The Partial Historians

In this special episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Laura Jenkinson-Brown (aka Jenks), teacher, writer, and - most famously - the genius behind the website and resources of ‘Greek Myth Comix’ which makes all manner of ancient Greek and Roman ideas and literature engaging and accessible for all learners! Laura teaches Classical Civilisation and Ancient History in the UK, she writes and illustrates pedagogical resources, and is now also a fellow podcaster, producing the show ‘Ancient Geek’. Seriously, if you are an ancient history teacher and have not checked out her amazing resources, you are certifiably insane. There’s just no other way of looking at it.

Laura’s outstanding contributions to the field have been recognised by The Classical Association and the Working Classicists. We are excited to discuss Laura’s amazing new publication You Are Odysseus which shakes up Homer’s epic poem by placing the reader in the centre of the story and all its complexities. Any 80s kids out there who were fans of the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ series? This is that… Homeric style. And if you’re not much of a reader, there is also a podcast version of this creative new take on the ancient classic out now.

Things to Look Out For:
Discussion of how you even begin to create so many different storylines in one book!
Odysseus - a semi-bad boy and why he’s more appealing than Aeneas
The Muses
An unusual childhood friend called ‘Ginger’
And a bit of kleos - would our episode be complete without it?

You can pick up You Are Odysseus and have yourself a Homeric adventure from the comfort of your living room right now. Why not grab it from your local independent bookseller?

Sound Credits
Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman.

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show
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Read our books
Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome
Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Rome to do when they gaze out from the top of the Capitol and all they can see are the neighbours they don’t like or the neighbours that don’t like them? When the people of Nepete and Sutrium come down from the north to ask Rome for help, Rome jumps at the opportunity to be useful. After all, who doesn’t enjoy upsetting the Etruscans?
The Camillus show continues in c. 386 and 385 BCE! But the Romans seem to be facing tensions not just from their enemies, but even from those who they used to count on as allies…

Journey to the North
There’s nothing for it by for the Romans to send aid north. And who should be tasked with leadership for this support but Camillus. He’s not happy to go alone, however, and he’s joined by fellow military tribune with consular power, Valerius Poplicola. What will they find as they head into Etruscan territory? Tune in to find out the details!

Trouble in Allied Paradise?
Are the Latins and the Hernicians still friends with Rome? There’s building evidence that maybe the friendship is over and the best-friend necklaces have been thrown away. Rome needs some clarity and tries to have a conversation about the situation, but it doesn’t seem like the Latins or the Hernicians want to play ball.

The Return of Marcus Manlius
We enter the year c. 385 BCE and it’s time to welcome Marcus Manlius back to the stage! He is already famous by Roman standards for his involvement with the sacred geese on the Capitol during the Gaul’s siege of Rome, but his story is only just getting started. Is he feeling jealous of some of his peers? We’ll find out.

Things to listen out for
Nepete (modern Nepi of Acqua di Nepi fame, near Viterbo)
The return to Sutrium (modern Sutri, also near Viterbo)
Epigraphic evidence enters the mix
Traitors!
The potential of bundles of tree branches
And the power of ladders

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show
Patreon
Ko-Fi

Read our books
Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome
Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Emma Southon is no stranger to this show, but just in case you have somehow missed her many previous appearances, here’s what you need to know!

Emma holds a PhD in Ancient History and is the author of a number of fabulous books about the ancient world. This includes: A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore. Not only a writer, Emma also co-hosts the History is Sexy podcast. Besides all this, she’s an all round fabulous human and cat-lover.

In this episode, we were fortunate enough to chat to her about her latest book, Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire - or, if you are based in the US, the alternative title is Not Built in a Day: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire.

Along with deep research into the source material, Emma considers the emotional experience of being an enslaved person in various contexts within the Roman world. This can be a challenging topic to study, and not only because of how truly awful it was. We just don’t have as much as we would like from the perspective of enslaved people, or about their lives in general. Enslaved people were not considered to be suitable subjects for long biographies.

Things to Look Out For:
‘Best’ and ‘worst’ case scenarios for an enslaved person
How slavery evolved throughout Rome’s history
Resistance to slavery
Manumission
Freedmen and women
Family relationships
Slave rebellions (hey Spartacus!)
Some of the most appalling behaviour we have seen from the Romans yet!

You can add Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire to your bookshelf now! Sold wherever good books are sold, and of course we suggest supporting independent booksellers.

Sound Credits
Our music is by Bettina Joy de Guzman.

