EPISODE · May 25, 2026 · 14 MIN
Ancient Roman gossip and why it mattered
from Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Romans were merciless in the way they talked about their rulers. Baldness and body hair, sexual positions and partners, and inebriation and indolence were all fair game. Gossip, far from unimportant to historical study, is in fact its own form of evidence, argues Caillan Davenport, Prof of Ancient History at the Australian National University. Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport, ‘Behind the Emperor’s back: Rumor, gossip, and the making of the Roman Emperors’ (Yale University Press)Producer: Ann Arnold
What this episode covers
The Romans were merciless in the way they talked about their rulers. Baldness and body hair, sexual positions and partners, and inebriation and indolence were all fair game. Gossip, far from unimportant to historical study, is in fact its own form of evidence, argues Caillan Davenport, Prof of Ancient History at the Australian National University. Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport, ‘Behind the Emperor’s back: Rumor, gossip, and the making of the Roman Emperors’ (Yale University Press) Producer: Ann Arnold
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Ancient Roman gossip and why it mattered
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