The Partial Historians
The Partial Historians

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The Four Horsemen
The Partial Historians
06/15/23 • 52 min
5.0
This episode, we are dealing with 422 and 421 BCE. The previous year had been a very dramatic for Rome. They seem to have come perilously close to a disastrous military defeat. Luckily, they had the four horsemen on their side...
“The Four Horsemen” is our affectionate name for the group of cavalry commanders who dismounted and led the Roman army on foot when everything turned against them during the battle against the Volsci in 423 BCE. The most notable amongst them was a plebeian hero Sextus Tempanius.
In 422 BCE, these men were elected to serve as plebeian tribunes. But will they continue to be exalted by the Roman people? Or will they demand change from the patricians and become just as troublesome as many of their predecessors?
Join us as we explore the fallout from the Volscian conflict.
Episode 138 – The Four Horsemen
Things to Listen Out For:
- Bad Italian accents
- Aequians coming out of nowhere
- Angry patricians acting like your parents
- Too many interreges to count (or name apparently)
- Moderatio everywhere
Need a more detailed recap of Sempronius’ misdeeds? Check out our previous episode on 423 BCE.
Our Players 422 BCE
Military Tribunes with Consular Power
- L. Manlius – f. – n. Capitolinus (Pat)
- Q. Antonius (T.f. – n.) Merenda
- L. Papirius (L.?f. – n.) Mugillanus (Pat) Cos. 427
Tribunes of the Plebs
- (Ti.) Antintius
- (M.) Asellius
- (Ti.) Spurillius
- Sex. Tempanius
- L. Hortensius
Ex-Consul
- C. Sempronius – f. – n. Atratinus (Pat)
Our Players 421 BCE
Consuls
- Cn. (or N.) Fabius Q.f.M.n. Vibulanus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 415, 407
- T. Quinctius T.f.L.n. Capitolinus Barbatus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 405
Interrex
- Lucius Papirius Mugillanus
The “Horses of Saint Mark”, also known as the “Triumphal Quadriga” or “Horses of the Hippodrome of Constantinople”. The bronze sculptures are thought to date to the second or third centuries CE and modelled on much earlier statues from classical Greece c. fourth century BCE. The precise date is uncertain. Photo credit to Tteske via Wikimedia Commons.
Our Sources
- Dr G reads Fasti Capitolini for 422 and 421 BCE; Festus 174L; Tacitus Annals 11.22; Val. Max. 6.5.2.
- Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.42-43.
- Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association)
- Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis)
- Drogula, Fred K (2015). Commanders & command in the Roman republic and early empire. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-4696-2314-6. OCLC 905949529.
- Forsythe, G. 2006. A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War(University of California Press)
- Holloway, R. Ross (2008). “Who Were the Tribuni Militum Consulari Potestate?”. L’Antiquité Classique. 77: 107–125. doi:10.3406/antiq.2008.3716. ISSN 0770-2817. JSTOR 41812945. Archived from the original on 2022-03-17.
- Lomas, Kathryn (2018). The rise of Rome. History of the Ancient World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
06/15/23 • 52 min

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The Partial Recap - 420s BCE
The Partial Historians
07/13/23 • 14 min
5.0
Another decade is gone and it’s time for a Partial Recap! We run through what the ancient sources tell us about this decade. There are some real highs and lows!
The Partial Recap 420s BCE
If you are keen to for some more detail, you can jump into our narrative episodes at 134 – A Dry Period.
A view to the East over the Roman Forum with the Temple of Saturn on the left and the Palatine Hill on the right, showing the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Arch of Titus, Santa Francesca Romana, and the Colosseum. Detail from the photograph by Nicholas Hartmann, June 1976. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under license.
Sound Credits
Our music was composed by the fabulous Bettina Joy de Guzman.
Automated Transcript
Dr Rad:
Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 420s BCE!
Dr G: I’m Dr G
Dr Rad: and I’m Dr Rad
Dr G: and this is our highlights edition of the 420s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 429 to 420 in an epitome of our normal episodes.
Dr Rad: Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee – but please be warned – the Roman world is a violent one.
Dr G: Get ready for a recappuccino.
429 BCE
- In 429 BCE, the consuls were Hostius Lucretius Tricipitinus and Lucius Sergius Fidenas
- Who could forget this year? Well, apparently a lot of people could – nothing was recorded in some of our sources
- For others, it might be an issue of confused dates and actually LOTS of things happened that sound very similar to the events of 428
428 BCE
- In 428 BCE, the consuls were Aulus Cornelius Cossus and Titus Quinctius Poenus Cincinnatus
- Or maybe Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus and Aulus Sempronius Atratinus
- Come on Romans, get your consuls straight!
