Sistory History

Wonders of the Wall - Hadrian's Horses Sep 30, 2026 00:16:15 Welcome to Sistory History and to the finale of our Hadrian's Wall miniseries!And to end we're honouring the noble horse with a full episode, thinking about the equine experience on the northern edge of the Roman empire.We bring you bells, tin facts, good luck charms and, (inevitably), a phallus.Check out the episode photos on our social media or website: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/post/phot

Wonders of the Wall - Chesters Roman Fort Sep 9, 2026 00:17:49 Welcome to episode 3 of our Hadrian's Wall miniseries!We've left Vindolanda and marched 13 miles east to Chesters Roman Fort, a cavalry fort that was home to a regiment of around 500 men (and their horses) at its peak. Listen along to find out about the caltrop, a tiny but lethal weapon that's still used today, a potential tax scam, and a lovely selection of altars. You'll find photos of everythin

Wonders of the Wall - Vindolanda Part 2 Aug 19, 2026 00:15:56 Welcome to episode 2 of our Hadrian's Wall miniseries! And we're still lingering at Vindolanda. We tried to leave but there was much to see, so we decided another episode was in order. Plus the cafe is lovely, which gave us an excuse to have a shandy whilst comparing notes...Today we talk ancient Roman condiments, hit the tavern for a boxing match and think about what Britain did for Rome for a ch

Wonders of the Wall - Vindolanda Part 1 Jul 30, 2026 00:16:20 Welcome to episode 1 of our Hadrian's Wall miniseries! In June 2026 we spent 3 glorious days in Northumberland, exploring the sites along the wall. We were blessed with fine weather, so the gods must have been smiling on our endeavour. Over the next 4 episodes we'll share with you a selection of sensorial treats from across those sites.We start at Vindolanda, a Roman fort near Hexham, where we con

BONUS KIDSTORY EPISODE - Tales From the Dockyard May 20, 2026 00:15:35 Welcome to our fourth Kidstory episode! With special guest Felix. These episodes are dedicated to budding historians, those studying history or wanting help with their history homework, or anyone who likes listening to fun and interesting stuff.Today we explore life at sea for kids during the Age of Sail, whether you were an officer's son training for a future career, a child helping to support fa

BONUS EPISODE - Military Matters Part 2 (Q&A on the Ancient Roman Army) Apr 22, 2026 00:29:30 Welcome to part 2 of Military Matters - our Roman army Q&A with special guest Neil from the Ancient History Hound podcast. This time we´re launching into the realities of battle. The importance of weaponry, logistics and psychological warfare, plus an interesting consideration of how the Romans might have approached mental health and the impact of combat.Thanks to everyone who submitted questi

BONUS EPISODE - Military Matters Part 1 (Q&A on the Ancient Roman army) Apr 15, 2026 00:30:06 Welcome to part 1 of Military Matters - a Q&A with special guest Neil from the Ancient History Hound podcast, focused on the Ancient Roman military and army life. In this episode we cover army ranks, the role of women, kit, rations, camp nightlife and much more besides. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions - if you don´t hear yours in this episode then be sure to tune in for the next. Fo

BONUS EPISODE - Ancient Roman Fun Facts Mar 11, 2026 00:10:04 Welcome to our first fun facts bonus episode. We've gathered together the weird & wonderful titbits from season 4 and packaged them into a neat 10-minute episode for you. Perfect for a coffee break or quick stroll to the shops. (Well, as long as exploding toilets float your boat...)Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice Morgan. You can find Alice on Instagram - missalicekeys.Finally,

The Romans II - What a Triumph! (Military Victory Celebrations in Ancient Rome) Feb 18, 2026 00:31:34 Welcome to the season 4 finale!And we end with a heady mix of flutes, treasure and animal excrement. Plus a puzzling fixation on elephants, courtesy of Pompey & Caesar, and a truly impressive amount of dining furniture...Join us for a sensory dive into that very Roman celebration - the military triumph.In this episode we´re joined by these fabulous fellows:Plutarch, "Parallel Lives", Life of Marce

