website here,  or you can follow him on Academia.edu.To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this week's episode, Zofia is joined by returning guest, archaeologist, and archaeobotanist, Alexandra Slucky, to discuss the archaeology of alcohol! We discuss the archaeological process used to identify historic alcoholic vessels and processes.For a suggested reading list and more information, please check out my blog post on this episode and this interesting article on Neolithic Chinese alcohol production: "The origins of specialized pottery and diverse alcohol fermentation techniques in Early Neolithic China", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2019). Access here.If you would like to get in touch, you can find Alex on Instagram or on Twitter @SluckyAlex. To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia interviews Dr Elke Close about Polybius, the Achaean statesman, teacher, and historian from the Hellenistic period. Polybius was active in Megalopolis at the tail end of the period of Greek independence following the wars of the Hellenistic kings and the rise of the Roman empire. Elke discusses the social context and political realities that Polybius faced while held in Rome as a hostage, which, fortunately, he lodged with the famous Cornelii Scipiones family. From his position among one of Rome's most prominent families, Polybius rode shotgun on several watershed moments of the Republic. If you would like to find out more from Dr Close, you can follow her Hellenistic History project:Website: Hellenistic HistoryTwitter @HellenisticHist Instagram @drawingancienthistory  and @hellenistichistoryTo get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia interviews Dr Alex Imrie about the historical context and impact of the Severan dynasty on the Roman Empire and beyond. We unpack how the dysfunctional family engaged with each other and the tumultuous world of politics and warfare around them while trying to connect to a human center. Dr Imrie is a Tutor in Classics at the University of Edinburgh and the National Outreach Co-ordinator for the Classical Association of Scotland (CAS). His doctoral work focused on the Constitutio Antoniniana (Antonine Constitution), and he has since published widely on the Severans. To get in touch with Alex, you can find him on Twitter @AlexImrie23 or edinburgh.academia.edu/AlexImrieIn the interview, we discuss his publication on Caracalla's supposed use of the Macedonian phalanx, which you can read more about HERE. To find out more about the CAS and register for upcoming 2023 programmes, please check out their website: https://cas.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/To get in touch and find out more:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

Kicking off Series 3, in this episode, Zofia interviews Dr Barbara Winter to discuss how indigenous artifacts have traditionally been collected and displayed in western Canada. This discussion touches on the arguments historically used to keep acquired material culture outside of minority communities (by colonial powers), and in large museum collections. To challenge these historic narratives made by caretakers of cultural heritage, we explore the ways in which repatriation reconnects individuals and communities to pre-colonial pasts and helps build confidence for future generations.Dr Barbara Winter worked at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, for over thirty years as the curator for the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at the university. She worked in the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory. The University Museum link:http://www.sfu.ca/archaeology/museum.htmlTo get in touch and find out more:Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