- Veii started muscling in on Roman turf, perhaps with some help from the Fidenates
- The Romans assembled an elite task force to look into their involvement and some men from FIdenae found themselves banished to Ostia for being decidedly shifty
- For a bit of extra security, more settlers were sent to the colony of Fidenae
- Rome was then hit by a severe drought, which led to the spread of disease amongst cattle and the citizens
- In desperation, some superstitions started to spread amongst the populace and had to be reined in
427 BCE
- In 427 BCE, the consuls were Caius Servilius Structus Ahala and Lucius Papirius Mugillanus
- Putting the tough times behind them, the ROmans felt well enough to seek revenge against Veii
- But there’s a procedure to this people! Someone call the fetiales so they can call on Jupiter and get this ball rolling
426 BCE
- In 426 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Titus Quinctius Poenus Cincinnatus, Caius Furius Pacilus Fusus, Marcus Postumius Albinus, and Aulus Cornelius Cossus – whew!
- The military tribunes with consular power set about this war with Veii – but they didn’t play well together, leading to some humiliating results on the battlefield
- Crushed and angry, the Romans turned to their favourite solution – a dictator!
- Mamercus Aemilius was chosen by Cossus, and he chose Cossus to be his Master of the Horse – making them the cutest couple in Rome
- Meanwhile, Veii was bragging about their recent success to anyone who would listen, and Fidenae agreed to join forces with them once again.
- Lucky the Romans had Mamercus to whip them all into shape. He and his band of trusty helpers worked together like a well-oiled machine to grind their enemies into the dust!
- Once more, Cossus was a standout in the battle and Mamercus received a triumph
- If this all seems very familiar, it is. Suspiciously so!
- Compare the events yourself by revisiting our episode on 437 BCE
425 BCE
- In 425 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Aulus Sempronius Atratinus, L. Quinctius Cincinnatus, Lucius Furius Medullinus and Lucius Horatius Barbatus.
- Nothing much happened!
- The Veientes and the Aequians were each granted truces
424 BCE
- In 424 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Appius Claudius Crassus, Spurius Nautius Rutilus, Lucius Sergius Fidenas, and Sextus Iulius Iullus.
- Games were held and the Romans were exceedingly polite hosts.
- The tribunes of the plebs found the whole scene in the city far too peaceful and started haranguing the pop...
07/13/23 • 14 min

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How the Plebeians Got Their Groove Back
The Partial Historians
04/13/23 • 59 min
5.0
In this episode we dig into the details (or lack thereof!) of 425 and 425 BCE. Good news for the plebeians is that when there’s not much going on in Rome, they get a chance to just live life a little!
Episode 136 – How the Plebeians Got Their Groove Back
What’s in a tribune?
What’s the deal with military tribunes with consular power? We consider the etymology of tribune (the Latin tribunus) to better understand this facet of the political structure. This also means tackling the big question of: who were the magistrates in this period of history and how much can we take from our later writers like Livy and Dionsysius of Halicarnassus?
Games, glorious games!
The time is ripe for Rome to hold games in honour of the gods. There’s no battle to be had and diplomacy in the local region seems to be taking a turn for peace. What better time to invite everyone over for some sport and festivities?
Jean-Léon Gérôme 1876. Chariot Race.
This is an imagined scene of a Roman chariot race at the Circus Maximus at the height of Rome’s power (we’re not up to that point in Rome’s history in this episode!). The Circus itself is thought to be significantly old – dating back potentially as early as the kings.
Things to listen out for
- The horrifying lack of detail from the sources Dr G has to study
- Livy writing a history of peace rather than war
- Shocking revelations about Igor’s (our resident eagle) paycheck
- The return of the Claudii.
Our Players 425 BCE
Military Tribunes with Consular Power
- Aulus Sempronius L. f. A. n. Atratinus (Pat) – Cos 428b
- Lucius Quinctius L. f. L. n. Cincinnatus (Pat) (Broughton Cin. *3) – Cos 428b, military tribune with consular power 438
- Lucius Furius Sp. f. – n. Medullinus (Pat), Military tribune with consular power in 432
- Lucius Horatius M. f. M. n. Barbatus (Pat)
Our Players 424 BCE
Military Tribunes with Consular Power
- Appius Claudius Ap. f. Ap. n. Crassus (Pat)
- Spurius Nautius Sp. f. – n. Rutilus (Pat)
- Lucius Sergius C. f. C. n. Fidenas (Pat) – previously cos. 437, 429; military tribune with consular power 433
- Sextus Julius – f. – n. Iullus (Pat)
Our Sources
- Dr G reads Diodorus Siculus 12.81.1, 12.82.1
- Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.35.
- Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association)
- Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis)
- Drogula, F. K. 2017. ‘Plebeian Tribune and the Government of Early Rome‘ Antichthon 51: 101-123
Sound Effects
Thanks to the fabulous Bettina Joy de Guzman for our theme music. Additional sound effects from BBC Beta.
Greek black figure vase of a charioteer with four horses.
