Two Friends Talk History

• Invisible Chains: Human Trafficking in Antiquity with Florence Felsheim

  What did it mean to be bought, sold, and sexually exploited in the ancient world? In this powerful episode of Two Friends Talk History, Zofia is joined by doctoral candidate Florence Felsheim to explore the hidden realities of sexual trafficking in ancient Greece and Rome. Drawing on literary texts, archaeological evidence, and cognitive science, Florence unpacks how systems of enslavement and exploitation operated in societies often romanticized in popular culture.We examine the scale of the ancient slave trade, the gendered dimensions of exploitation, and how enslaved women were commodified—expected to provide not just labor, but sexual access. From Roman brothels to banquet halls, the episode reveals how normalized sexual violence was embedded in the fabric of ancient daily life.As part of Sexual Violence Awareness Month, this conversation sheds light on uncomfortable histories, connecting past systems of abuse to present-day conversations on power, consent, and human dignity. Listener discretion is advised.👉🏼Link: You can read the accompanying blog post HERE.🛑 If you or someone you know needs support, please see the international resources listed in the show notes.Join us as we confront the uncomfortable truths of antiquity—and ask: what can the ancient world teach us about exploitation, resilience, and justice today?To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at [email protected]. 🌍 If you or someone you know needs support, here are trusted organizations offering help across the globe:1. RAINN (USA/global support)🔗 rainn.org📞 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)💬 24/7 online chat2. UN Women – End Violence Against Women🔗 unwomen.org3. The Survivors Trust (UK)🔗 thesurvivorstrust.org📧 [email protected]. Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE Network)🔗 wave-network.org5. Child Helpline International (for youth/caregivers)🔗 childhelplineinternational.org6. UNFPA – Global Helpline Directory🔗 Global helpline list💻 Online & Anonymous Support8. Lifeline Chat (24/7, anonymous)🔗 suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat🔐 Tip: Use a VPN or private browser if privacy is a concern. Always contact local emergency services if in immediate danger.

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• Classical Reception of Sexual Violence in Antiquity in Modern Visual Media with Briana King

  In the latest episode of Two Friends Talk History, Zofia and Dr Briana King return to our discussion into Classical Receptions studies. This time, we go into some of the heavier subject matter that we felt deserved its own episode.  Briana joins me to unpack the dark and often overlooked threads of sexual violence in ancient history and its modern reinterpretations through case studies from film and television. We discuss ancient precedents for modern cinematic and television representations of sexual violence - made spectacle – in retellings of Roman narratives.We’re diving deep into how classical reception shapes public perception—and why that matters.🏛️To see images from this podcast, check out the accompanying blog post!This is a heavy but essential conversation about power, misrepresentation, and the stories we choose to tell. To follow Dr King's academic work, check out her page on Academia.Edu.📢 Trigger warning: this episode discusses sexual violence and may be distressing to some listeners. Please listen with care.Sexual Violence Support ContactsRape Crisis Scotland: https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/help-helpline/For sexual violence or violence against women, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) run by Refuge and Women's Aid provides 24/7 support and information. Additional resources include Rape Crisis England & Wales which offers specialist support for women who have experienced sexual violence. Women's Aid also offers a live chat service and email supportVisit the Rights of Women website on legal information sheets on a range of issues, including Forced Marriage and the law. Support for victims of ‘honour’-based violence and forced marriage.To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at [email protected].

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• Digital Archaeology with Florence Felsheim

  In the latest episode of Two Friends Talk History,  Zofia invites the brilliant Florence Felsheim, a PhD candidate in Classics at the University of St Andrews, for a fascinating deep dive into the intersection of virtual reality (VR), art, and cultural heritage. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the ways we visualize and interpret the past—and why that matters for both academics and the general public.From high-tech field surveys to immersive visualizations that bring ancient history to life, Digital Archaeology is revolutionizing how we explore and share the past. But with innovation comes big questions—where does creativity meet caution in this rapidly evolving field?If you’re fascinated by history, technology, or the future of cultural heritage, this episode is a must-listen. Florence Felsheim’s insights into the ethical and methodological complexities of virtual archaeology will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the ways technology is reshaping our connection to the past. Tune in to Two Friends Talk History to explore how VR is breathing new life into ancient worlds—and what that means for historians, artists, and the curious minds who love to explore them.To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at [email protected]. 

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• Special Episode: The Ancient Peace Studies Network with Alice König

  In part 2 of our collaboration, Zofia guest-hosts the Visualising War and Peace Podcast to interview project founder, Dr. Alice König. In this conversation, Alice she unveils the groundbreaking Ancient Peace Studies Network—the first of its kind dedicated to examining how peace was understood, experienced, and represented across different ancient cultures.Discover why peace narratives have received far less scholarly attention than war stories, and how Dr. König's team is working to change that by investigating whose voices and experiences are reflected in ancient accounts of peace and reconciliation.What can ancient approaches to conflict resolution teach us about modern peacebuilding? In this thought-provoking special episode, we explore how elite-centered peace narratives shaped societal attitudes in antiquity and continue to influence our understanding of peace today. Dr. König reveals how her interdisciplinary network is "reading against the grain" of ancient sources to uncover ordinary people's lived experiences of peace—voices that have been historically marginalized but might offer valuable insights for contemporary peace literacy.Don't miss our conversation about bridging academic research with creative outreach, as Dr. König shares details about the network's collaboration with a professional theater company, NMT Automatics, and the upcoming multi-authored publication, "New Visions of Ancient Peace." This episode offers a perfect blend of historical scholarship and practical application, demonstrating how ancient wisdom might help us visualize and build more effective paths to peace in our modern world. We hope you enjoy this collab episode!If you would like to get in touch with Alice regarding her work, please visit the University of St Andrews' Visualising War website and the Visualising Peace Project.The music for the episode was composed by Jonathan Young, and Zofia Guertin mixed the episode. To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at [email protected]. 

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• Special Episode: Ancient war stories and their real-world ramifications with Dr Alice König

  To launch series 4 of Two Friends Talk History, I was very fortunate to interview Dr Alice König, host of the Visualising War and Peace Podcast, for this special crossover episode.  Alice has recently co-edited a new book with Nicolas Wiater, on ancient conflict narratives, called Visualising War across the Ancient Mediterranean: Interplay between Conflict Narratives in Different Genres and Media (Routledge 2025). In this podcast episode, Alice introduces the book and discusses some of the themes at the heart of it.This episode explores the conception of visualisation: the ways in which narratives of war not only reflect or depict conflict but also envision it, in ways that shape how conflict gets pursued or prevented in the real world. She also discusses the role that interplay between narratives and discourses can play in cementing and amplifying influential war imaginaries. And she considers the impacts which all of this war-storytelling has on ordinary lives in the everyday.  We hope you enjoy this collab episode!If you would like to get in touch with Alice regarding her work, please visit the University of St Andrews' Visualising War website and the Visualising Peace Project.The music for the episode was composed by Jonathan Young, and Zofia Guertin mixed the episode. To get in touch and find out more about Two Friends Talk History:Find us on Instagram & TwitterSupport us through PatreonBuy our merch on RedbubbleExplore more resources and topics about the ancient world on ArchaeoArtistMusic by the wonderfully talented Chris SharplesIllustration by Zofia GuertinIf you'd like to get in touch, email at [email protected].  

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