Drawing the year to a close, this week, Zofia is joined by historian Dr Rory Nutter. Together we discuss the linguistic changes that took place in the Italian peninsula over the 4th- 3rd centuries BCE as Latin speakers interacted with the mosaic of languages spoken in the region, and the importance of looking at the materiality of objects when reading inscriptions.Tangents include awkward linguistic encounters, Aeclanum field school, and visiting Ostia Antica.The show will be going on hiatus until February, so until then, thank you so much for tuning to Two Friends Talk History!You can follow Dr Nutter on Twitter @Rory_Nutter. Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this weeks' episode, Zofia is joined by classical scholar and vampire fang-atic, doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh, Ambra Ghiringhelli. Getting to the heart of the vampires in antiquity and in the archaeological record, we shine light in the darkest of spooky places where these immortal bloodsuckers have haunted our imaginations and cemeteries alike. We hope you enjoy the final interview of a three-part journey into monsters that went bump in the night and how they remain relevant in the modern world.   Tangents include the medieval village of Wharram Percy, the plague, Supernatural, and young adult vampire stories.If you would like to hear more from Ambra, you can follow her on Twitter @AmbraAllisonBibliography and further reading recommendations include  Beresford, M. (2008). From Demons to Dracula: The Creation of the Modern Vampire Myth. Reaktion Books, Ltd. Butler, E. (2013). The rise of the vampire. Reaktion Books Ltd. http://www.doublexscience.com/2012/07/vampire-of-venice-returns-or-what-is.html Barber, P. (2010). Vampires, Burial, and Death Folklore and Reality. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press. Gardeła, L. (2020-01-07). Atypical Burials in Early Medieval Poland: A Critical Overview. In The Odd, the Unusual, and the Strange: Bioarchaeological Explorations of Atypical Burials. University Press of Florida.Find us on Instagram Support us through Patreon Buy our merch on Redbubble Explore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtist Music by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined again by Latinist and researcher of ancient magic, Celeste De Blois, a Classics doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh.Celeste returns to the pod to discuss witches in Greek mythology, Homeric stories, and Roman elegies.Click here to read the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, discussed in the episode.  Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined by archaeologist and Late Antique period specialist Dr Javier Martínez Jiménez, currently a PDRA in the Cambridge Faculty of Classics "Impact of the Ancient City" ERC Project, to discuss his new article and foray into Classical Reception Studies, who looked at naughties tv Teen Wolf reboot and how it uses Classical mythology, language and bodies to present an updated version of the werewolf. Tangents include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Riverdale, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Supernatural, Ancient Greek Werewolf pottery and rituals!  To find out more from the talented Dr Martínez Jiménez please check out his Academia page, and for his new book, Aqueducts and Urbanism in Post-Roman Hispania (2019), can be found at all good booksellers - and  Amazon. His upcoming publication about Teen Wolf will be available early 2022 in the New Voices in Classical Studies Journal of Reception Studies from the Open University. Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined by archaeologist and University of Edinburgh PhD candidate, James R. Page! James shares his insights into how Romans dealt with the changing and often dangerous environment of river transportation, and how local resilience and adaptation changed landscapes in their pursuit of water management!I hope you enjoy the episode!If you would like to find out more about James' work, you can find him on his Academia.edu page and check out the Upper Sabina Tiberina Project's Vacone Villa that he has been working on!Image credits: cover illustration, map and photos by Zofia Guertin.Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

This week, Zofia is  joined by archaeologist and outdoor adventure entrepreneur, Dr Meg Currie-Moodie. Meg and I talk about the globalised Mediterranean in antiquity, and what it meant to have shared visual language - a visual koine. We discuss large-scale material culture which employs globalised artistic elements - the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania built Juba II called Kubr-er-Rumia in Arabic - and a small-scale devotional statuette found in Egypt of Horus dressed as a Roman emperor!For more information on the statue of Horus, you can find a fascinating article that discusses it and the recreated colouring here.Meg is also the Co-Founder of Beneath Your Feet Adventures where she now combines outdoor education with archaeological expertise!You can follow Meg on Facebook or Instagram at Beneath Your Feet Adventures. Image credits: cover illustration by Zofia Guertin.Photo of Horus statuette: the British Museum Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

