Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics Podcast
Natalie Haynes takes a fresh look at the ancient world, creating stand-up routines about figures from ancient Greece and Rome.
Episodes to download
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Tacitus
Mon 12 Aug 2024
The great historian of imperial Rome, Tacitus can persuade you of just about anything.
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Aesop
Mon 5 Aug 2024
The best-known author from antiquity, famed for his fables. But did he really exist?
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Artemis
Mon 29 Jul 2024
Predator, hunter, archer, daughter of Zeus, queen of wild creatures: the goddess Artemis.
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Aphrodite
Mon 22 Jul 2024
The Greek goddess of love, desire and beauty, Aphrodite is mostly depicted naked, or wet.
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Hesiod
Mon 15 Jul 2024
Prize-winning poet, cataloguer of gods and author of a flatpack wagon manual: Hesiod.
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Cleopatra
Mon 8 Jul 2024
Brilliant politician, ruthless leader, massive brain-box: Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.
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Livia—Series 9
Tue 19 Dec 2023
4/4 First Empress of Rome, faithful wife and influential advisor - or serial killer?
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Athene—Series 9
Tue 12 Dec 2023
3/4 Goddess of wisdom, war and... handicrafts: Athene is charismatic and bloodthirsty.
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Demeter—Series 9
Tue 5 Dec 2023
2/4 A story of a mother's love and anger. Demeter seeks justice for Persephone.
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Martial—Series 9
Tue 28 Nov 2023
1/4 Epigrams, jokes and absolute filth, that's Martial. With Robin Ince and Llewelyn Morgan.
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Homer: The Odyssey—Series 8
Sun 4 Sep 2022
4/4 Natalie retells Homer's epic story of homecoming, adventure and passion.
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Lucretius—Series 8
Sun 28 Aug 2022
3/4 Six-book epic poem on philosophy and physics? Don't mind if I do.
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Spartan Women—Series 8
Sun 21 Aug 2022
2/4 By the standards of the ancient world, Spartan women had it good. With Edith Hall.
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Pompeii—Series 8
Sun 14 Aug 2022
1/4 Why are ripe pomegranates and squashed grapes key archaeological finds from Pompeii?
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Clytemnestra—Series 7
Tue 8 Jun 2021
4/4 The worst wife in Greek myth. Or was she? With Professor Edith Hall.
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Jocasta—Series 7
Tue 1 Jun 2021
3/4 The wife of Oedipus. And mother. A still spellbindingly shocking story. With Edith Hall.
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Pandora—Series 7
Tue 25 May 2021
2/4 A mythological equivalent to Eve with a bit of Sleeping Beauty thrown in. With Edith Hall
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Penelope—Series 6
Sun 7 Jun 2020
4/4 Natalie Haynes tells of Penelope, the clever woman behind The Odyssey.
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Eurydice—Series 6
Sun 31 May 2020
3/4 Natalie Haynes tells Eurydice's story from a new perspective. With Llewelyn Morgan.
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Penthesilea, Amazon Warrior Queen—Series 6
Sun 24 May 2020
2/4 Natalie Haynes tells the story of Penthesilea, Amazon warrior Queen.
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Helen of Troy—Series 6
Sun 17 May 2020
1/4 Natalie Haynes tells stories of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Troy.
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Suetonius—Series 5
Mon 6 Jan 2020
3/4 Natalie stands up for Roman biographer Suetonius, with Llewelyn Morgan and Anita Anand.
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Roman British Women: Claudia Severa.—Series 5
Mon 30 Dec 2019
2/4 Natalie Haynes on Claudia Severa, with guests Llewelyn Morgan and Paul Roberts.
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Aristotle—Series 5
Mon 23 Dec 2019
1/4 Natalie Haynes stands up for Aristotle, with Dr Adam Rutherford and Professor Edith Hall.
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Livy—Series 4
Mon 20 Aug 2018
Natalie Haynes stands up in the name of Roman historian Livy. With Al Murray.
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Euripides—Series 4
Mon 13 Aug 2018
Natalie Haynes stands up for Greek playwright Euripides, whose Medea still shocks.
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Horace—Series 4
Mon 6 Aug 2018
Natalie Haynes stands up for Roman poet Horace. With guests Llewelyn Morgan and Ben Okri.
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Phryne—Series 4
Mon 30 Jul 2018
Natalie Haynes stands up for Phryne, the Greek courtesan famed for her wit and beauty.
Natalie Haynes's Classics Quiz
Natalie Haynes challenges your knowledge of the classics with 15 fiendish questions.
