Rome Has No Kings

Ancient History Fangirl

History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 518 Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2026

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

⁠Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! When Octavian (Augustus) returned home victorious from his final battle against Marc Antony and Cleopatra, he was met by an ecstatic crowd. The Senate had ordered all classes and priesthoods, including the Vestal Virgins, to joyously greet him at the entrance to the city. This was the man who would be responsible for demolishing their democracy and ushering in an imperial military state that would last another 500 years (roughly). What was it like to stand in the shadow of the walls that day? What questions were burning in the people’s hearts? What did they think that they did not dare say? Was the mood celebratory? Raucous? Rebellious? Join us as we travel back in time to the gates of Rome, to watch Octavian return. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
0:04.6	Isn't life grande and making it better just got easier with Starbucks new protein cold foam?
0:11.3	A little something, something to take your favorite drinks up a notch with 15 grams of extra protein.
0:17.8	Turn your usual iced caramel latte into a smooth iced caramel protein latte. Add a
0:23.5	delicious swirl on top of your drink, just like that. Protein never tasted so good with Starbucks
0:30.2	new protein cold foam. Subject to availability while stocks last.
0:35.0	Grownups, if there's a child in your life who is interested in, curious about, or fascinated
0:39.9	by people in places from history, then my podcast, The Past and the Curious, might just be a hit
0:45.9	in your home.
0:47.1	From the invention of microscopes to world-traveling dogs to fashions of the 1890s, goldrush
0:52.5	ghost towns, and audiences going wild for walking competitions,
0:57.4	we've got a little bit of it all.
0:59.6	Hosted by children's author and museum educator Mick Sullivan, that's me, the show is fun, funny, engaging, honest, and beloved by kids and parents alike.
1:09.4	Find the past and the curious at all the usual podcast places.
1:14.7	This episode is brought to you by our Patreon members. Thank you so much. Join our Patreon for
1:20.9	extra episodes, interviews, extra content, and to help support the podcast and help us continue to do
1:26.6	the work we do. Go to patreon.com slash ancient history fangirl to learn more. I'm Jen McMennemy. And I'm Jenny Williamson. And this is Ancient History
1:54.8	Fan Girl. Today, we're going to bring you something that we do once every couple of seasons.
1:59.7	It's a full episode long cold open.
2:03.1	This one sets the scene for our brand new series, How a Democracy Dies. Join us as we get into our
2:10.1	time machine and go way back in time to when Augustus, then Octavian, returned triumphantly to Rome,
2:17.3	to the people he'd left probably about four years ago to go off and solidify his power.
	...

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