From my recent stay at the British School at Athens, I am joined by archaeologist and Byzantine pottery specialist, the talented Dr Rossana Valente!Dr Rossana Valente (Richard Bradford McConnell Studentship holder) is a postdoctoral researcher at the British School at Athens and Visiting Research Fellow at Newcastle University. Rossana is part of the team analysing the ceramics for Byzantine period Sparta and has fascinating things to say about what studying this pottery can tell us about the Late Antique and Early Medieval periods of Mediterranean trade.Tangents include lockdowns in Athens, field schools and up a museum exhibition, late antique pottery, and future public outreach!If you would like to get in touch with Rossana, you can follow her on Twitter @RoxanneValente and you can find her publications on her Academia page!Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined by archaeologist and Late Antique period specialist Dr Javier Martínez Jiménez, currently a PDRA in the Cambridge Faculty of Classics "Impact of the Ancient City" ERC Project, to discuss the social changes that characterised the transition to the Late Antique period. We discuss the knock-on effects of these changes as they impacted technology like water provisioning and urban contraction. Tangents include field schools, Roman Merida, setting up a museum exhibition, floating feathered pantomimes, werewolves, and more!To find out more from the talented Dr Martínez Jiménez please check out his Academia page, and for his new book, Aqueducts and Urbanism in Post-Roman Hispania (2019), can be found at all good booksellers - and  Amazon.Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined by fellow French Canadian and doctoral candidate, Celeste Du Bois, to discuss Roman curses and love magic in literature and in the archaeological evidence of curse tablets. We explore the challenges to studying religion from the bottom up (so to speak) and some of the intriguing ritual practices of people in the Greco-Roman.I  hope you enjoy the interview!Tangents include using Latin for exorcisms, 90s blockbusters Practical Magic and the Craft, and more!Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this special episode, Zofia is joined by Hettie and Makis Metaxas from Poros, Kefalonia, who have worked tirelessly on advocating for the conservation of one of the most important monuments of Kefalonia's Bronze Age, which they also helped discover- the Tzanata tholos tomb! We discussed their work to protect this important archaeological site just weeks before the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands officially confirmed new investments in the site!  I hope you enjoy the interview!Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistIf you would like to find out more Hettie and Makis and their society, check out their facebook page: Music by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined by the creator of Hellenistic History website and outreach, Dr Elke Close, to discuss the Achaean League (koinon) of the Greeks during the second century BCE. We chat about the different tools she used to investigate ancient federalism from Polybius, epigraphy to numismatics, and ultimately, the showdown with Rome at the Battle of Corinth in 146 BCE.Tangents include: Polybius picking fights, the magical city of Megalopolis and more!Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistIf you would like to find out more from Dr Close, check out her website Hellenistic History, find her on Twitter and Instagram! Music by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is reunited with Dr Briana King, a specialist in cult of Aphrodite and Greek erotica in the late-Classical period, to discuss the dynamic and variable roles that Hellenistic Queens played by focusing on queen Olympias of Macedon and Arsinoe II of Egypt. We explore their martial actions, power plays and divine associations. Tangents include road tripping in Greece, Netflix series ideas, and exploring the archaeological museum in Pella.Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesImage credits: cover illustrations and map by Zofia Guertin. If you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this week's episode, Zofia is joined by Dr Alex Lee to discuss the popular religious processions that took place in northern and central Italy from 1399-1400 in response to the outbreak of deadly plague. These processions were called ‘Bianchi’ because of their adherent’s white robes. We discuss Dr Lee's research into the religious responses from the community members as they went on processions, what they could expect on their journeys as well as the bureaucratic organisation from within the local communities to organise these religious expressions.  Alex's website https://bianchi1399.wordpress.com is an incredible resource for this topic, so please check it out if you'd like to know more or get in touch with her at @AlexRALee on Twitter!Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Shop Two Friends merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this episode, Zofia is joined by archaeologist and 3D-reconstruction specialist, Dr Lucia Michielin, to shine a light on her research into how the building practices of Romans considered lighting and its implications on home design. We discuss changes to Roman technology and how increased accessibility to glass in the Imperial period was reflected in Roman homes, and how she navigated using semi-fantastical artistic evidence and scientific analysis to explore domestic lighting in the Roman world. Tangents include: Disney castles, video games, living the ‘Roman Dream’ and gated communities, and public engagement. Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIf you'd like to get in touch, email at twofriendstalkhistory@gmail.com. 

In this week’s episode, Zofia is joined by Alexandra Swann for a deep dive into Stoicism the implications of what this philosophy meant in antiquity, and how we can benefit from it now. With the  upcoming 1900th birthday anniversary of Marcus Arelius, we ask ourselves (WWMAD?) ‘What Would Marcus Aurelius Do?’ And explore how stoic wisdom guided the Roman Philosopher Emperor.Tangents include Youtube spirals, online conspiracy theories, ancient schools of philosophy, “what ancient philosopher are you?” quiz. Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesFollow this link for Marcus Aurelius my webshop: WWMAD? and Philosopher King

In this week’s episode, Zofia is joined by archaeobotanist, Alexandra Slucky, who discusses the importance of studying floral remains in archaeological excavations, and how these tiny pieces of the past communicate the connectivity of trade networks and their impact on culture. Tangents include dysentery in the Middle Ages, the Post-Columbian exchange, rebranding the Silk Road to the vegan-friendly Rhubarb Road, and climate change.Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesFollow this link to beautiful botanicals from the 18th century which inspired the episode art.

This week's episode is Sex in the Ancient World where Zofia is joined by Dr Briana King to discuss how we can understand sexuality in antiquity, how people in the ancient world used erotic art in their daily lives, Spartan wedding rituals and more! Join us as we explore this tantalising and sometimes titillating topic together!Find us on InstagramSupport us through Patreon Buy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

Things are changing here at Two Friends Talk History!Carrying on from series 1 in which Zofia and Liam explored the ancient world through stories and interviews, in series 2, Zofia invites new friends to talk history on Two Friends. Guests will continue to delve into global history topics from new perspectives, share behind the scenes knowledge of working in heritage, history and more!You can still find Liam on his fabulous folklore and spooky stories podcast, International Supernatural! What are you waiting for? Subscribe! Find me on Instagram and Patreon, or my website ArchaeoArtist. Thanks for listening!Credits:Podcast art created by Zofia GuertinMusic created by Christopher Sharples

In this week's episode, Liam delves into 'The Anarchy' of 12th century England when Empress Matilda battled her cousin King Stephen for control of the English throne. Meanwhile, Zofia navigates the twisted tale of some terrible Ptolemies: Cleopatra II, her daughter Cleopatra III and the husband they shared, Ptolemy VIII. The 2nd century BCE ruling dynasty of Egypt known for murders, mayhem, matricides and more!We hope you enjoy !