This Athenian vase is obviously not a Roman artefact, but it’s thought to date to c. 410-400 BCE which is very close to the period we explore in this episode. Gathering together for games and chariot racing was common across the Mediterranean. The Roman were likely inspired or influenced by ideas for games and races from the Greeks and the Etruscans.
Automated Transcript
Dr Rad 0:16
Welcome to The Partial Historians.
Dr G 0:20
We explore all the details of ancient Rome.
Dr Rad 0:23
Everything from the political scandals, the love affairs, the battles waged, and when citizens turn against each other. I’m Dr. Rad.
Dr G 0:34
And I’m Dr. G. We consider Rome as the Romans saw it by reading different authors from the ancient past and comparing their stories.
Dr Rad 0:43
Join us as we trace the journey of Rome from the founding of the city.
Hello, and welcome to a brand new episode of The Partial Historians. I’m Dr. Rad and this intelligent, ravishing creature next to me is
Dr G 1:06
Dr. G. Yay, I feel very complimented. Is it my sequined dinosaur t shirt?
Dr Rad 1:12
I mean, if that doesn’t scream, intelligent and ravishing, I don’t know what
Dr G 1:16
Ah, you’re so kind!
Dr Rad 1:19
So I’m thrilled to be back that back again, in the studio, talking about Ancient Rome with you.
Dr G 1:26
Yeah we’ve been exploring Ancient Rome from the foundation of the cit...
04/13/23 • 59 min

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Quo Vadis (1951) - Part One
The Partial Historians
05/25/23 • 50 min
This episode we return to the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ with a classic sword and sandal epic, Quo Vadis (1951). This film is available through many streaming platforms and we highly recommend revisiting it.
In Part One of two episodes on Quo Vadis, we examine the context for the film and the plot.
Quo Vadis (1951) helped to ignite Hollywood’s passion for ancient epics in this decade. It was a smash hit with some of the legendary stars of the era, including Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr and Peter Ustinov. This film is not only epic in terms of length, but in terms of all the aspects that you could discuss in connection with it.
Special Episode – Quo Vadis (1951) – Part One
Resistance
The tale itself has a lengthy backstory which takes us all the way back to 19th century Poland. Henryk Sienkiewicz wrote the book in a serialised format between 1894-1896. Poland had been going a through a tough time over the course of the preceding century, in the sense that it did not exist independently between 1795 and 1918. During this period, the Catholic Church was crucial in preserving Polish culture. Sienkiewicz often wrote historical novels that would lift the spirits of his fellow poles, and Quo Vadis was no exception. For Sienkiewicz, the triumph of Christian characters such as Lygia and Ursus (meant to be from Lugii, i.e. Poland) represent the ultimate triumph of Poland over its cruel oppressors, with Nero representing nations such as Russia, Austro-Hungary and Prussia.
Sienkiewicz’s novel was well-received, and was therefore adapted into toga plays, operas, and several films. The earlier film versions were made in Europe, including the notable 1912 silent classic.
Join us for the fascinating background of the 1951 film and stay tuned for Part Two!
Quo Vadis – Roll Call!
There are a LOT of characters to keep track of in a film of this length, so if you need a handy reference, check out the cast list on IMDB.
The main people that you need to know for our episode include:
LygiaFictional main lady love interest. Christian, hostage-turned-adoptive daughter of Roman general Aulus Plautus, and his wife, Pomponia Graecina.
Marcus ViniciusFictional main manly love interest. Roman, not Christian (yet). Militaristic, aggressive to start, turns all moral as the film progresses.
Lygia (Deborah Kerr) and Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) in the courtyard of her adoptive parents’ home in Rome.
Source: FilmAffinity.
Historical figure. Really was Roman emperor from 54-68 CE. Known as the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Really was terrible, although maybe not quite as unrelentingly awful as many suggest – including this film. Probably not as amusing as Peter Ustinov!
A gold coin showing the obverse portrait of Nero. Bust of the historical Nero Peter Ustinov as Nero in Quo Vadis (1951) Poppaea SabinaHistorical figure. Elite Roman lady. Complicated love life. Winds up as Nero’s second wife. Called beautiful but awful in the surviving sources. We say – the jury is out on that one. Typical fun, adulteress type character used to contrast to the ‘good girl’, Lygia. Historically, she is murdered by Nero while pregnant with their child. In Quo Vadis, Nero strangles her. An awful demise in reality and in film.
