The Ancients cover art

The Ancients

The Ancients

By: History Hit
Listen for free

About this listen

A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes.


New episodes every Sunday and Thursday.


From History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts Dan Snow's History Hit, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hit Networks
World
Episodes
  • Judas Iscariot
    Apr 5 2026

    **Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence, including suicide**


    What really happened to Judas Iscariot? From shifting accounts in the Gospels to the 30 pieces of silver, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Paul Middleton to trace the stories that made Judas Christianity’s most infamous villain.

    Along the way, they explore the kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane, the conflicting accounts of Judas’s death, and the long debate over whether he was a historical figure or a later invention.


    MORE

    Jesus of Nazareth

    Listen on Apple

    Listen on Spotify


    Pontius Pilate

    Listen on Apple

    Listen on Spotify


    Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Britain's First Dog
    Apr 2 2026

    Fifteen thousand years ago, as the Ice Age loosened its grip on Northern Europe, humans returned to the previously inhospitable British Isles. But they did not come alone. Among their number was a companion once thought to be an impossibility: Britain's earliest known dog.


    In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes Dr. Selina Brace and Dr. William Marsh from the Natural History Museum to explore groundbreaking new research from Gough’s Cave that is reshaping our understanding of humans and dogs in Ice Age Britain. Together they uncover the story of a remarkable discovery: ancient remains once believed to belong to a wolf, now identified as Britain’s oldest known domesticated dog. How did this dog live alongside prehistoric hunter-gatherers? And how is this discovery changing what we thought we knew about the arrival of dogs in Britain?


    MORE

    The First Dogs:

    Listen on Apple

    Listen on Spotify


    End of the Ice Age Britain:

    Listen on Apple

    Listen on Spotify


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • The Roman Centurion
    Mar 29 2026

    What did it take to become a Roman centurion? To command, to punish and to lead from the very front of Rome’s armies?


    In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Ben Kane to uncover the reality behind one of the most iconic ranks of the ancient world. From the brutal discipline of life on campaign to the prestige and pressure of command, discover how centurions became the backbone of the Roman military. How were they chosen? What kept their soldiers in line? And why were they so crucial to Rome’s success on battlefields across the empire?


    Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast


    MORE:

    The Roman Legionary

    Listen on Apple

    Listen on Spotify


    The Roman Auxiliary

    Listen on Apple

    Listen on Spotify


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
All stars
Most relevant
This is a wonderful Podcast series i can't get enough of these Ancient stories they are both entertaining and informative and Tristan is a brilliant host

fantastic stories of ancient times

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I love all of the prehistory episodes, particularly the ones about past humans. Really interesting.

Prehistory

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Although my main interests are Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egyptian. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about other cultures beside. Each Sunday and Thursday I can't wait to see which episode has dropped.

Fantastic podcast - always looking forward to next

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Nice to listen to and nice there are so many, it would be nice to get a little more in depth though

Entertaining

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved it! This podcast has taught me and introduced me to so much history and new topics, but chuck Mary Beard in and wow! she never fails to teach and entertain. Definitely worth a listen.

Brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews