Build Like a Roman
Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built. Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving structures. Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the Roman world. The podcast is aimed at students of archaeology, history, and art history, as well as anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
Episodes
Roman Woodworkers
In this episode of Build Like a Roman, we look at the Roman carpenter and the wider world of ancient woodworkers. From the faber tignarius, or structural carpenter, to joiners, furniture makers, shipwrights, and military craftsmen, we explore how timber shaped Roman buildings even when the wood itself has long disappeared. This episode covers tools, training, collegia, timber supply, joinery,
The Roman Roofer: Thatch, Stone and Clay
Does "Roman Roofs" make you think of red clay tile?Well, one of the most common types of Roman roof was probably thatch.Listen to this weeks episode to learn more about the person who did it. The Roofer.This weeks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DY5HjhNF_m8/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanGlossaryArtisanA skilled craft worker. In this episode, the term refers to the peo
The Roman Mosaic Artist: Marble Pixels
Roman Mosaicist created structural art using 'pixels' of marble. Some were functional and plain, some with standard geometric patterns while others were no less than works of art.Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYkf7mLF0qd/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanGlossaryAedificiumLatin term for a building or structure. Relevant because Roman mosaics were not simpl
The Roman Blacksmith: Making Metal
Roman Blacksmiths, Faber Ferrarius were at the heart of Roman construction. Without them, life would have been so much more difficult, not only for the masons, carpenters, plasterers an so on, but basically for everyone.This episode looks at how they worked. GlossaryAnvilA heavy iron block used as a working surface for shaping hot metal with hammersBellowsA leather-and-wood device used
Not an Episode, An End of Series Update
Series one has finished. What's coming up in series 2?Here is a brief description of what's coming up in series two (and three) as well as a little about the first series.Thank you for your support in producing this podcast!Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/BuildLikeARoman☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanBuy me a CoffeeBlueskyInstagramFollow:AcastApplePatreonSpotifyMusic Happy
Introducing the Build Like an Egyptian series from Build Like an Ancient
Introducing the first episode of "Build like an Egyptian" series from "Build Like an Ancient".Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/build-like-an-ancient/id1887035779Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/312nAy9fvUvZaQbc2TWbFm?si=LF-PiVspT_mxLtZB9Bd-wAThe Egyptians - Mud Men and the First Monuments!To the surprise of many people, the ancient Egyptians built far more in sun dried mud-brick, tha
Roman Frescoes: Not Just a Pretty Face
So what is a Fresco?There were several types, most of which, most people haven't heard of.Would you be surprised that many of the Roman frescos that we "Ohh" and "Ahhh" over today, were considered ridiculous and tacky, but some Roman authorities of the time?Listen to this episode and learn something new about Roman Frescoes.Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIBSuVl-4T/☕ Buy Me a
Build Like a Roman - Short Trailer
Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving structures.Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before diving deeper into how buildings were made, m
Build Like a Roman - Trailer
This is the trailer for the Build Like a Roman podcast.Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving structures.Short, focused episodes introduce core building ma
Roman Floors: More Than Mosaics Under Your Feet
What were Roman floors like?We know about their mosaics, but what about clay tile? Stone slabs, mortar floors or floorboards?Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWj65iAl9ce/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanGlossary for this episodepavimentum → floor / pavement (the visible finished surface)pavire → to beat down / ram / compactstatumen → foundatio
Roman Glass - Sand, Soda, and Empire
What was Roman window glass like?Well, to start with it had bubbles in it, you couldn't really see through and it was expensive.Listen to this episode to learn about Roman glass, what was it, where it was made, and by whom.Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWW4wx2lzbW/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanSources:Archaeological StudiesIan Freestone (University Coll
Lath, Reed, and Wattle - Roman Walls and Ceilings
Want to know what a 'Party wall' actually is? Give this a listen.This week, the Build Like a Roman Podcast is looking at Roman Wattle and Daub, Opus Craticium. A building style that was probably for more widespread than we'd think.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos for this episode on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWBM5Ftl46c/This Episode's Translations:Opus Caeme
Roman Plumbing - More than Aqueducts
This week, the Build Like a Roman Podcast is about Roman plumbing, from the infrastructure to the delivery of it and the materials used.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVycL_zl1zl/This Episodes Translations:Aquaeductus = water pipe or water tubeCloaca Maxima = Great SewerCurator Aquarum = Water commissionerLibratores = Survey
Roman Asbestos: Who'd have thought!
Did you know that the Romans - and others, such as the Greeks - used asbestos as a woven fibre?They valued its fireproof nature and used it accordingly. They may also be the first culture to have recorded using PPE! ☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanBuild Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each epi
Roman Metals: Ten Tons of Nails
Why bury a Million nails?The Romans used a wide variety of metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous.Iron, lead, bronze, brass, tin and copper were all commonly used by the Romans.For structural connections, plumbing, door handles, decorative elements or any other practical use, in or for the home, the Romans had a solution!☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanThis Episodes Instagram im
Roman Timber: Roofs, Doors and Forgotten Walls
This episode is looks at the Romans use of timber, be it structural, joinery or temporary. Timber is somewhat of a forgotten material by most people who looking at Roman archaeology, mainly as there's so little of it left. This week we aim to give Roman timber, a little more of the limelight.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com
Roman Lime, Mortar, and Concrete
In this episode, the Build Like A Roman Podcast episode looks at the Roman use of Lime mortars, Pozzolans, a volcanic ash which modified the nature of lime, and how they produced concrete.The focus on this episode is lime from calcium based limestone. We'll look at limes derived from Dolomitic and Magnesium in the future. There deserve their own episode, given the difference between them and calci
Introducing Roman Brick and Tile
This week, the Build Like A Roman Podcast episode is about fired clay, for bricks and roofs.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUS--yyjTTR/The Episodes Translations:Opus vittatum mixtum (listatum) = Alternating brick and stone coursesOpus mixtum= Combination of stone and brick facingsOpus testaceum = Concrete faced with brick/ti
Stone: Tuff, Travertine and Marble
Rome began with houses of mud-brick. Then came stone.This week, the Build Like A Roman Podcast introductory episode is about Stone, in particular Tuff, Travertine and Marble. While not used uniformly across the Roman empire, they were ubiquitous in the City of Rome and the surrounding region.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU
Build Like a Roman: The Series Introduction
A Description of the seriesThis episode is a welcome to the series, with an introduction to the Romans as builders and a description of what the following topics will cover.Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episodeexplores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, andmortar to the organ
