Best Hammurabi Podcasts (2024)

1
Sumerian Complaint Tablet, c1750 BCE

23d ago

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1
68. Witold Tyborowski: Finding a job during Hammurabi's reign 38:48

26d ago38:48

38:48

Witold discusses the labour market under Hammurabi of Babylon. What kind of work could you get, and what would you be paid in exchange? Who would be looking for employment, who would take them on, and who held the balance of power? 1:45 how we know about getting a job 2:54 who are the job seekers? 3:48 how common was it? 4:58 what jobs are there be…

1
Oldest Known Galaxy, 13+ billion years ago

2M ago

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1
Mètre des Archives (original standard meter), 1799

2M ago

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1
67. Amy Gansell: Dressing Assyria's queens 42:28

3M ago42:28

42:28

Amy discusses the multi-sensory presence of the queens of Assyria. What was queenly dress and what meaning did each part of it convey? How does the evidence from art compare to what we learn from archaeology? Can we identify personal choice? She also talks about what it's like to wear queenly clothes, and what experimental archaeology can tell us. …

1
The Survival of Civilization: Insights from the Late Bronze Age 1:05:54

2M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Dr. Eric Cline, Professor of Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, discusses his new book "After 1177 BCE: The Survival of Civilization" and the graphic novel adaptation with host, Megan Lewis. They delve into the collapse of major civilizations in the late Bronze Age and the intriguing sequel to his award-winning work. Dr. Cline shares insig…

1
66. Rune Rattenborg, Seraina Nett, Gustav Ryberg Smidt: Geomapping Cuneiform 41:35

4M ago41:35

41:35

Rune, Seraina, and Gustav discuss their recently completed project on geomapping cuneiform. Where were inscriptions found and where are they now? How many tablets are there? What counts as a tablet anyway? They reveal the challenges of integrating datasets, and explore the potential opened up by knowing where inscriptions really come from. 4:18 GLo…

1
Insurance vs The Station Nightclub Fire 1:24:46

4M ago1:24:46

1:24:46

Insurance vs the Station Nightclub Fire Without giving my age away entirely, I will admit…I’m a child of the 80s. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen several of my favorite 80s artists perform their greatest hits. It never crossed my mind that something could go wrong during a concert and I might be in danger. But on February 2, 2003, more than 400…

1
Unpacking the Lives of Ancient Immigrants with Dr. Teodoro Alstola 38:00

5M ago38:00

38:00

Dr. Tero Alstola, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, discusses his work on ancient Near Eastern cultures and the social history of Babylonia in the first millennium BCE. He talks about his research on ancient immigrants, network approaches to historical data sets, and the use of computer-aided study of the Akkadian language. The conversati…

1
65. Omar N'Shea: Masculinities in Mesopotamia 36:06

5M ago36:06

36:06

Omar discusses the importance of studying gender as part of assyriology. What are the big themes now, and how did we get here? He focuses on two areas of special interest: masculinity, and eunuchism. What can we expect from the conference on gender studies (GeMANE) hosted in Malta this April? And what is the context of assyriology in Malta? 0:37 In…

1
64. Ali Kadhem Ghanem: Managing the site of Ur 29:02

6M ago29:02

29:02

The site of Ur is easily one of the most important in Iraq. In this interview, originally recorded in late 2021, we hear from the person responsible for managing that site. Ali talks about Ur's significance, and its role in local life. What are the plans for the development of this key site? 4:18 introducing Lina 7:02 importance of Ur 7:34 what tou…

1
Episode 113 - Better know an instrument: Potts Scissors 21:48

6M ago21:48

21:48

In this episode, we'll meet the person behind the eponymously named scissors, the American pediatric surgeon Willis J. Potts. We'll cover his contributions to the development of surgery specifically for children, and in particular the operations on the heart that he pioneered. There is also some trivia, and a new feature on etymology, so enjoy!…

1
63: Enrique Jiménez: the electronic Babylonian Library 31:39

7M ago31:39

31:39

Enrique introduces us to a major new resource in digital assyriology: The electronic Babylonian Library. What does it offer and what are its aims? He discusses the issues facing the field and the potential of digital tools, including AI, to help solve them. To what extent can Babylonian literature be reconstructed now, and what we can do with it? 2…

1
62. Prize-winning assyriology 30:55

9M ago30:55

30:55

At the Rencontre in Leiden this summer, the IAA awarded its annual prizes celebrating the excellence of early career scholars. There were prizes for the best dissertation, best first article, and a research subsidy. I tracked down the prize winners to ask them about their work. 2:17 Clélia Paladre 2:57 thesis on Iranian glyptic 4:38 the Proto-Elami…

1
Uncovering a Tablet in a Previously Unknown Language: Excavation Results Revealed 46:36

9M ago46:36

46:36

In this episode of Digital Hammurabi, Dr. Daniel Schwemer, an expert in magic and witchcraft in the Ancient Near East, joins the host to discuss the recent excavation at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Boğazköy-Hattuša. The focus of the conversation is on a tablet written in a previously unknown language that was discovered during the excavation.…

1
Episode 112 - The Ongoing History of Surgery: The World's First Whole Eye Transplant 16:51

9M ago16:51

16:51

In this episode, we will cover the recent story of (possibly) the world's first whole eye transplant that occured in May of 2023, as well as the story of a possible previous attempt in 1969, and the aftermath that followed. The show also has a new feature - trivia! And, we will explore the medical origins of the word 'bedlam'. Enjoy!…

