Shows / Ancient Warfare Podcast
Ancient Warfare Podcast
Discussions from Ancient Warfare Magazine. Why did early civilisations fight? Who were their Generals? What was life like for the earliest soldiers? Ancient Warfare Magazine will try and answer these questions. Warfare minus two thousand years.
Episodes
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA433 - What is the difference between a skirmish and a battle?
What exactly was the difference between skirmishing and a pitched battle in the armies of classical and Hellenistic antiquity? Long-time listener Uygar gets in…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA432 - Were there any British Legions?
@martcorn asks, "I'd like to know whether there were any 'British' legions." I'm thinking of the famous Spanish legions like the tenth. Was there any…
- Ancient Warfare Podcast
AWA431 - Why do Roman swords have no crossguard?
Why does the Roman gladius have so little protection for the hand compared with many later swords? In this episode, Murray answers a listener question about…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW429 - Stratagems
Stratagems is the theme of the next issue of Ancient Warfare Magazine. The panel share their favourite stratagems from ancient warfare. Join us on Patreon…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA429 - The Dacian presence in Britain
What happened to the Dacians after Trajan's conquest of Dacia, and did some of them really end up serving in Roman Britain? In this episode, Murray answers a…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA428 - Where were Roman arms factories?
Roman legionaries of the late Republic and early Principate are often depicted wearing chain mail, but just how was enough armour produced to equip the vast…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA427 - Questions about ancient military signal jamming
Jon asks "Hi Murray! Regarding command and control of units during battle through trumpets, drums and similar methods of audible communication, a question I've…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW426 - Band on the Run
Murray chats with Robert L. O'Connell about his new book 'Band on the Run' from Simon & Schuster (2026), which explores the March of the 10,000 and Xenophon's…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA425 - A letter on siege warfare
A second letter from James (in response to Murray answering his first!) James asks about ancient sieges - in particular, how Tyre fell to Alexander in 322 BC…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA424 - How did ancient artillery suppress defenders during sieges?
Demetrios asks, "Hello Mr. Dahm, Regarding ancient artillery, in certain cases such as Josephus' account of the siege of Jotapata during the Jewish Revolt…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA423 - How were auxiliary forces managed?
Tom asks: "Sorry for this stupid question. I have read a lot of the red Loeb, but never understood how the Auxiliary forces were managed. By Roman officers, or…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW422 - The Battle of Gaugamela
'After capturing the Mediterranean ports, and having been welcomed as a god in Egypt, Alexander turned east again, aiming to defeat Darius once and for all.'…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA421 - Did legionaries and auxiliaries have to bribe their way into the Roman army?
The second part of Carlos' question from a few episodes ago: "Second, somewhere in an old issue of AWM I have read (but I cannot find it again) that, to become…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA420 - What were Roman walls for?
Russ asks, "I don't know what it is called, but at a certain point ( or a certain number of points) in time, Rome decided to build walls to defend their…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA419 - Who is the better general: Thrasybulus or Demosthenes (or Brasidas)?
Jay asks "Murray, I really enjoyed your podcast about Demosthenes being one of the first generals to have a dedicated flank attack. I have always thought…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA418 - What did legionaries drink on campaign?
Dan asks "May I submit an awa for uncle Murray here? What did legionaries drink on campaign? Aside from the obvious water and wine. Did they have flavoured…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW417 - The Evolution of Tactics
How did tactics evolve in the ancient world? In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, the team explores how battlefield tactics developed over time…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA416 - What evidence is there for striped Egyptian headwear?
A comment exchange on FB led to today's question. Commenting on a cover of an issue of Ancient Warfare Magazine, Michael asked, "I still don't know what…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA415 - Why did the Romans completely abandon the spear in favour of the pilum?
Seth tracked Murray down via Facebook Messenger and asked: "Hi Murray, really appreciate your AWA podcast, great short bursts of knowledge. One question that…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA414 - Did legionaries need to be 1.80 metres tall?
Carlos writes: "Hi Murray, Even though I've been an AWM subscriber for long, I only recently started listening to the podcast. I love the AWA episodes, and the…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW413 - Early Campaigns in Germania
'When Germanic warbands crossed the Rhine in 17 BC, they set in motion a turbulent series of Roman campaigns into Germania that spanned three decades.' In this…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA412 - Were Cretan archers better than other archers?
Following on from Murray discussion of Athenian Archers in AWA 397, Tim asks "It would be interesting to hear of the effectiveness of the archers. In…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA411 - How did the Huns dress for war?
Jack asks: "Hi Murray Do we have enough information to actually describe how the Huns were dressed for war? Did they look much the same as the Goths or other…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA410 - What role and status did trumpeters have in warfare?
Here is an AWA from Brie: "Besides communicating orders and psychological warfare, what role and status did trumpeters have in warfare? Did they have sidearms…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA409 - What did the Constitutio Antoniniana mean for the Roman auxilia?
Carlos, an economics professor (!), asks: Hi Murray, I am a long-time AWM subscriber, born in Hispania, working in Britannia, and mostly living in Raetia. Love…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW408 - Why Germania?
