The Classics Podcast

• Q&A with Louise O'Brien, our Expert in Residence

  Featuring ancient sourdough, hippos, ritual instruments, obelisks in Rome, Hadrian’s lover Antinous, and Louise's favourite ancient god! Time stamps for this episode: 11 mins: what hieroglyphics sounded like 12 mins: if we didn’t have the Rosetta stone...14:10: the Egyptian money system 15:50: Egyptian crops and diet 18:30: funeral practices21:20: ancient embalmers22:21: marriage and mummification23:52: Neithhotep26:08 which famous figure you’d like to meet27:30: life under Roman ruleJoin us now to listen to Louise's online lecture on 16 September! Louise recently completed her PhD in Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, having gained her MA Egyptology and BA(hons) in Egyptology & Classical Studies from the same institution. Her thesis ‘Portraits of Hybridity’ focused on mummy portrait panels from Roman Egypt, and investigated how cultural hybridity and identity was displayed through artistic culture in the Roman Fayum. Coming from a working-class background, she also has a passion for outreach and widening participation, and is particularly interested in getting more state school students involved in ancient history and inspiring younger people to study subjects they may not have been aware they could. Follow Louise on ⁠Instagram⁠.

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• Expert in Residence: Louise O'Brien

  Introducing Dr Louise O'Brien, our new Expert in Residence! Ask Louise a question for our next episodeTime stamps for this episode: 9.53 Intro to Roman Egypt 11.05 Mummy portraits14.22 Commissioning these portraits 18.15 What would you add to the curriculum?19.55 The most shocking thing about the ancient Egyptians 21:40 Louise’ work in museums 26.13 Day in the life of a PhD student 28.30 Why is Classics important?Louise recently completed her PhD in Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, having gained her MA Egyptology and BA(hons) in Egyptology & Classical Studies from the same institution. Her thesis ‘Portraits of Hybridity’ focused on mummy portrait panels from Roman Egypt, and investigated how cultural hybridity and identity was displayed through artistic culture in the Roman Fayum. Coming from a working-class background, she also has a passion for outreach and widening participation, and is particularly interested in getting more state school students involved in ancient history and inspiring younger people to study subjects they may not have been aware they could. Follow Louise on Instagram. Follow our Celebrating Classics Campaign and become a CA member, using your exclusive discount from this episode

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• Prof. Dame Sue Black, Forensic Scientist: Classics & Careers

  We have a bonus episode for you... what better way to close out Season 2 than with an interview with one of the most fascinating people we've ever met - Baroness Black. Sue, as she prefers, is a trailblazing scientist and a champion for education and, indeed classical subjects. After graduating from the University of Aberdeen in human anatomy and forensic anthropology, Sue has had a varied and distinguished academic career, lecturing in Anatomy at St Thomas’ Hospital London and working as a consultant in forensic anthropology for both the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, undertaking forensic investigations in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Grenada. She was the lead forensic anthropologist during the international war crimes investigations in Kosovo and in 2024, she was appointed to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scotland. Sue is currently the President of St John's College, Oxford and a crossbencher peer in the House of Lords, where she is a part of the Classics All Party Parliamentary Group. In this episode, she explains to Katrina what a Day in the Life is like for a Peer and President of an Oxbridge college, talks about the careers classicists go into, her own experiences with forensic archaeology, her love for Roman roads, and using her Latin in everyday life!Find out more about the APPG hereFind more episodes of ⁠⁠⁠Classics and Careers ⁠⁠⁠Follow the Classics Podcast on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Classical Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access discounts, events and moreFollow the CA on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (podcast), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And lots more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠classicalassociation.org⁠⁠

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• Q&A with Jessica Clarke, our Expert in Residence

  Before her Expert in Residence Special Lecture on Thursday 15th May, Jessica joins us to answer your questions: featuring discussion on layered cakes, Cestius' pyramid, the Appian Way, Roman London, ancient archaeologists and of course Pompey's Theatre, with a sneak preview of her lecture! To watch Jessica's lecture and participate in the Q&A, become a CA memberJessica is a historian and archaeologist, specialising in ancient Roman theatre and entertainment. She grew up on the Isle of Wight and moved to London to study at University College London in 2019, where she received her BA, MA, and PhD. She currently works as an Archaeologist for the Museum of London Archaeology. Her first academic book, entitled A New History of Ancient Roman Theatre, is being published by Liverpool University Press, and her first trade book, entitled Julius Caesar: Murder at the Theatre, is being published through Nurnberg Literary Agents. As well as academic publications, Jessica’s writing has appeared most recently in the BBC History Magazine, History Today, La Repubblica, The Ancient History Magazine, and The History News Network. You can find her on X (formerly known as Twitter) @⁠drjessicaclarke⁠Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA. Find out more about our ⁠Expert in Residence scheme

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• Claudian Inscriptions with Dr Abigail Graham

  In the third and final episode of this mini series, ⁠⁠Dr Abigail Graham⁠⁠ (Institute of Classical Studies) explores the Emperor Claudius' use of epigraphy, focusing on four key monuments across the empire - from Greece to Egypt. Look out for these key timestamps:09:16 - Claudius' letter to the Alexandrians in AD 4113:00 - Claudius' extension of the pomeriumHuge thanks to Abigail, James and all of our contributors for sharing their wonderful expertise. Click here for the ⁠⁠Inscriptions Booklet⁠⁠ designed to support teachers and students of OCR A Level Ancient History. Click here for other episodes in our ⁠⁠Roman History series⁠⁠.Follow the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Classics Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram and to access more classical resources, including our online lecture series, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the Classical Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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