Statue of the historical Poppaea Sabina found in Olympia, Greece Patricia Laffan as Poppaea Sabina in Quo Vadis (1951) Petronius (Gaius Petronius Arbiter)Historical figure. Served as governor of Bithynia and was consul in either 62 or 63 CE. Did a decent job, but in his personal life seems to have made pleasure his main goal. Dubbed the ‘Arbiter of Elegance’ by Nero. Accused of being part of a conspiracy against Nero and suicided whilst chatting casually to friends. Thought to be the author of the novel, The Satyricon, which is a very unusual piece because it does NOT focus on the elite and is pretty ... eye-opening. Possibly makes fun of Nero through the gross figure of Trimalchio, a freedmen who has become a wealthy show-off with no taste. Close associate of Nero. In the movie, Petronius is Vinicius’ uncle and an elegant, witty, intelligent member of Emperor Nero’s inner-circle. He also has a weird obsession with the enslaved Eunice...
From left: Petronius (Leo Genn) attempting to advise Nero (Peter Ustinov) in a scene from Quo Vadis (1951).
Image source: FilmFanat...
05/25/23 • 50 min

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Special Episode - Quo Vadis (1951) - Part Two
The Partial Historians
06/22/23 • 47 min
5.0
This episode we return to the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ with a classic sword and sandal epic, Quo Vadis (1951). This film is available through many streaming platforms and we highly recommend revisiting it.
In Part Two of two episodes on Quo Vadis, we delve into our analysis of the film. If you have not listened to Part One, you might want to check it out for the context.
Special Episode – Quo Vadis (1951) – Part Two
The Wars That Shaped the Movie
Hollywood loves a sure bet and MGM started working on their own adaption after WWII. The legacy of that war can be seen in the depiction of Nero and the Roman people. Nero seems to be a mixture of Mussolini and Hitler, and the use of eagles, fasces and the ‘Roman salute’ must have also dredged up unpleasant memories.
The newly emerging Cold War also had an impact on this movie, with the plot dealing largely with the clash of freedom (Christians) vs tyranny (Romans). The immoral, irreligious Romans could easily be seen as the ‘godless Communists’, whereas the Christians and converts stand for the American way of life. The film was made during the hunt for Communists in Hollywood itself. The first round of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) had started in 1947 and round two was destined to begin in 1951. These were dark days for many in the industry.
Black and white portrait photo of Peter Ustinov as Nero in Quo Vadis.
He sits in a thoughtful pose and appears unhappy about something.
Source: Pinterest.
HUAC arrives in Hollywood
The head of MGM (Louis B. Mayer) and the male lead of Quo Vadis (Robert Taylor) were intimately connected with the HUAC hearings. Mayer had testified in 1947. Robert Taylor may not be a familiar name, but he was a massive star for MGM in the 30s and 40s. He was also known for his conservative politics and would be the only prominent Hollywood star to name names in front of the Committee. This might all seem to add up, but his testimony had just as much to do with his loyalty to Mayer, a fellow conservative, and MGM as his anti-communism.
Taylor had been forced by MGM and the Office of War Information to star in Song of Russia (1944), a pro-Russian film designed to promote friendly feelings about wartime alliance. Taylor had been dead against starring in the film in the first place, but he eventually went through with it so that he could be released by the studio to fulfil his military service.
Taylor’s Testimony
Taylor was asked to testify in closed door sessions in front of HUAC early in 1947. He was quite frank regarding his political views, and Song of Russia might have come up. Taylor did not hold back as he thought this testimony would be kept private. When it was used to bolster the presence of HUAC, Taylor was less than pleased. Taylor and his wife Barbara Stanwyck were conservatives, but they did want to abuse their position as celebrities. They never wished to discuss politics in public again.
Black and white portrait photo of Robert Taylor as Marcus Vinicius in Quo Vadis.
He wears a Roman style military brestplate and gazes into the middle distance thoughtfully.
Source: Pinterest
Taylor would have to make one more notable exception on that front. Louis B. Mayer, like so many other studio heads, wanted to protect the movie industry. This was business, and with television on the rise and the 1948 ruling against studio-owned theatres, the ‘biz’ was facing enough obstacles in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They did not need the public thinking that Hollywood was spreading Communist ideology. More significantly, there is a distinctly antisemitic tone to the HUAC hearings, which must have made the largely Jewish heads of studios nervous, no matter how politically conservative they were.
Specifically, Mayer needed Taylor to testify a second time so he could back up MGM’s official line regarding Song of Russia. It was just a romance! Certainly not wartime propaganda.... HUAC also really wanted Taylor to appear again, purely for the publicity. They were correct: the press (and a lot of female fans) flocked to see Taylor’s testimony.
Taylor seemed to be uncomfortable when asked to name any suspected Communists in the industry. He was hesitant, but he did it. In the atmosphere of Hollywood at the time, Robert Taylor was celebrated by most for his patriotism. Whilst the best days of his career would soon be behind him after Quo Vadis and his testimony, this had nothing to do with his appearance before HUAC. However, these days, Robert Taylor is largely forgotten or remembered as a ‘friendly witness’.
Join us for ...
