The Partial Historians 🏺

@partialhistorians

After surviving exposure at birth, these unconventional academics realised they were destined to found the greatest Ancient Roman History podcast! 🏛📯⚔️ 📘‘Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire’ is out now!

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Bluesky

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The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 7d

Podcasting is amazing as it brings together people with amazing shared interests. Dr Rad and I were fortunate to be interviewed by Tristan for The Ancients podcast many years ago, and yesterday we got to meet in person!

From left: Tristan Hughes, Dr Rad, Dr G, Professor Alastair Blanchard outside the City Recital Hall, Sydney.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 8d

Let yourself float on the gentle tides of the Mediterranean (even if only in your imagination in this moment). Feel the calm waters and the little fish brush past your fingertips. Wave to the passing squid with the long and short tentacles. #MosaicMonday #AncientBluesky🏺

This mosaic fragment is made up of a white background and blue hues have been used to depict fish, a squid, and other marine life. It is striking in the simplicity of colours. From the Roman house in Ariminum (Rimini). Mosaic on display at the Museo della città di Rimini.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 11d

The bust appears to be quite modern, but the hairstyle is very much in keeping with the Flavian style. Higher and higher the hair rises! #AncientRome #Flavian #AncientBluesky🏺

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 12d

✨Brand New Episode - Fatal Second Helen with Josh Cannon✨ In this interview we’re joined by Josh Cannon who holds a PhD in near eastern languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago.

Illustration of Ajax defending the Greek ships against the Trojans. Text reads: ‘Special Episode - Fatal Second Helen with Josh Cannon’.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 13d

In the Res Gestae, Augustus claimed to have had great auctoritas (influence) but not more potestas (power) than anyone else. A fine distinction to us but perhaps more readily understood by a Roman of the day! #ReliefWednesday #AncientBluesky🏺

Picture from wikipedia is “A view of the remnants of the Temple of Augustus in Ankara, Turkey (Monumentum Ancyranum). Photo taken by AtilimGunesBaydin on November 28, 2004.” This version of the inscription was in Greek. Fragments elsewhere are in Latin.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 15d

Feel the seasons upon you with this mosaic fragment from the Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia. If you can make it there, it’s well worth the visit with ancient artefacts scattered throughout the Baroque collection. #AncientRome #MosaicMonday #AncientBluesky🏺

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 16d

To say it was an odyssey would be fair! When Roman historians go to see ancient Greece on film, we have opinions for sure.

Dr Rad (left) and Dr G (right) standing in front of some fearsome Laestrygonians while wearing ‘Odyssey Boat Tour’ T-shirts.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 18d

✨Fulvia with Kaarina Parker✨ The late republic of Rome is a tumultuous time and it opens up the possibility for elite women to be part of Rome’s political project in more overt ways than previously recorded in the ancient evidence.

Bookcover for ‘Fulvia’ by Kaarina Parker with a red background and the silhouette of a classical female figure surrounded by columns and laurel leaves.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 19d

Hold on tight, it’s #PhallusThursday! You just never know when really good fortune is going to come into your ancient Roman day, so best to prepare ahead by making sure you’ve done your pilates and are ready for whatever the day might hold…

Description from Nicolo Melissa Antiques: “Ancient Roman Carved Phallus. Carved white marble phallus with figure grasping the shaft that can be interpreted as a representation of fertility.” Thought to date to the first Century CE.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 20d

The Vestal Virgin frieze at the Museo Archeologico Antonio Salinas in Palermo is a beautiful piece that shows the five veiled women and a six figure whose head is missing due to damage of the frieze. The veils indicate a sacrifice is the subject. #ReliefWednesday

A frieze showing six figures. From left: a veiled seated woman (possibly the chief Vestal Virgin) facing right; four veiled standing women facing right; a one figure at the far most right facing towards the viewer but details are missing from the mid torso up.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 21d

The Appian Way in the summertime #AncientRome

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 25d

New restoration work is underway in Trajan's forum! #AncientRome #Trajan

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 28d

When at the Colosseum, it is obviously appropriate to ask the question that Maximus Decimus Meridius asks, “Are you not entertained?” #AncientRome #ClassicalReception

Dr G stands outside the Colosseum with her arms wide as if to ask the question posed by Maximus in the arena.

Dr G stands outside the Colosseum with her arms wide with the Maximus ‘Are you not entertained’ meme superimposed over the top.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· 29d

Undoubtedly one of the highlights from this trip was getting to see the frescoes from the Etrucan François Tomb up close in their new home at the Villa Giulia. Stunning scenes recalling Homeric epic. #AncientRome #Etruscan

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jul 12

Just out and about on the Appian Way. Straight as an arrow! #AncientRome

Image of a grey-stone paved road surrounded by dry grass, pines, and ancient crumbling structures.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jul 10

Just thanking Agrippa, Hadrian, and the Church for bringing us this beauty! #AncientRome

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jul 7

Each time I’m in Rome, I check in with Augustus just to see how he’s holding up after all these years. Just don’t tell Dr Rad! #AncientRome

Dr G looking up at the modern statue of Augustus based on the Prima Porta style on the Via dei Fori Imperiale.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jul 6

Ancient Rome in Garbatella!