Hi Folks! In this episode Zofia and Liam strike North and explore the cold climes of Nunavut in Canada. Zofia interviews Jennie, a close friend from the Inuit community on Victoria Island, located deep within the Arctic circle. Liam and Zofia provide a historical background to the Inuit of the area before Zofia interviews Jennie who provides a fascinating account of growing up on the island as well as some local Inuit folklore and history. Enjoy!

Hi Folks! This week we are delving into Zofia's work at the ancient Roman archaeological site of Aeclanum. Aeclanum was an important Roman located in south-central Italy and it prospered for hundreds of years before disappearing beneath the earth. Join us as we explore what it was like digging up an ancient city as well as the outreach done to encourage people to learn more about the site (including an awesome graphic novel of a day in the life of a citizen of the city).Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

This week's episode is 'Mostly Magic'. Zofia explores the life of the 16th century occultist, necromancer, scientist and advisor to the Tudor court, John Dee, who flourished during a time when magic and science were inextricably linked. Liam meanwhile, looks at the Sami peoples of northern Scandinavia, how they were perceived as sorcerers and heretics by their neighbours and how they were repressed for practising their own religious beliefs.Tangents include: supernatural TV shows, enochian angels, victorian occultists and awesome Sami gods.Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

This week's episode is 'Killer Queens'. Liam explores the life of Queen Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, who joined the rebellion against the British East India Company in the mid 19th century. Zofia meanwhile looks at a different type of Queen, William Dorsey Swann, who led a fascinating life as a black, gay man during the 19th century and who was possibly the first identifiable 'drag queen'! Tangents include: colonialism sucks, Shieldmaidens and Drag Race. Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

This week's episode is Where they Fear to Thread where we look into places off the beaten track... and for good reason! Zofia dives deep into ancient cave systems of Cobán, Guatemala, the location of none other than the Mayan underworld of Xibalba. Liam gives the history of North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean where trespassers are likely to be peppered with a few arrows. Tangents include: The Descent, the multiple uses of Himalayan pink salt, everyone has dog heads, say no to over-foraging.Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

This week's episode is Isolated Islands where we question whether islands are ever truly isolated. Liam looks at the Irish monks of Skellig Michael who sought solitude at the edge of Europe... until some pretty scary dudes arrived in boats (hint hint beards and longships). Zofia explores the small but immensely important Greek island of Delos, the Disney Land of the ancient Mediterranean. Tangents include: monks with great asses, crazy island gossip, Athens being a total dick and was Mithridates the first Karen?Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

This week's episode is Greed & Grift where we discuss the terrible consequences of rich old dudes who can't be satisfied. Zofia dives back in time to the Roman Republic to explore the richest man you've probably never heard of: Marcus Crassus. Liam looks at the not so noble life of King Leopold II of the Belgians and his harrowing and brutal exploitation of the Belgian Congo (spoiler: he ain't nice). Tangents include: the origins (maybe) of the golden crown from Game of Thrones, Indiana Jones and the Arc of the Covenant, how NOT to leave your riches to your mistress and why it's a bad idea to make a human zoo.Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

Join us as we explore Patrons of the Arts. Liam delves into the life of Tokugawa Masako, a 17th century Japanese empress who was a driving force behind an aesthetic for a new age. Zofia tells the story of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun who was a prominent French painter of the 18th century and was patronised by none other than Marie Antoinette. Tangents include: the scandal of showing teeth in paintings, how giant wigs were used to control women, penis horses and the tackiness of the nouveau riche.Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples

Join us for our first ever episode. Zofia focuses on the Antonine plague that struck the Roman Empire during the 2nd century CE as well as the story of Glycon, the original snake oil man. Liam explores how the concoction of deadly diseases and viruses that Europeans brought to the New World resulted in catastrophic consequences for the peoples and societies of the Americas. Tangents include: appropriate wigs for magic snakes, prophetic octopi, who REALLY 'discovered' the Americas and the question everyone is asking: do snakes control Trump?Find us on InstagramSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris Sharples