All Posts
The omnipotent paterfamilias
Filicide in ancient Rome
Sep 2026
Did the head of the Roman household kill his disobedient kids or nag them into submission?
Queen Esther and the Persians
Etiquette in Xerxes’s court
Aug 2026
Don’t approach the king without being summoned! We take a look at how to, and how not to, act in Xerxes’s court.
The road to Masada
Fighting Roman oppression
Jul 2026
From clandestine assassins to slingshot wielding warriors, we take a look at the ingenuity with which the Jews fought Roman oppression.
The very short tunic
Fashion faux pas in ancient Rome
Jun 2026
How short is too short for a tunic? This month we look at fashion in ancient Rome and the surrounds, and the sartorial choices that raised an eyebrow or two.
The empty clay uterus
Birth control in antiquity
May 2026
Given a choice, how many women would put their hands up, and say, pick me, pick me, I want to have 13 children!? We look at contraception in antiquity, and the droll advice that came with it.
The scapegoat
Ritual sacrifice in Second Temple Jerusalem
Apr 2026
Second temple Jerusalem was a place of music, trade and shared food! We take a walk through the complex (including the forbidden places) and chase the scapegoat out the eastern doorway.