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jul 3

✨Party time?✨ It’s nearly the weekend so we hope you have a better time than these folk who all seem less than thrilled to be at a party… #FrescoFriday

This fresco depicts a woman playing the lyre, while seated next to a man, though he might be a god. To the far right another woman leans on a wall watching the other two. The woman playing the lyre seems to be frowning. The fresco is thought to date from 50–79 CE and come from Pompeii. Now held by the British Museum.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jul 1

We are very excited to be part of the upcoming workshop ‘Antiquity Reaches Society’, organised by the University of Warsaw. “The rapid pace of socio-political, technological change in the modern world and the defunding of the humanities programs have all posed challenges to the study of History…

Image: Antiquity Reaches Society 1st Workshop on Outreach for Classicists - Warsaw Thursday 2nd – Friday 3rd July, 2026. Hybrid Event.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 29

✨A Meditative Dionysus✨ This #MosaicMonday we feel the contemplative mood of Dionysus, represented in this C4th CE portrait from Daphne (Antioch), Antakya (modern Türkiye). With hints of a leopard skin and and abundant wreath, we wonder if the party is about to start or is truly over!

This mosaic medallion depicts Dionysus in his distinctive wreath of fruits and garb that looks like a leopard skin. The facial expression registers something akin to dissatisfaction.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 26

✨The Lost Voices of Pompeii with Dr Jess Venner✨ We chat with Jess Venner about her debut book, The Lost Voices of Pompeii. This book takes you through the final twenty-four hours in the lives of several of the residents of the city, from slaves to politicians to businesswomen.

Image: Photo of Jess Venner. Text reads ‘Special Episode - The Lost Voices of Pompeii with Dr Jess Venner’

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 26

🩵 Delightful Diana 🩵 This gorgeous fresco is from the Villa Arianna in ancient Stabiae. Diana holds a bow and arrow with billowing fabric out behind her. The yellow tones of her clothing are a striking accompaniment to the vibrant blue background. #FrescoFriday #Diana @chapps.bsky.social

Fresco of Diana the huntress, with bow and arrow. She wears cream and yellow toned garments and seems to nearly float against the blue background, though there is a gesture to solid ground with a white line. The fresco is held in the MAN Napoli. Photo credit to: Stephen Chappell via Wikimedia Commons

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 25

✨Tintinnabulum of protection ✨ For the ancient Romans, you could encourage good fortune and ward off the evil eye with phallic images. Combined with bells, such imagery became tintinnabula (wind chimes) and presumably the protective effects were increased. #PhallusThursday

This tintinnabulum combines a phallic creature that has a phallic tail and its own phallus. Five bells are attached by chains to various parts of the creature.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 24

✨ Laocoön and His Sons✨ Laocoön was a Trojan priest, but the tale that led to his sons being killed by serpents exists in many variants. What remains constant is the depiction of a father’s grief even if his fate too is to die from serpent venom. #ReliefWednesday

The statue of Laocoön and His Sons was excavated in Rome in 1506 and put on public display in the Museo Pio-Clementino in the Vatican Museums. The sculpture group depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus being attacked by sea serpents. The date of the statue is mot certain with dates posited from 200 BCE to the 70s CE.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 22

✨Dionysos and friends✨ This #MosaicMonday we celebrate the divine Dionysos who here appears with Nike, replete with wings and chariot of big cats (likely panthers given his form!), and a figure identified as a bacchant (maenad).

Image description: from left to right - Dionysos, Nike and a maenad. Dionysos stands on a chariot led by big cats. Dionysos has a nimbus and holds a thyrsos. Next to him stands Nike, who also rides in the chariot and holds the reins for the panthers. To the right a maenad dances with a cymbal. Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Photo credit to Dosseman via Wikimedia Commons.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 19

✨Women and Literacy✨ While the extent written evidence from women in ancient Rome is small, it is suggestive of a culture of education particularly among elite families.

This Pompeian fresco depicts Terentius Neo and his (name unknown) wife. She holds a stylus and writing tablet while he holds a scroll. The literacy of both is openly suggested in this double portrait. This fresco comes from the Villa di Guilia Felice and is now held in the MAN Napoli. Photo credit to Mary Harrsch.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 18

Our latest podcast episodes are all about 388 BCE and the life and times of Fulvia!

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 17

✨Prima Porta Iconography✨ Augustus’ breastplate is packed with symbolism including the central figure, potentially the Parthian king Phraates IV returning Crassus’ standard.

The Prima Porta Augustus blends Greek and Roman styles to create an idealised image of Augustus. The portrait head is a combination of realism and youth, while the body embraces Greek heroic elements in posture. The detailed armour offers a range of gods including: Caelus, the sky god, spreading the tent of the sky; Aurora and Luna; Diana; the earth goddess Ceres/Tellus; Apollo, Augustus' patron; the sun god Sol; and a Sphinx on each shoulder, representing Augustus’ defeat of Cleopatra.

The Partial Historians 🏺@partialhistorians· Jun 15

✨Welcome to Eternity!✨ Watch out, Aion’s about! And no, he won’t be getting out of his celestial sphere of zodiac signs for anyone. He also a bit of a clothes optional kind of guy. Reclining beside him is thought to be the earth-goddess Tellus with her four kids, the seasons. #MosaicMonday