The Romans II - Water Water, Everywhere! (Water & Toilets in Ancient Rome) Jan 28, 2026 00:31:03 Welcome to season 4, episode 5!How clean was your regular Roman? How often did they bathe? Did they have proper toilets, and is that rumour about the sponge on the stick really true? Join us as we explore the story of water in Ancient Rome. As well as the inevitable toilet-based anecdotes, we can promise you fabulous fountains, healthful hydrotherapy and remarkable rivers (albeit with some questio

The Romans II - Wedding Belles (Ancient Roman Weddings) Jan 7, 2026 00:31:07 Welcome to season 4, episode 4!Ever wonder what used to happen at Ancient Roman weddings? Well, wonder no longer...we´re here to enlighten you! Some of the things we´ll talk about will be very familiar - flowers, veils, priests, wine, even the odd rude joke. Some will be not so familiar... And here we´re in the realms of sacrificial sheep, omens-a-plenty and excessive walnut throwing.We reveal all

BONUS EPISODE - Cocktail Hour Dec 23, 2025 00:30:31 Drinking games with a twist, speeches and ribbons. All the elements required for a fabulous party!To celebrate the festive season, we bring you a special episode from the archives, all about the Ancient Greek symposium. Full of revelry, plus a few cautionary tales to help you keep it classy this Christmas...Our sources are:Plato, Symposium, 212d-213bXenophon, Symposium, 1.3-1.4Plato, Symposium, 21

The Romans II - Keep in Touch! (The Ancient Roman Postal Service & Communication) Dec 10, 2025 00:30:28 Welcome to season 4, episode 3!And today we´re all about the comms. Letters, fire, flags, even a pigeon. Our good friend Pliny the Younger was lucky enough to have a book read to him most evenings at dinner. And Cicero was fastidious in ensuring that messengers were well fed to keep their energy, (and no doubt their enthusiasm...) topped up. So, there´s all sorts to talk about.In this episode we´r

The Romans II - Behind the Curtain (Ancient Roman Beauty & Cosmetics) Nov 19, 2025 00:28:04 Welcome to episode 2 of season 4!We get up close and personal with Ancient Roman beauty products and it really is a tale of 2 halves. We´re very much on board with the gold dust, and have nothing against the burnt crushed nuts. We are however less keen on the unwashed sheep fleece, and I fear we must draw the line at the ashes of ass genitals... Which you´ll probably agree is a reasonable reaction

The Romans II - Salutatio! (The Ancient Roman Salutatio) Oct 30, 2025 00:28:21 Welcome back to Sistory History!And we're kicking off season 4 in the proper Roman way with an episode about the salutatio, the early morning client-patron ritual that you should definitely not try out for yourself if you're in any way a fan of a lie-in...Our sources (and guests) are:"Commentariolum Petitionis", section IX, by Quintus Tullius Cicero"To Gallus", epigram 10.82, by Martial"De Brevita

KIDSTORY BONUS EPISODE - Live Like a Roman Aug 13, 2025 00:14:31 Welcome to our third Kidstory episode! These episodes are dedicated to all budding historians and anyone studying history or desperate for some help with their history homework...Today we explore Canterbury Roman Museum with our resident kidstorian Felix, and try out some typical tools that Romans would have used in their daily lives.If you´d like to visit the museum then you can find everything y

Londinium III - Roman London´s Amphitheatre Jun 4, 2025 00:19:01 Welcome to the final episode of our Londinium miniseries, where we consider Minerva, make-up and mixing bowls...In June 2025 we visited Roman London´s Amphitheatre at Guildhall Yard. It´s a great place to lose yourself in for an hour or so - you can wander around the remains of the amphitheatre itself (unearthed in 1988), and view the artefacts found there during the excavations of the 1980s and 9

Londinium II - All Hallows Church May 20, 2025 00:17:39 Welcome to episode 2 of our Londinium miniseries, in which we bring you lovely lamps and sensuous scents! In May 2025 we visited the Crypt Museum at All Hallows Church by the Tower, to find out what it can tell us about Roman London. It´s a small but beautifully formed museum that houses some excellent artefacts from the period, as well as Saxon and 16th century finds. Here, we talk you through ou

