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Oct 8
58m 38s

What did Roman emperors really look like...

Vespucci
About this episode
There are thousands of surviving busts and sculptures of Roman emperors, but… do we actually know what they looked like? The problem is that the function of these statues was less to do with realistically representing the supreme ruler (if at all), and more about asserting his power over the empire. Mary and Charlotte delve into the complexities of represent ... Show More
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Oct 1
The Bayeux Tapestry: Britain’s Lost Latin masterpiece
Mary and Charlotte delve into the stitching of the Bayeux Tapestry, a 224-foot long narrative embroidery charting William the Conqueror’s successful invasion of England in 1066. Little is certain about the creation of the textile, but it was likely commissioned by one of the Norm ... Show More
56m 6s
Sep 24
Classic Chats: Daniel Mendelsohn on translating the Odyssey
Mary and Charlotte talk to Daniel Mendelsohn, one of America’s most revered classicists, whose new translation of the Odyssey was published last year. Daniel’s decision to translate the Odyssey occurred rather unusually. In 2011, his 82-year-old father decided to attend his weekl ... Show More
59m 48s
Sep 17
How Homer’s Odyssey Conquered the English-speaking World
Last episode, Mary and Charlotte looked at how Homer’s Odyssey was reinterpreted in the Ancient World by writers like Euripides, Virgil and Ovid. In this episode, they show how it shaped English fiction - from Shakespeare through to Madeline Miller. They are joined by Jonty Clayp ... Show More
59m 32s
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