Ancient Warfare Podcast

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm returns to the topic of dice in the ancient world. After a question about Greek and Roman dice and the game of Hazard, Murray explores other games played with dice and uncovers intriguing details about the Roman game of Alea — perhaps the one Julius Caesar referenced with his famous phrase "Alea iacta est." As always, the reality is more complex than it first seems.

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a listener question from Richard Azzalin. Did Greek and Roman soldiers ever fight while wearing their cloaks or chlamys? And did warriors sometimes go into battle barefoot? Murray looks at what the evidence tells us about these details of ancient warfare.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

Dominik asks: is the famous story of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus meeting to discuss history's greatest generals plausible? Murray Dahm examines the ancient accounts, the realities of elite travel in the ancient world, and whether such encounters between great commanders could have happened.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

With Christmas just around the corner, the Ancient Warfare team take a break from battles to share their top reading recommendations for the holidays. From newly released studies to timeless classics, Jasper, Murray, Mark, Lindsay, and Marc each choose books that any ancient warfare enthusiast would love to find under the tree. Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own list or shopping for a fellow history buff, this episode is full of great ideas to keep you reading well into the new year. Suggested BooksDecorated Roman Armour: From the Ages of the Kings to the Death of Justinian the Great Germanicus: The Magnificent Life and Mysterious Death of Rome's Most Popular General Inside the Roman Legions: The Soldier's Experience 264–107 BCE The War for Gaul: A New Translation Crossing the Pomerium: The Boundaries of Political, Religious, and Military Institutions from Caesar to Constantine Shadow Empires: An Alternative Imperial History Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments Early Rome to 290 BC: The Beginnings of the City and the Rise of the Republic The African Emperor: The Life of Septimius Severus Weapons, Warriors and Battles of Ancient Iberia Caesarian Legionary vs Pompeian Legionary: Rome's Civil War 49–45 BC: 82 Roman Cavalry Tactics: 263 The Wars of Justinian I A Thousand Ships: A Gripping Feminist Retelling of the Trojan War The Children of Jocasta: A Viscerally Atmospheric Retelling of Greek Myth Hadrian's Wall Vindolanda   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

A listener asks: without modern nutritionists or recovery plans, how did Caesar's legionnaires maintain the stamina to fight repeated battles, such as Bibracte and the Arar in 58 BC? Murray Dahm looks at training, diet, and discipline in Rome's legions, and how ancient soldiers sustained their fighting edge.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

A listener asks: with Greek and Roman soldiers well-armoured elsewhere, how did they protect the tops of their feet from injury? Murray Dahm explores what ancient sources and archaeology reveal about footwear, armour, and the realities of combat.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

A listener from Brisbane asks: how did the Greek hoplite phalanx maintain a cohesive front while advancing into battle over uneven terrain dotted with trees, bushes, and obstacles? Murray Dahm explains how ancient soldiers kept formation, reformed when disrupted, and adapted their tactics to the landscape.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

How do you get the right man to command your armies? Does he learn on the job, or from books, and what happens when something goes wrong? In this episode, the team discusses issue 104, Who Put You in Charge? Commanding an Army in Antiquity.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

Augusto from Argentina asks: "How reliable is Polyaenus' account of the Persians using cats—or images of cats—against the Egyptians at Pelusium? Is there any truth to the story, or is it just legend?" Murray Dahm explores the evidence behind this curious tale.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

A listener on YouTube asks: "How much do we really know about the Bacaudae, and how important were they in the collapse of the Western Roman Empire?" Murray takes a closer look at these enigmatic rebels of Late Antiquity.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode, Murray Dahm revisits Alexander's encounter with scythed chariots and unpacks some of the practical and tactical issues surrounding their historical use. From wargaming figure ratios to the use of caltrops, shield-banging, and even Roman caligae, we explore how ancient armies may have neutralised these fearsome weapons. Were chariots best used against cavalry or lighter infantry? Did ancient troops rely on noise and tight formations—or did they use more direct countermeasures? And finally, a listener asks: is there any evidence that chariot drivers dismounted before impact—or is that a modern myth?   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm explores the link between the Korybantic and Kouretic dances and the ancient warrior tradition. Unlike the more familiar Pyrrhic dance—used as military training—these ritual performances were deeply spiritual, involving ecstatic movement, clashing weapons, and the warding of evil. But could such rituals have shaped not just warrior identity, but also the tools of war themselves? Murray considers how spiritual beliefs may have influenced the way ancient cultures approached weapons, armour, and even materials like bronze and iron.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode, we explore the ultimate "time travel" question: if you could witness any battle in history, which one would you choose? We focus on a handful of iconic clashes, including Pharsalus, where Pompey surrendered unexpectedly, and Actium, exploring the real plan behind Antinous' manoeuvres. We also dive into the Teutoburg Forest, one of Rome's most devastating defeats, and consider what makes a battle truly unforgettable.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray tackles a question from Jörn: How different are an ancient Greek city-state's hoplite phalanx and a Germanic shield wall? While separated by centuries and culture, both formations relied on close-order infantry and cohesion. Murray explores their tactical similarities and differences, the contexts in which they developed, and what each reveals about the societies that used them.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question from Marc about the actual size of ancient military units. Modern sources often quote full-strength numbers for legions and cohorts, but were ancient armies ever truly at full capacity? Drawing on evidence such as the Vindolanda tablets, Murray discusses how understrength units may have been the norm, and whether modern historians should reconsider the numbers they often cite.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a listener's question about games of chance in the ancient world. Did soldiers pass the time with dice games or gambling, much like those in more recent conflicts? Drawing on historical sources and archaeological finds, Murray explores what kinds of games ancient soldiers played, how widespread gambling may have been, and what these pastimes reveal about life in the ranks during times of war and peace.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

'With the emergence of the first city-states came the first cases of organised warfare and campaigns of conquest, as well as developments in arms and armour.' In this episode, the team discusses issue 103, Battles of the Bronze Age: Unravelling the Origins of Warfare.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question from @tadejtomic1943: Why and when did the distinctions between Hastati, Principes, and Triarii disappear from the Roman Republican army? He explores the evolution of Roman military organisation, the reasons behind the shift away from this tripartite structure, and what replaced it as Rome's army adapted to new challenges.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question inspired by Finis Britanniae: Were Roman military commands permanent structures, or more ad hoc arrangements that changed with the situation? Drawing comparisons to modern military organisation, Murray examines what the ancient sources tell us about how Roman armies were structured and led in times of shifting security demands.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray tackles a listener question from @tadejtomic1943: When did the classical Greek hoplite cease to exist? Drawing on historical sources and archaeological evidence, Murray explores how and when the iconic heavily armed infantryman faded from use—and what replaced him in the evolving landscape of ancient warfare.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast