Hey guys, Tristan here, and I have an exciting announcement. The Ancients will be returning to the

London Podcast Festival. Now, last year tickets, they sold out at record speed. So this time,

we've been upgraded. We've got a bigger room. And you, you can be there too on Friday the 5th of

September at 7pm at King's Place.

Now I've invited Friend of the podcast, the fabulous Dr. Eve MacDonald, to join me on stage

where we will be exploring the gripping story of ancient Carthage.

Carthage, the Phoenician city that became a superpower, an empire that rivaled Rome for control in the

Western Mediterranean, and ultimately had a terrible traumatic demise.

Of course, the ancients is nothing without you, so we want you to be there in the audience

taking part and asking us your burning questions. Tickets for the festival always sell fast.

So book yourself a seat now at www.kingsplace.co.com.com.com.

We'll click the link in the show notes of this episode.

The team and I cannot wait to see you there.

Hey guys. I hope you're doing well. I'm all good here. I'm recording this intro right next to a Loch in central Scotland for a very special upcoming ancients episode. Stay tuned for that.

Today's episode is all about one of the most extraordinary women from early imperial Rome.

The Empress Livia, the wife of Augustus, the mother of his successor, Tiberius,

and a woman who's developed quite an infamous reputation down through the centuries.

But what's the fact and what's the fiction? That is what we're delving into today.

I knew very little about Livia's story, so it was fascinating to learn more from our wonderful guest, Dr. Emma Southern.

I really do hope you enjoy. Let's go.

Music She was one of the most powerful women in the early Roman Empire, the wife of Augustus,

first empress of Rome, Livia, Jerusalem. Throughout history, Livia has had quite the infamous reputation. Ever since ancient times, she's been portrayed as scandalous and manipulative, a murderous

...