From the simple cap to the most intricately-wrought and elaborately-decorated royal example, the humble helmet could do much more than just protect its bearer’s head. Theme: Helmets in the ancient world Murray Dahm, 'An ancient connection - The mystery of horned helmets'. Evan Schultheis, 'By ridge and spang - Late Roman helmets'. Jo Ball, 'The face of victory - Decoration on Roman helmets'. Murray Dahm, 'A mask for a battle - Losing your head in a foreign marsh'. David Sim, 'Hammering it home - Roman helmet production'. Tamás Dezső, 'Three centuries of bronze and iron - the helmets of the Assyrian army'. Features: James Ford, 'PTSD in Ancient Greece - The religious dimension'. Jona Lendering, 'A puzzle without an answer - Where did Hannibal cross the Alps'. Mark McCaffery, 'Those about to die, or not - An alternative gladiator oath'. Velite Aquila, 'Storming south - Gauls at the battle of Telamon'. Jo Ball, 'Dying on the edge of the empire - The tombstone of Nectovelius'. Haggai Olshanetsky, 'Under Egyptian and Persian banners - Jewish soldiers serving foreign kings'.  

This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Wilhelmsson about the royal women of Sweden, how they became queens, and how they exercised their power.

And they let me have a look This week I went to the Tower of London to do a few great things.

Yu Xuanji is celebrated as the greatest female poet of the Tang Dynasty. This book presents the original Chinese texts alongside English translations of her surviving poems, as well as selected writings that illuminate her extraordinary life.

In 897, Pope Stephen VI exhumed his predecessor and put him on trial. Known as the Cadaver Synod, this bizarre episode in Church history was more than madness—new research reveals it was a political and religious power play.

Thanks for all your questions! Please subscribe to join next month's Q&A... Thanks to all the subscribers for posting questions - please join up to ask next time… also for more fun, full access to all the articles in the archive, and every new post.

Discover how medieval thinkers reshaped the concept of political community using ideas from Roman law, Christian theology, and Aristotelian philosophy—laying the intellectual foundations for the modern state.

This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Graham Loud about how Barbarossa came to power, how he managed to reign supreme in both Germany and Italy despite some bumps along the way, and why he’s sometimes revered as a once and future king in Germany.

It’s a familiar image on church banners and tourist souvenirs: the double-headed eagle soaring over the memory of Byzantium. Yet the real story behind this symbol is far more complex — and far older — than many realize.

As cardinals get ready to elect Francis I's successor, here are my five favourite popes from the Middle Ages... Before we start, just wanted to let you know that Season 7 of my podcast This Is History: A Dynasty To Die For launches today.

Swaddling was a common practice in medieval Europe, believed to protect and strengthen infants — but archaeological research shows it may have had unintended effects on their developing skeletons.

Time to get your questions in... Chaucer heads will agree that April is in many ways the medieval-est of all the months. As the great poet wrote at the start of his Canterbury Tales, April is a time for sweet showers, the sun parading through Aries and small fowls making melody.