

On sale May 20th, 2025

Rhiannon Garth-Jones explores Rome's enduring legacy through three core themes: religion, empire, and culture. Each chapter examines how Rome’s history, governance, and mythology have been reimagined throughout centuries, and how these interpretations continue to shape our modern world.

Rome is not merely a city—it’s an enduring idea, a symbol of identity, power, and legitimacy that has shaped the course of history for over 1,500 years. This book embarks on an exploration of how the concept of Rome has been invoked by emperors, modern governments, religious leaders, and even pop culture icons, all using it to assert authority and influence society. Each chapter explores how Rome’s history, governance, and mythology have been reimagined throughout centuries, and how these interpretations continue to shape our modern world. By delving into Rome’s influence, readers gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping today's global landscape.

For readers of all things Roman, e.g. Emperors of Rome by Mary Beard, Rubicon, Dynasty and Pax by Tom Holland as well as The West: A New History of Old Idea by Naoise MacSweeney and The Map of Knowledge by Violet Moller.

All Roads Lead to Rome By Rhiannon Garth Jones, Read By Sarah Durham (Audiobook Excerpt)

Dive into the connections between Peru’s biodiversity and ancient culture in this discussion featuring the Australian Museum’s Chief Scientist, Prof. Kris Helgen, and Andean archaeology expert, Dr. Jacob Bongers. Hosted by ABC Radio National’s Natasha Mitchell, this session explores how Peru’s unique environment shaped its civilizations.

Conversations of the Golden Empires: Modern Discoveries of an Ancient Land

Explore the relationship between the heavens and Earth with world-renowned astronomer, Professor Fred Watson AM, in this fascinating discussion hosted by Professor Anthony Burke.

Conversations of the Golden Empires: Harnessing the Heavens

On April 22, 2025, Dr. Lauren McCormick (Postdoctoral Researcher at Princeton's Center for Culture, Society, and Religion) met with a panel of CIAMS-affiliated students (Haley Stuckey, Alice Wolff (Ph.D.), and Ruth Portes) and Lauren Monroe (Associate Professor, Department of Near Eastern Studies) to discuss her work on Judean Pillar Figurines (JPFs).

The articles discussed in this episode are:
Ben-Shlomo, David, and Lauren K. McCormick. "Judean Pillar Figurines and “Bed Models” from Tell en-Naṣbeh: Typology and Petrographic Analysis." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 386, no. 1 (2021): 23-46.
McCormick, Lauren K. "Paint: A Fourth Dimension of Sculpture." Expedition Magazine, vol. 64 no. 3 (2023): 92-93.

Let there be Light web exhibit: https://laurmcco.github.io/judeanpillarfigurineexhibit/

Dr. Lauren McCormick's podcast: https://laurmcco.github.io/judeanpillarfigurineexhibit/podcast.html

RadioCIAMS with Lauren McCormick

Join me and guest Lottie Luke as we discuss The Return, a film about Odysseus, well, returning to Ithaca. How did the film differ from the Odyssey poem and what were our general thoughts? As you might imagine there is reference to some nasty stuff - just be aware. You can find Lottie Luke as @myclassicsportal on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. There's also her website: https://www.myclassicsportal.co.uk/ &nbsp;

Film review: The Return with Lottie Luke.

After a rare Arthurian manuscript was discovered hidden in an old book in the Cambridge University Library, a team of academics and librarians worked together to decipher and preserve the rare finding. 

#70 - Lost tales of King Arthur & Merlin (w/ Irene Fabry-Tehranchi)

Continuining the miniseries I dive into three festivals celebrated in February. There's much nudity, a spell and&nbsp; a festival with a name which might be a bit misleading. If you can rate and/or review please do.&nbsp; Episode notes at&nbsp; Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Festivals in ancient Rome: February

Inspired by a New Scientist article about human remains in Spain’s El Mirador Cave—bones bearing cut marks, boiling evidence, and signs of deliberate consumption—"Cannibal Cave" dives into a darker chapter of Neolithic life. Drawing on ideas from Joseph Jordania’s Why Do People Sing, the song blends raw storytelling with pounding rhythm to capture the ritual, humiliation, and warfare that may have driven this ancient act. It’s not famine, but victory and vengeance, echoing through 5,700 years of history.

Cannibal Cave

It's time for April in ancient Rome which means overseas deities setting down roots, Romulus getting a free pass, sheep and much more. Episode notes with a transcription, reading list, links, images and supporting content on  If you are on Reddit come and check out the AncientHistoryHound subreddit - don't forget to rate and review where you can. Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Festivals in ancient Rome: April

What were the ancient alternatives to democracy? Did people in the Bronze Age forget how to write – or deliberately stop? And what's the use in studying ancient languages?

In a Downstream IRL recorded at EartH Hackney, Aaron Bastani speaks to Josephine Quinn, Professor of Ancient History at Cambridge University, about some lesser-known aspects of the ancient world, as explored in her book How the World Made the West. 

Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support

Downstream: The Political Possibilities of the Ancient World w/ Josephine Quinn

It would mean a lot to me if you would follow me on Audius!

https://audius.co/adamrsweet

Grammy-winning audiobook publisher. Authors include James Patterson, David Baldacci, and Michael Connelly. Earbuds encouraged. Follow us on Twitter at @HachetteAudio.

Join Director and CEO Kim McKay AO in conversation with scientists from the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) and experts in First Nations and Pacific cultures. When not 'in conversation', AMplify will bring the best from the AM’s live talks, giving you a front row seat at enlightening presentations from inspirational people.

Exploring the history and mythology of the ancient world. Archaeologists and scholars join to discuss ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and other civilizations of the distant past.

A podcast of the Cornell Institute of Archaeology and Material Studies

Our mission is to probe the critical debates in archaeology in conversation between leading practitioners and the next generation of researchers. In each episode, CIAMS students sit down with a guest speaker to discuss their recent work. The conversations cover a broad range of themes surrounding archaeological practice, theory, ethics, and much more. 
Join us as we delve into the sometimes troublesome, always fascinating world of the human past, explore how it informs our present lives and consider how it shapes our future. Each episode runs for about an hour.

New tracks tagged #ancient history