06/22/23 • 47 min

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The Trials of Sempronius and Postumia
The Partial Historians
07/06/23 • 76 min
5.0
The Partial Historians are back in the 420s BCE and we are wrapping up the decade with some first-class DRAMA! At the centre of it all are the trials of Sempronius and Postumia. The only question is, can you handle it?
Episode 139 – The Trials of Sempronius and Postumia
Fake Elections
The year began with some classic conflict between the patricians and the plebeians. The tribunes of the plebs were FURIOUS when their relatives did not get elected as quaestors. There was only one possible explanation – election fraud!
There was clearly one man to blame: Aulus Sempronius Atratinus. He had been in charge of overseeing the elections and he had rigged the results. Unfortunately, he was also a military tribune and therefore immune from prosecution. But that didn’t mean that his relatives were...
The Trial of Sempronius
The tribunes set their sights on Atratinus’ cousin, Gaius Sempronius. Sempronius was the perfect target. He had been in charge of a DISASTROUS military campaign in 423 BCE. Time for vengeance!
Jean Lemaire c. 1645-1655. Roman Senators and Legates.
The picture shows senators walking though a square attended by lictors. Maybe they’re on their way to a trial!
Poor Postumia
Sempronius was not the only person to find themselves on trial in 420 BCE. A Vestal Virgin named Postumia was accused of incestum. Apparently, her clothing was a bit too sexy, and she had a sense of humour. What a horrible combination! Think of the children!
However, incestum was a very serious charge as it put the Romans’ relationship with the gods in jeopardy. It was no joke for Postumia either. Charges like this could lead to live burial for a Vestal.
Tune in to find out whether Sempronius and Postumia manage to emerge victorious from their respective trials.
A modern imagining of Vestal Virgin by sculptor Joseph-Charles Marin 1791-95.
Courtesy of Mary Harrsch on Flickr.
Things to Look Out For:
- Clear signs of our Partiality
- Lengthy digressions on work apparel
- Red lipstick and mini skirts
- Patrician morality par excellence
- Family rivalry
- Immense excitement to find a woman in our story – at last!
- Dr G’s immense expertise on Vestal Virgins
Need a recap on Sempronius? Check out our previous episodes on 423 BCE and 422-21 BCE.
Our Players 420 BCE
Military Tribunes with Consular Power
- L. Quinctius L. f. L. n. Cincinnatus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 438, 425
- T. Quinctius L. f. L. n. Poenus Cincinnatus (Pat) Cos. 431, 428a, Mil. Tr. c. p. 426
- L. Furius Sp. f. -n. Medullinus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 432, 425
- M. Manlius – f. – n. Vulso (Pat)
- A. Sempronius L. f. A. n. Atratinus (Pat) Cos. 428b, Mil. Tr. c. p. 428, 416
Tribunes of the Plebs
- A. Antistius
- Sex. Pompilius
- M. Canuleius
Interrex
- L. Papirius Mugillanus (Pat) Cos. 427, Mil. Tr. c. p. 422
Pontifices
- Sp. Minucius
Vestal Virgin
- Postumia
Our Sources
- Dr G reads Plutarch, de Capienda 89f.
- Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.44.
- Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association)
- Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis)
- Forsythe, G. 2006. A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War(University of California Press)
- Greenfield, P. 2011. Virgin Territory: The Vestals and the Transition from Republic to Principate [Doctoral Thesis, The University of Sydney]
- Lomas, Kathryn (2018). The rise of Rome. History of the Ancient World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. doi:10.4159/9780674919938. ISBN 978-0-674-65965-0. S2CID
07/06/23 • 76 min

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Building the Bromance
The Partial Historians
03/16/23 • 72 min
5.0
What do you get when Mamercus Aemilius Mamercinus and Aulus Cornelius Cossus return in our source material? The continuation of a beautiful bromance.
After an unfortunate amount of disease and destruction in our last episode, we return to Rome for some classic political and military action.
The Romans are ready to put a year of horrible drought behind them and seek revenge on Veii and the ongoing thorn in their side. Fidenae. It also turns out that war is the perfect backdrop for some male bonding.
Episode 135 – Building the Bromance
Jupiter as my Witness!
Before the Romans can get involved in any conflicts with Veii, there are rules of warfare that need to be observed. It is time for the fetiales! With Jupiter as their witness, they will make sure that Rome only goes to war in the right circumstances.
Fresco of Jupiter, National Archaeological Museum of Naples (inv. nr.9551).
From Pompeii, House of the Dioscuri, dating to the 1st century CE, so much later than the 420s BCE! Jupiter was invoked by thefetiales during their rituals.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Building the Bromance
The Romans elect military tribunes with consular power as they embark on their war with Veii. Unfortunately, the tribunes don’t have a talent for teamwork. It’s time for a dictator!