Londinium I - The Temple of Mithras May 7, 2025 00:19:34 Welcome to episode 1 of our Londinium miniseries! Where we consider the practicalities of naked initiation ceremonies, and Caroline delights us with her extensive collection of key facts... (Did you know that some Roman keys could fold up? And some were designed to break after one use!?!). In April 2025 we visited the London Mithraeum to explore the excellent exhibition space and peruse the artefa

KIDSTORY BONUS EPISODE - Dinner With The Romans! Feb 28, 2025 00:15:32 Welcome to our second Kidstory episode! Dedicated to all budding historians and anyone studying history or desperate for some help with their history homework... In this episode, ably assisted by 10yr old Felix, we talk about what the Ancient Romans ate and drank, what their restaurants were like, and what they got up to at dinner parties... Music credit goes to our resident composer Alice M

KIDSTORY BONUS EPISODE - Magic & Medicine in Ancient Egypt! Jan 14, 2025 00:15:01 Welcome to our very first kids episode! Dedicated to all budding historians and anyone studying history or desperate for some help with their history homework... In this episode, ably assisted by 10yr old Felix (who's been learning about Egypt at school), we investigate how the Ancient Egyptians used magic and medicine to cure themselves. Think tree bark, magic spells, crocodile poo and lots of

BONUS EPISODE - Io Saturnalia! Dec 16, 2024 00:20:03 In this seasonal episode from our archive, we take a sensory deep dive into the ancient Roman, mid-December festival of Saturnalia. You can expect a delightful combination of naked singing, elf hats and Christmas jumpers. Plus we find out just how much wine some employers expected their staff to get through during the festival... P.S it's a LOT. Sources for this episode are: Seneca, Letters fr

Saturnalia Trailer Dec 16, 2024 00:01:10 Join us for a seasonal episode all about the Roman festival of Saturnalia. We talk elf hats, Christmas jumpers & naked singing. If that doesn't tempt you then we don't know what will!!

The Georgians - Gin Crazy! (Gin & the Gin Craze) Dec 11, 2024 00:31:40 Welcome to the season 3 finale! In this episode we take a sensory stroll down the lanes of Georgian London, to find out how and why gin became so popular. And why it caused so much public disruption that the government introduced no less than 8 Gin Acts in a sustained and determined effort to control its consumption. Our sources are: * Article from The Evening Chronicle (19th February 1835), by C

The Georgians - In The Navy! (Georgian Sailors & Seafaring) Nov 7, 2024 00:29:54 Welcome to season 3, episode 5! In this episode we brave the high seas as we discuss some perhaps overlooked aspects of life in the Georgian Royal Navy. Our sources are as follows - you can find the visuals on our social media and website: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/blog * Gold and steel combined fork/knife belonging to Lord Admiral Nelson (visual source) * A Treatise on the Scurvy (p.19

The Georgians - A Bloomin' Good Time! (Pleasure Gardens) Sep 19, 2024 00:31:02 Welcome to season 3, episode 4! In this episode we meander through the walkways (some brightly lit, some dimly lit), of Georgian London's pleasure gardens. Think entertainments, music, fireworks, wandering hands and overpriced snacks... Our sources are: * Edinburgh Encyclopedia, 1830 edition * Evelina (Letter 46), by Frances Burney * The Microcosm of London, 1808-1810 * Bill of Fare for Vauxh

The Georgians - Wake Up & Smell The Coffee! (Georgian Coffee House Culture) Aug 23, 2024 00:30:34 Welcome to season 3, episode 3! In this episode we explore the sensory delights of Georgian coffee houses. And it wasn't all just coffee and cake... In fact it wasn't at all coffee and cake! There were a huge variety of activities on offer, from lectures to business deals to medical consultations. All washed down with a nice dish of bitter, brown liquid. Maybe with a bit of sludge at the

The Georgians - Strictly Ballroom (Balls, Dancing & Ballroom Etiquette) Jul 25, 2024 00:32:50 Welcome to season 3, episode 2! In this episode we delve into the depths of the Georgian ballroom. We consider the people, the clothes, what the ballroom looked and felt like, and the rules...there were a lot of rules! Luckily there were also a lot of etiquette manuals available to help you along the way. As usual we consider all this from a sensory perspective, using a selection of primary so