AW issue 107 on Augustus' German campaigns is in the last stages of preparation so the panel thought it would be a good idea to lay the ground work in…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA407 - War Pigs Revisited
Following on from an earlier episode on War Pigs, Murray digs deeper into the imagery of pigs and boars in Roman military history. Join us on Patreon…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA406 - What army did Alexander Molossus have in his Italian campaigns?
tadejtomic1943 asks, "Hi Murray, what was the army composition. How many men did it have. Was that the first time the Macedonian Phalanx operated and fought in…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA405 - We got a fan letter!
James from California has taken the time to write a fan letter to Ancient Warfare Answers! This is much appreciated! Murray muses over James' letter (which was…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW404 - The Marian Reforms
The Marian reforms are said to have transformed the Roman army from a citizen militia into a more professional fighting force, reshaping how Rome made war. In…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA403 - Why does the Odyssey 2026 trailer feel wrong?
John has been watching the trailer for the 2026 film 'The Odyssey', starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, and something does not sit right. The Trojan War is…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA402 - Arausio 105 BC: military defeat or political disaster?
Peter got in touch with some thoughtful feedback and a set of big questions about the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC. A long-time reader of Ancient Warfare and a…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA401 - Why Did Helmets Have Crests?
Responding to a recent episode of the main Ancient Warfare podcast, Eric writes in to ask about the purpose of the crest on helmets worn by ancient Greek and…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW400 - Warriors in Bronze
Bronze helmets, greaves, armour, and bronze-faced shields make for an impressive army, but who fought in all that kit, next to whom, and how? In the latest…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA399 - Outflanking as a Tactical Innovation
Following an earlier episode in which Murray suggested that warfare was often conceived as frontal and honourable, Peter writes in with a response. He reflects…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA398 - Turning to Face an Outflank
John asks whether there are historical examples of a formation being outflanked where the troops on the threatened flank turn to engage the attacker, while the…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA397 - Athenian Archers
Samuel asks about Athenian archers at the start of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides lists significant numbers of them in 431 and it raises a series of…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW396 - Revolutions in Warfare
What counts as a true revolution in warfare? In this episode, the panel tackles the idea of sudden and radical change on the ancient battlefield. Rather than…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA395 - Gladiators and the Roman Army
Alexis asks about the connection between the Roman military and gladiators. Why did the army build and use its own amphitheatres, like the one at Carnuntum…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA394 - War Pigs
Ancient sources claim that pigs were sometimes used as weapons against war elephants. Murray examines the origins of this idea, whether it ever occurred, and…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA393 - How long were bronze helmets used?
Listener question from TheSgruby: He asks, "How long were bronze helmets in use? Even after better materials appeared, they seem to have lasted a surprisingly…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW392 - Crossing the Rubicon
On 10 January 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, a decision that would trigger civil war and reshape the Roman world. But what did this moment…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA391 - Bridging the Hellespont
Listener question from Andrew: While watching a video on the Second Persian Invasion, Andrew wondered why the Greeks didn't attack the Persian engineers as…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA390 - Roman Military Signalling
Listener question from @klappspatenkamikaze: After commenting on an earlier episode about cloaks in combat, they added, "Now I want to know more about…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA389 - Rome's Elite Veterans: Influence, Origins, and End
Listener question from TheSgruby: How important were the Evocati in Roman political and military life? And when do they first – and last – appear in the…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA388 - The triple acies revisited
In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a question about Roman tactics. If the Romans deployed in three lines of infantry, each eight…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW387 - The Roman legion in the second century AD
"The second century begins with a great war of conquest, and ends with another civil war between pretenders to the throne. Between those two extremes, there…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA386 - Let the die be cast
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA385 - Did the ancients fight with their cloaks on?
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA384 - Did Hannibal and Scipio Africanus Really Meet?
Dominik asks: is the famous story of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus meeting to discuss history's greatest generals plausible? Murray Dahm examines the ancient…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW383 - The Ancient Warfare Christmas Reading List
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA382 - How Did Caesar's Legionnaires Stay Battle-Ready?
A listener asks: without modern nutritionists or recovery plans, how did Caesar's legionnaires maintain the stamina to fight repeated battles, such as Bibracte…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA381 - Did Ancient Soldiers Protect Their Feet?
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 Warfare PodcastAWA380 - How Did the Greek Phalanx Keep Its Line?
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW379 - Commanding an Army in Antiquity
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA378 - Did the Persians Really Use Cats at the Battle of Pelusium?
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA377 - How Much Do We Really Know About the Bacaudae?
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…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA376 - Are there any sources for the chariot driver actually exiting the chariot before contact?
In this episode, Murray Dahm revisits Alexander's encounter with scythed chariots and unpacks some of the practical and tactical issues surrounding their…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAWA375 - What was the relationship between Korybantic/Kouretic dances and ancient warfare?
In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm explores the link between the Korybantic and Kouretic dances and the ancient warrior tradition. Unlike…
Ancient Warfare PodcastAW374 - Which Battle Would You Witness?
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…