Our old friend Cossus nominates Mamercus Aemilius as dictator. In return, Aemilius makes Cossus his Master of the Horse. The bromance between these two is so strong that Veii doesn’t stand a chance. They are the Roman equivalent of Batman and Robin.
Watch out Etruscans! The caped crusaders are out to get you.
The classic duo: is that Mamercus and Cossus or Batman and Robin? When we squint, we can’t even tell, that’s how strong the bromance is here.
Things to Look Out For:
- More confusion over consuls
- Murder most foul
- Birds in the sky (they might be trying to tell you something)
- Smugness from Mamercus
- Fiery combat
- Did we write a book? Oh boy, yes we did! If you enjoy the podcast, this might be just the ticket. You can purchase our popular history Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome HERE
- Interested in the first instalment of the bromance between Cossus and Mamercus? We’ve got you covered – that’d be Episode 129 – Lars Tolumnius and the Fate of Fidenae
Our Players 427 BCE
Consuls
- C. Servilius – f. – n. Structus Ahala (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 419, 418, 417
- L. Papirius (L. f. – n.) Mugillanus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 422
Our Players 426 BCE
Military Tribunes with Consular Power
- T. Quinctius L. f. L. n. Poenus Cincinnatus (Pat) Cos 431, 428a, Mil. Tr. c. p. 420?
- C. Furius – f. – n. Pacilus Fusus (Pat) Cos. 441
- M. Postumius A. ? f. A.? n. Albinus Regillensis? (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 403?
- A. Cornelius M. f. L. n. Cossus (Pat) Cos. 428
Dictator
- Mam. Aemilius M. f. – n. Mamercinus (Pat)
Master of the Horse
- A. Cornelius M. f. L. n. Cossus (Pat) Cos. 428a, Mil. Tr. c. p. 426
Legates
- T. Quinctius Poenus Cincinattus (Pat) Cos. 431, Mil. tr. c. p. 426, 420?
Our Sources
- Dr G reads Diodorus Siculus 12.78.1, 12.80.1; Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 12.6; Valerius Maximus 3.2.4; Frontinus Stratagems 2.4.18-19, 2.8.9; Florus 1.6.7; Aurelius Victor De Viris Illustribus urbis Romae 25; Orosius 2.13.8-11
- Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.31-34.
- Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association)
- Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis)
- Forsythe, G. 2006. A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War(University of California Press)
- Ogilvie, R. M. 1965. A Commentary on Livy: Books 1-5 (Clarendon Press).
- Santangelo, F. 2008. ‘The Fetials and Their Ius’. Bulletin: Institute of Classical Studies 51:1, 63-93.
Sound Effects
Fesliyan Studios, Orange Free Sounds and Pixabay.
Thanks to the fabulous Bettina Joy de Guzman...
03/16/23 • 72 min

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The Robe (1953)
The Partial Historians
04/06/23 • 68 min
5.0
The Robe (1953) is a cinematic classic of Golden Age Hollywood. With its mix of ancient Rome and early Christianity, it was a winner with audiences around the globe. In this special episode, we tap into Dr Rad’s expertise in reception in film and come to grips with the power of The Robe!
Special Episode – The Robe
A Challenging Context
It was tricky to deal with modern political issues in this era of Hollywood under the influence of HUAC (the House Un-American Activities Committee). For the makers of The Robe, which explicitly dealt with the life of Jesus under the Romans, there were additional challenges due to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. Returning to the Old Testament was often a safer bet for Hollywood films.
The rights to The Robe were initially purchased by RKO, before finally being canceled in 1948. It found a new home at 20th Century Fox. The fact that The Robe was in production for a long time has raised some interesting questions about the impact of historical context.
The script was initially written by Albert Maltz, one of the infamous Hollywood Ten. The original script does seem to touch on blacklist themes. In Caligula’s original speech at the end of the film he refers to the “sedition” of the Christians and Marcellus has to deny that he is involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the state. This sounds eerily close to the experience of Hollywood Communists, who were generally not radicals trying to seize control of the government. There were also more references to the naming of names in Maltz’s version of The Robe...
People protesting in favour of the Hollywood Ten. Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
HUAC and The Robe
But HUAC lay in his future, as Maltz only worked on this project from 1942-1946. As Smith (2005) has highlighted, while Maltz could not have worked HUAC references into the script before his HUAC experiences, it is possible that the tension over Communism still shaped his draft. There were moves against Communism before the Second Red Scare that swept America in the late 1940s and 1950s, such as the actions of the Tenney Committee in the early 1940s, or the foundation of the right-wing Motion Picture Alliance for American Ideals.
Or perhaps Maltz was more focused on providing a critique of Italian fascism, given the backdrop of World War II? Maltz wrote Cloak and Dagger (1947) immediately after The Robe, which definitely took aim at Italian fascism, whilst exalting the resistance from the Communists. He would also write Crossfire (1947), a film that tackled issues of anti-Semitism within the USA.
Film poster for Cloak and Dagger (1947)
Is it possible that the next screenwriter to work on The Robe worked in some sick burns? Phillip Dunne followed Maltz and would eventually receive sole credit for the film, thanks to the blacklist. He was known to be a liberal and helped to establish the Committee for the First Amendment. This group formed in reaction to the HUAC hearings in 1947. Fellow members included other Hollywood luminaries such as William Wyler, Lucille Ball, Lauren Bacall, Bette Davis and Dorothy Daindridge.
However, Dunne was not a Communist; quite the opposite. He may have intended The Robe to be a veiled criticism of HUAC, but he may also have seen the repression of the Romans as being akin to Stalin and the Communist regime.
References
- Reinhartz, A. (2013). B i b l e a n d C i n e m a : F i f t y K e y F i l m s . Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203083260
- Richards, J. (2008). Hollywood’s Ancient Worlds. Continuum.
- Smith, J. (2005). ‘Are You Now or Have You Ever Been a Christian?: The Strange History of The Robe As Political Allegory‘, Film Studies, Winter: 7, 1-15.
A lobby card for The Robe
Automated Transcript
Provided by Otter AI
Dr Rad 0:16
Welcome to the Partial Historians, we explore all the details of ancient Rome. Everything from the political scandals, the love of ours, the battles waged, and when citizens turn against each other. I’m Dr. Rad.
Dr G 0:34
And I’m Dr. G. We consider Rome as the Romans saw it by reading different authors from the ancient past and comparing their stories. Join us as we trace the journey of Rome from the founding of the city.
Dr Rad 1:03
Welcome to a special episode of The Partial Historians, I am one of your hosts, Dr. Rad.
Dr G 1:10
And I am a somewhat healthy, Dr. G.
Dr Rad 1:15
I know this is tru...
04/06/23 • 68 min

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The Tenacious Tempanius
The Partial Historians
05/11/23 • 67 min
5.0
Welcome to 423 BCE and your introduction to the one and only Sextus Tempanius! You may not know his name just yet, but we’re pretty sure you’ll be as impressed with him as we are. Suffice it to say, 423 BCE is one of the more interesting and dramatic years of the decade.
After a confusing tangent about the Samnites and Capua brought to us courtesy of Livy, we return to Rome and war with the Volscians. The Roman forces are led by the patrician, Gaius Sempronius Atratinus. However, Sempronius might be placing too much faith in the gods when it comes to war...
With fortune seemingly turning against the Romans, a plebeian hero steps into the spotlight. Sextus Tempanius brings the cavalry to the rescue of their forces. Join us to find out how the Tenacious Tempanius made the Romans swoon.
Episode 137 – The Tenacious Tempanius
A re-enactor dressed as a Roman cavalryman. The gear is not necessarily historically accurate for this period, but it gives the vibe!
Image courtesy of Jacqueline Ross via Flickr.
My Kingdom for a Decurio!
Sextus Tempanius is described in some of our sources as a decurio. In this context, a decurio is a commander of a decuria of cavalry. A decuria is the Latin term for a division of ten. So a decurio is a low level commander in charge of the ten riders that make up his decuria. Although we can’t be precise about the exact scope of the Roman cavalry in this period of the early Republic, there is later thought to have been 30 lots of ten riders to a cavalry legion (300 riders). So for three hundred horsemen there were thirty internal leaders. The other important division was the grouping of 3 decuriones (3×10) horsemen together into a formation known as a turma. Depending on the battle situation, the Romans had the capacity to divide a legion down to collectives of 30 or 10 horsemen with their own command structure.
Things to Listen Out For
- Several theories about how Capua received its’ name
- Confusion over places starting with V
- The laziest Etruscan resistance EVER
- Standards left lying around
- Roman cheerleading practice
- Friends turning on each other like real douchebags
- Weird parallels to the Second Punic War
- Patrician trials – about time!
Want to refresh your knowledge of 424 BCE? Check out our previous episode.
Our Players 423 BCE
Consuls
- C. Sempronius – f. – n. Atratinus (Pat)
- Q. Fabius Q. f. M. n. Vibulanus (Pat) Mil. Tr. c. p. 416, 414
Tribune of the Plebs
- C. Iunius
Decurio
- Sextus Tempanius
Our Sources
- Dr G reads Dionysius of Halicarnass Roman Antiquities 12.6.5; Val. Max. 3.2.8.
- Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.37-41.
- Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association)
- Brill New Pauly entries for “Decurio” and “Verrugo”
- Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis)
- Forsythe, G. 2006. A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War(University of California Press)
- Oakley, S. P. 2016. ‘Didactic Livy: Review of Livy’s Political Philosophy. Power and Personality in Early Rome by A. Vasaly’. The Classical Review 66:2, 431-433.
- Ogilvie, R. M. 1965. A Commentary on Livy: Books 1-5 (Clarendon Press).