BONUS EPISODE - X Marks the Spot with Professor Michael Scott Jun 17, 2024 00:45:46 In this episode we're joined by historian, author and broadcaster, Professor Michael Scott, to talk about his book "X Marks the Spot: An Adventurous History of Archaeology". The book explores 8 amazing archaeological discoveries, which we discuss from our usual sensory perspective. From Machu Picchu to the Silk Roads, to the Uluburun Shipwreck, there's something for everyone an

The Georgians - Dress to Impress (Georgian Fashion) Jun 9, 2024 00:31:56 Welcome to season 3! Whether you're a loyal follower or a new listener, it's lovely to have you with us. In this first episode we explore Georgian Fashion. Perhaps not the usual things you might expect though... We've headed down a less well-trodden path strewn with umbrellas, fake bottoms, glasses and hair towers. As usual we'll be considering our topic from a sensory perspecti

Season 3 Trailer - The Georgians Jun 2, 2024 00:00:37 Welcome back to Sistory History, the sensory history podcast hosted by sisters Laura & Caroline. This time we've fast-forwarded a few thousand years to see what the Georgians got up to. Our conclusion? They got up to quite a lot! From enormous hair to coffee house conversations, there's plenty to talk about. Make sure to subscribe now so that you don't miss anything! Music credit

Third Legion - Life in the Roman Army (British Museum exhibition) Apr 24, 2024 00:15:44 Our campaign concludes here, with episode three. We consider cavalry masks, dragon standards and also discuss some of the merits of Emperor Septimius Severus. (Definitely one of the better ones in our view). Head over to X, Instagram or our website to look at the accompanying photos: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/post/photos-for-miniseries-third-legion-life-in-the-roman-army If you're

Second Legion - Life in the Roman Army (British Museum exhibition) Apr 18, 2024 00:12:40 Marching onwards (in very orderly and organised Roman fashion)... We continue our miniseries dedicated to the British Museum exhibition, "Legion: life in the Roman army". Here we have episode two, where, among other things, you'll learn a surprising amount about tent flaps. Head over to X, Instagram or our website to look at the accompanying photos: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/post/photos

First Legion - Life in the Roman Army (British Museum exhibition) Apr 10, 2024 00:14:22 What do tweezers and tent flaps have in common? Or purses and party invitations? Barrels and brooches? Give up yet...? The Roman army of course! In March 2024 we visited the British Museum exhibition, "Legion: life in the Roman army". There was so much to see that instead of our usual exhibition-based bonus episode, we decided to make a miniseries instead. Here we have the first episode in that

BONUS EPISODE - While There is Tea, There is Hope! (Horniman Museum exhibition) Feb 21, 2024 00:13:23 Tea will likely always be associated with Britain, referred to by many as its national drink. But the first tea was reputedly drunk in China, way back in the 3rd millennium BC. The story goes that a tea leaf fell into some water being boiled for the emperor, and he found the taste so refreshing that he felt compelled to start a trend... Japan followed suit in around the 8th century, and soon popul

BONUS EPISODE - Hans Holbein at the Tudor Court: A Sensory Perspective Jan 24, 2024 00:30:05 In this episode we're back at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, immersing ourselves in the life and works of Hans Holbein the Younger, via the excellent Royal Collection Trust exhibition: "Holbein at the Tudor Court". Widely thought to be one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century, Holbein didn't restrict himself to just one field of expertise, but worked across many art forms exce

Ancient Greece - Cocktail Hour (The Symposium) Dec 30, 2023 00:30:00 In this episode we don our drinking hats, grab a kylix (or a few...) of wine, and end the season in true classical Greek style - at our very own symposium. Join us at this exclusive gathering to find out what happened at these popular events, who attended, and why it was essential for the host to make sure they had a good supply of ribbons... Sources for the episode are: - Plato, Symposium, 212

BONUS EPISODE - Io Saturnalia! Dec 13, 2023 00:20:03 In this sensory deep dive of the ancient Roman, mid-December festival of Saturnalia, you can expect a delightful combination of naked singing, elf hats and Christmas jumpers. Plus we find out just how much wine some employers expected their staff to get through during the festival... P.S it's a LOT! Sources for this episode are: - Seneca, Letters from a Stoic, XVIII On Festivals & Fastin

Ancient Greece - Going for Gold! (Ancient Games/Olympics) Nov 29, 2023 00:29:43 In this episode we take a virtual trip to the some of the biggest, best and most entertaining games the ancient world had to offer. What events could you compete in? Was celery really one of the prizes? We reveal all this and more, including why it was a REALLY bad idea to cheat... Sources for this one are: - Statue bases from Olympia, Greece - check out the photo on X, Instagram or our website

Ancient Greece - Show Time! (Greek Theatre) Nov 15, 2023 00:29:51 Join us as we explore the world of Ancient Greek theatre-going. Was it anything like the modern experience? How big were the theatres? Do we need to do another sacrifice? And, most importantly...were there snacks?? The sources for this episode are: - Theatre mask dating from 4th/3rd century BCE - check out the photo on X, Instagram or our website:

BONUS EPISODE - Villa Ventorum @ The Newt Nov 8, 2023 00:14:52 Join us for a whistle-stop tour of the Villa Ventorum, a replica Roman villa located at the Newt Hotel in Somerset. We take a look at the luxury bathhouse, (we definitely have mosaic envy!) and discuss the merits of dice towers... Here we talk you through some of our favourite sensory things. To see the photos, head over to Instagram, X or our website: https://www.sistoryhistory.co.uk/blog If

Ancient Greece - What Ails Thee? (Greek Medicine) Oct 25, 2023 00:31:16 In this episode we explore the medicine cabinet of the Ancient Greeks, whilst regaling you with fun facts and medical anecdotes. Plus we reveal why you definitely shouldn't go peony gathering with a woodpecker... Our sources for this episode are: - Cure Inscription 8, Stele 1 (from Epidaurus, mid-4th century BCE) Cure Inscriptions from the Asclepieion of Epidaurus - Aristophanes, Wealth, lines

Ancient Greece - The Body Politic (Greek Politics) Oct 11, 2023 00:29:45 How many jurors is too many jurors? We'll ponder this important question alongside other topics such as men dressed as wasps, spiky balls and massive urns... And if you'd like to know how to make your own ancient water clock using only gardening paraphernalia, we can help with that too. Have a listen and learn something fun! The sources for this episode are: - Visual source: Ancient Water Clock

Ancient Greece - Talking With the Gods (Delphi & Divination) Sep 27, 2023 00:28:33 What do bread, acorns and smoke have in common? Any idea? Yes, it's divination! But we wouldn't blame you for not guessing that - these aren't exactly standard techniques for fortune-telling. These were however perfectly valid methods used by the Ancient Greeks for communicating with the gods, and searching out knowledge of the future. Intrigued? Then join us as we seek divine inspiration from t

Season 2 Trailer - Ancient Greece Sep 14, 2023 00:01:00 Welcome back to Sistory History! The sensory history podcast, hosted by sisters Laura & Caroline. This season we've time-travelled back to Ancient Greece and the Classical period. We've got lots for you to look forward to - from drinking parties and high drama, to democracy and naked wrestling... Make sure you subscribe now so that you don't miss an episode! You can follow Sistory

BONUS EPISODE - Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality Aug 11, 2023 00:12:44 Have you ever wondered whether you need a bull's head wine pouring vessel for your next dinner party? Let us assure you that you definitely do! We took a Sistory roadtrip to Oxford in July 2023 and had the pleasure of taking in an excellent exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum - "Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality". Here we take you through some of our favourite exhibits, with our usual sensory fo

BONUS EPISODE - Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians (Georgian Fashion) Jul 13, 2023 00:15:35 Fancy finding out about a Georgian bumbag? Need to source the most effective tools for applying your hair powder? And are you wondering, just what did Queen Charlotte wear to her coronation? If so, then look no further! Join us for some sensory sartorial insights, courtesy of the Royal Collection Trust's exhibition - "Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians". Showing at The Queen's Gallery, Buckin

The Romans - Festivals & Fasti May 24, 2023 00:33:46 Gift-giving, feasting, ill-advised excessive drinking...these all sound pretty familiar in the context of festivals and public holidays. But the ancient Romans really took it to the next level - giant phalluses, naked priests, people dressed as goats... Join us for the season finale as we take a good look at the colourful topic of Roman festivals, via this selection of contemporary sources: - Fast