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show
Patreon
Ko-Fi

Read our books
Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome
Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is 386 BCE (maybe?) in Ancient Rome and once more Livy is providing our underlying narrative for events. The timeline is pretty confusing in this decade.

All Hail Camillus!

Whilst the tribune of the plebs were still agitating for control of the Pomptine territory, there was remarkable harmony between the patricians who were appointed as military tribunes with consular power. Camillus had been voted into power, and the rest of his colleagues decided to fall in line and follow his lead, especially once it became clear that war was on the horizon.

The Romans would have liked to teach their former allies, the Latins and Hernici, a lesson. The Etruscans also seemed to be up to something. However, it would end up being the Volscians who attracted Rome’s attention. According to some “fugitives” who showed up in Rome, problems were arising in Antium, a very important Volscian coastal town. It was time for Camillus to get down to business. The Romans were not ignoring warnings any more after everything that had happened with the Gauls! Lesson learned.

All Systems Are Go
Camillus went into war preparation mode, organising three forces under his fellow military tribunes. One section of the army would serve under Camillus himself and his sidekick Valerius, one would keep a lookout for any attacks from the Etruscans, and the final section, made up of the men who were too old or decrepit to serve anywhere else, would guard the city itself. The Senate and the Roman people were filled with positivity, not only because Camillus was an angel sent from heaven, but because of this amazing display of teamwork. Why can’t elite dudes always be this selfless?

With that sorted, Camillus and Valerius were off to Satricum, where some of the troublemakers from Antium were gathering up some Volscian forces and also a large number of ‘volunteers’ from the Latins and Hernici. Ouch! The Romans were devastated to see that their former allies would do them dirty like that!

Throwing the Standard
Camillus knew these sad sacks in front of him were not going to be able to secure victory - not unless they had one of the best pep talks in HISTORY! Jumping on his horse, Camillus delivered immortal words: “Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you’re part of this team!” But he could not stop with mere words. Actions are what count. Camillus ended his speech by leading the charge himself, either dragging the nearest standard-bearer with him into the fray or throwing the standard into the enemy forces. Baller move, Camillus!

Well, the Romans could not allow the standards to fall into Volscian hands. Suitably inspired, a furious battle ensued. Even with passion on their side, the Romans were still vastly outnumbered. Would they secure another triumph for Camillus? And would he then be able to finally turn his attention to the root of the problem, Antium?

Join us to learn all about Camillus’ history, and a bit about Rome too.

Things to Look Out For:

Sad, sensitive little Roman soldiers
A remarkably easy siege
Betrayal upon betrayal!
Dr G’s jet lag - she’s a trooper!
Dr Rad realising that maybe it was meant to be Hernicans (not Hernicians) all this time?
An archaeological find that makes Livy look like a GENIUS historian - just saying!

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show
Patreon
Ko-Fi

Read our books
Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome
Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

n this special episode we’re joined by Josh Cannon who holds a PhD in near eastern languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago. Prior to this, Josh was a member of the US Marine Corps and served in two tours of Iraq as an Arabic cryptologic linguist. We sat down with Josh to chat about his book Fatal Second Helen: A Modern Veteran’s Iliad which brings together his lived experience of military service with the ideas that emerge from Homer’s epic poem.

Things to listen out for
Modern versus ancient conceptions of glory
The power of translation to inspire
Connections between near eastern mythology and Homer’s Iliad
The shared stories of the Hittites and the Ionian Greeks
The way the consequences of modern warfare can help us understand the depictions of warfare in the ancient world better

Books and scholars mentioned in this interview
Epic of Gilgamesh - There are many translations of this epic, one of the most recent is that of Simon Armitage

Translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey
Robert Fagles - The Iliad (1998)
Robert Fagles - The Odyssey (1996)
Richard Lattimore - The Iliad
Stanley Lombardo - The Iliad (1997)
Emily Wilson - The Odyssey (2017)
Emily Wilson - The Iliad (2023)
Spartan poet Tyrtaeus
Bachvarova, M. R., From Hittite to Homer: The Anatolian Background of Ancient Greek Epic (2016, Cambridge University Press)
Carolina López-Ruiz, When the Gods Were Born: Greek Cosmogonies and the Near East (Harvard University Press, 2010)
Patrick Shaw-Stewart’s untitled poem “I saw a man this morning”
Jonathan Shay, Achilles in Vietnam: combat trauma and the undoing of character (2004, Scribner)
Martin West, The East Face of Helicon: West Asiatic Elements in Greek Poetry and Myth (1999, Oxford University Press)
For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

Support the show
Patreon
Ko-Fi

Read our books
Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome
Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.