- Smith, W. 1854. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography “Verrugo”
Sound Effects
Thanks to the wonderful Bettina Joy de Guzman for our theme music. Sound effects courtesy of Fesliyan Studios and Orange Free Sounds and BBC Sound Effects.
North face of the Mausoleum of Glanum, southern France, showing a cavalry battle, c. 40 BCE. This relief shows cavalry in action well after the period under discussion in this episode, but it does give you a sense of the movement and how Romans in the late Republic conceived of the cavalry.
Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photographer: Cancre
Automated Transcript
Lightly edited for clarity!
Dr Rad 0:27
Hello...
05/11/23 • 67 min

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Special Episode - Women of Myth with Ancient History Fan Girl
The Partial Historians
07/27/23 • 54 min
Content warning for this episode: violence, sexual violence, removal of children
We sit down to chat with Genn and Jenny, the fabulous cohosts of the Ancient History Fan Girl podcast. They have recently published Women of Myth: From Deer Woman and Mami Wata to Amaterasu and Athena which examines fifty women and femme presenting figures from cultures across the globe.
While Women of Myth is the centre of this conversation, there’s no way to discuss ancient ideas about women without considering how that might reflect upon the contemporary issues that women face. This also leads into consideration of the challenges faced by women throughout history.
We wrap up with a discussion of looking beyond the ancient Greco-Roman world – the value of doing that and what that can look like in podcasting.
Special Episode – Women of Myth with Ancient History Fan Girl
What makes a book?
In this interview, we explore some of the details of the book including
- The ideas that shaped the concept for Women of Myth
- The role of Sara Richard’s illustrations in expanding representation
- What it was like to co-write a book together
Listen out for discussions about
- Amba/Shikhandi – The Vengeance-Seeking Genderqueer Warrior of the Mahabharata
- Atalanta – The Ancient Greek Warrior, Athlete, and Argonaut
- Ītzpāpālōtl – The Skeletal Warrior Goddess of the Aztecs
- La Llorona – The Wailing Woman of Mexican Mythology
- Medea – Dr G draws parallels with La Llorona and Medea’s stories
- The Morrigan – The Ancient Irish Goddess of War and Battle Frenzy
- Oya – The Yoruba Warrior Goddess and Orisha of the Wind
Interested in Women of Myth?
Consider these retailers:
- Booktopia (Australia)
- Bookshop.org (US)
- Bookshop.org (UK)
- Contact your local indie bookstore
- Contact your local library
The book cover!
Sound Credits
Our music was composed by Bettina Joy de Guzman.
An illustration by Sara Richard from Women of Myth of Ītzpāpālōtl, the Aztec Skeletal warrior goddess.
She appears as a crown skull with green feathered hair surrounded by flames.
Automated Transcript
Dr Rad 0:16
Welcome to The Partial Historians.
Dr G 0:20
We explore all the details of ancient Rome.
Dr Rad 0:23
Everything from the political scandals, the levels as the battles waged, and when citizens turn against each other. I’m Dr. Rad.
Dr G 0:34
And I’m Dr. G. We consider Rome as the Romans saw it, by reading different authors from the ancient past and comparing their stories.
Dr Rad 0:43
Join us as we trace the journey of Rome from the founding of the city. Welcome to a very special edition of The Partial Historians. I am Dr. Rad.
Dr G 1:00
And I’m Dr. G.
Dr Rad 1:02
And Dr. G, we are joined today by two extra special guests. I know this is very exciting for us two extra special people are with us. And the mystery of way shall soon be revealed. I know what I mean, this is this is really a treat because we are joined by two members of the unofficial lady pod squad. And that is right we are joined by Jenny and Genn, who are the hosts of the extremely popular Ancient History Fan Girl podcast. And we are both fan girls of that podcast. Are we not Dr. G?
Dr G 1:39
We are so it’s like super, super exciting. It’s like ancient history girls unite.
Dr Rad 1:43
Exactly, exactly.
Jenny 1:45
The feeling is mutual.
Genn 1:46
Very mutual.
Dr Rad 1:50
It’s actually it’s actually really shocking that we have not had you on our show before this because it was many, many moons ago that we recorded Spartacus together. And I feel like it’s because we’re constantly in contact in terms of I constantly see what you guys are up to on Instagram and constant...
07/27/23 • 54 min

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FAQ
How many episodes does The Partial Historians have?
The Partial Historians currently has 186 episodes available.
What topics does The Partial Historians cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, History and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on The Partial Historians?
The episode title 'The Four Horsemen' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Partial Historians?
The average episode length on The Partial Historians is 44 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Partial Historians released?
Episodes of The Partial Historians are typically released every 21 days.
When was the first episode of The Partial Historians?
The first episode of The Partial Historians was released on Feb 28, 2013.
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