The Romans - Army Life (Roman Military & Warfare) May 3, 2023 00:27:09 Do you know your cornets from your trumpets? Can you spot the difference between a centurion and a military tribune? Any why was everyone so keen on the fish sauce??? Join us as we take a sensory delve into the depths of the Roman army, ably assisted by another 4 pieces of source material: - Julius Caesar, "Gallic Wars" Book 1 Ch.25 - Vegetius, "De Re Militari" Book 1.4 (Size of Recruits) - Veg

The Romans - Upstairs Downstairs (Domestic Slaves & Slavery in Rome) Apr 19, 2023 00:28:58 What was the deal with slavery in Ancient Rome? It's a difficult topic, but also nuanced and interesting. So often we hear about the nobility and higher status people of the past, but in this episode we shine a light on a less privileged, but no less important, part of Roman society. As usual we'll be doing the honours with the help of four lovely primary sources: - Martial, Epigram 14.220 "The

The Romans - Summer Holiday (Roman Travel & Vacations) Apr 5, 2023 00:29:50 How did the Romans holiday? Where did they go? How did they get there? Did hotels exist? Did they buy souvenirs? So many questions! Join us as we explore this topic via four contemporary ancient sources: - Seneca, Letters 51 "On Baiae and Morals" - Seneca, Essay About Peace of Mind 2.13 - Juvenal, Satire 3 "And Then There's the Traffic" - Horace, Satire 1.5 Here are suggestions for further re

The Romans - A Pyreside Chat (Death & Funerals in Imperial Rome) Mar 22, 2023 00:30:31 How did the Romans deal with death? Did they believe in an afterlife? What were their funerals like? Join us as we discuss four contemporary ancient sources that focus on the sensory elements of today's theme: - Polybius, Histories 6.53-54 - Lucan, Civil War 2.21 - Seneca, The Trojan Women - Petronius, Satyricon 77-78 Here are a few topical links if you're inspired to find out more: The mausol

The Romans - Come Dine With Me! (The Roman Dinner Party/Convivium) Mar 8, 2023 00:29:29 Ever wondered what Roman dinner parties were like? What was on the menu? Was there entertainment? Was it all orgies and sausages? In this episode we discuss another four contemporary ancient sources, considering them from a sensory perspective. Here's a quick introduction to our dinner guests and their respective party offerings: - Plutarch, Table Talk 5.679 - Martial, Epigrams 3.50 (To Ligurinus)

The Romans - Bath Time! (Roman Baths & Thermae) Feb 22, 2023 00:31:05 In this episode we take another four extracts from contemporary ancient sources and consider them from a sensory perspective. Here we talk about the (very!) popular Roman past time of visiting the bath house. Was everyone really naked? Could slaves use the baths? And why is that sausage seller here again?!? Our sources are as follows: - Martial, Epigrams 12.82 - Seneca, Letters 56.1-2 - Seneca

BONUS EPISODE - Japan Courts & Culture Exhibition Feb 15, 2023 00:11:58 We visited the Japan Courts & Culture exhibition at Buckingham Palace in January 2023 and chose three items to share with you that resonated with the sensory theme of the podcast. Visit our Instagram page (sistoryhistory) to see photos of the artefacts if you'd like the benefit of visual accompaniment: https://www.instagram.com/p/CospOsorUiC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The Romans - A Day At The Games ,(The Colosseum & Roman Entertainment) Feb 15, 2023 00:32:56 In this episode we consider four extracts from contemporary ancient sources that talk about the very Roman experience of going to the games. Think gladiators, wild animals, the colosseum, sausage sellers... As with all our episodes, we'll focus on the sensory side of things - sight, touch, smell, sound and taste. (You can follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, and contact us at sistoryhistory@gmail.c

Season 1 Trailer - The Romans Feb 12, 2023 00:01:03 Welcome to Sistory History, the brand new podcast from sisters Laura & Caroline. If you like the sound of accessible history interspersed with light-hearted chat, then look no further! Listen to this trailer to find out about the format of the podcast, and what's coming up in season 1. (You can follow sistoryhistory on Instagram, and email us at sistoryhistory@gmail.com).

Episodes

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