Why was a boy grotesquely and mysteriously murdered in a wood in Norwich in the 12th century? Who was his killer? Was it a ritual child sacrifice? Why was the murder blamed on Norwich's Jewish community, and in what appalling way? How did the incident set in motion a whole wave of Jewish persecution across the world, as more and more children disappeared and ... Show More
Feb 5
641. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Hannibal’s Nemesis (Part 2)
What happened at the Battle of Ibera, a totemic though overlooked battle of the Punic Wars? With the forces of Carthage closing in on a depleted Rome, would a young Roman, Publius Cornelius Scipio resurrect the fortunes of the Republic? And, could he destroy Carthage’s most cruci ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 4
The Arnolfini Portrait, with Laura Cumming
Why is Jan Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait perceived as one of the greatest mysteries of the arts? What elements and symbolisms provoke debates about its identity and meaning? And, what do we know about its provenance, its travels through European royal courts, and its influence on ... Show More
10m 12s
Mar 2025
The Servants' Revenge: Arsenic & a Poisoned Pint of Beer
<p>Why did two servants living in Plymouth, England, poison their whole household in 1675? How did they sneak arsenic into the food? And what on earth is pottage?</p><br><p>Today Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney talk to Dr Blessin Adams, author of "<em>Thou Savage Woman: female ... Show More
51m 51s
Nov 7
Who was the Husband Poisoner of Renaissance Italy?
Odourless, tasteless, colourless, lethal. In the mid-17th century, men were dropping like flies in Italy. And this wasn't just the plague - it was the work of the poison Aqua Tofana.So what is Aqua Tofana? And who was its apocryphal purveyor, Giulia Tofana? In this episode we are ... Show More
35m 20s
Aug 2025
133. What Was Hiding in Germany's Göhrde Forest? The Göhrde Murders // DARK SUMMER VOL. 2
Match cakes, cookies, and candy in thousands of fun puzzles, when you download Cookie Jam today using the link: http://jamcity.me/HeartStartsPounding Official Göhrde Police Investigation Website: https://www.pd-lg.polizei-nds.de/startseite/kriminalitaet/deliktsbereiche/cold_cases ... Show More
46m 19s
Aug 2025
134. The Mysterious Disappearance of The Beaumont Children: Australia’s Most Puzzling Unsolved Mystery // DARK SUMMER VOL. 2
In 1966, three children vanished without a trace in Australia, and no one knows what happened. It’s a mystery that still plagues the country to this day, and may credit it as the reason people started locking their doors there. But today, we have a much clearer picture of the cri ... Show More
52m 45s
<p>People in the 17th century were at spiritual war with the devil. </p><br><p>It was a time of huge upheaval. What became known as the witch trials soon followed.</p><br><p>In this first episode of a limited series, <em>Inside the Witch Trials</em>, we go back to the E ... Show More