1
61. Shigeo Yamada: Yasin Tepe: on the margins of empire 27:53

10M ago27:53

27:53

Shigeo shares the results of fieldwork at a site that was once a key city on the edges of the Assyrian empire. How do we know which city it was? He describes the key finds, and interprets their significance. What can we learn from a necklet? 2:22 Yasin Tepe 4:54 goals 6:38 identification as Dur-Ashur 9:12 results 12:44 who lived there? 13:44 inscri…

1
Episode 111 - The Code of Hammurabi 16:58

10M ago16:58

16:58

In this episode, we will explore the history of a nearly 4 millenia old slab of rock which has inscribed on it some of the oldest recorded laws in history, including some that dictated payments for operations, and some severe punishments for malpractice! Along the way, we'll also delve into the world of Babylonian medicine, discover the history of …

1
Insurance vs The Atlantic Slave Trade 1:32:42

10M ago1:32:42

1:32:42

Three years ago, when I started thinking about making a podcast about insurance and history, I had only one topic in mind: slavery. It took three years of reading and researching before I was ready to share it with you, but this episode represents part one of a three-part series about insurance and slavery—an overview of the Atlantic Slave trade an…

1
60. Susanne Paulus: Back to School in Babylonia 46:19

11M ago46:19

46:19

Susanne pulls back the curtain on how exhibitions are made. She explains how the topic was chosen, and how that vision is translated into reality. How long does it take, how many people are involved, and just what needs to be done? 2:17 about Back to School 3:27 goals 5:37 what's on show? 7:16 star pieces 10:10 recreating an ancient school 11:05 ho…

1
Insurance vs Enron 1:14:58

12M ago1:14:58

1:14:58

For the first episode of Season 3, I’m talking about Enron and the company’s spectacular rise and even more spectacular fall. It’s a story about how creativity can sometimes mean stupidity, how culture impacts a company’s survival, how hiring decisions matter, how ideas mutate, and how companies that put stock price and profits above all else can e…

1
Egyptian "Book of the Dead", c1600 BCE

12M ago

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1
59. Louise Pryke: Ishtar then and now 30:21

12M ago30:21

30:21

Louise discusses Ishtar, one of the most enigmatic and fascinating deities of the ancient Middle East. What characteristics were assigned to her, and what stories were told about her? What happened when Ishtar met Gilgamesh? Louise also discusses the reception of Ishtar and Gilgamesh. What do people find interesting about them now? She explains how…

1
58. Looking back at RAI Leiden: on conferences, and catching up with guests 36:08

1y ago36:08

36:08

This special episode is a follow-up on the big annual conference. I offer some thoughts on what happened, and on how things might be in the future. As part of this, I catch up with three colleagues who have appeared as guests. Two were among the very first guests, who kindly helped me start the podcast. It was a leap in the dark for all of us. Sinc…

1
Emily Post's Etiquette, 1922

1y ago

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1
57. Looking forward to Leiden 22:55

1y ago22:55

22:55

The organising team of RAI 68 Leiden introduce us to what we can expect from the conference. Why did they pick inequality as a topic? And how do they address inequality in the conference design? What role does live-streaming play in a modern Rencontre? 2:03 about RAI 68 Leiden 2:52 what's different? 3:33 childcare support 4:23 why "inequality" as t…

1
56. Nicholas Reid: The Big House 30:53

1y ago30:53

30:53

Nicholas explains about imprisonment in ancient Iraq. Were there prisons? Who would be confined, how long for, and why? What would someone do in prison? And whose interest did confinement serve? 2:08 confinement in ancient Iraq 5:11 were there prisons? 7:45 why would you be confined? 8:53 for whose benefit? 10:01 the religious dimension 14:11 sourc…

1
Insurance vs Gawker and Hulk Hogan 1:06:29

1y ago1:06:29

1:06:29

How can insurance save a company from bankruptcy? How does litigation funding work? Why did a lawsuit about a famous wrestler’s sex tape become a warning to journalists everywhere about the power of Silicon Valley? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I talk about a case called Bollea v Gawker, which involved Hulk Hogan’s s…

1
55. Agnès Garcia-Ventura: The historiography of assyriology 35:11

1+ y ago35:11

35:11

Agnès discusses the history of the field, and why that matters now. Cast collections were an important part of Spain's early interest in ancient Iraq. How did these collections form? Who was interested? What were they interested in? And why? The history of the field has also impacted how we interpret objects, and how we read ancient texts. What les…

1
54. Eckart Frahm: A new history of Assyria, the world's first empire 47:26

1+ y ago47:26

47:26

Eckart has just published a new history of Assyria. What sources can we draw on? How reliable are they? He talks about Assyria's remarkable royal women and how they were remembered. What did the Assyrians achieve and what is their legacy? 3:39 how have we heard of the Assyrians? 6:42 biblical and classical texts as sources 9:36 what do we need to k…

1
Nebuchadnezzar - नेबुकाडनेज़र | Ep 20 17:47

1+ y ago17:47

17:47

Nebuchadnezzar II Nebuchadnezzar II was the greatest king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, that rules Mesopotamia in the 6th - 7th centuries BCE. He is best known for destroying the kingdom of Judah, for which he has earned a mention in the Hebrew Bible and also for his great building projects in the city of Babylon. This is his story. You can contact…

1
53. Parsa Daneshmand: Consensus decision-making in divination 39:00

1+ y ago39:00

39:00

Parsa explains how decision-making took place in ancient Iraq. When you asked the assembly of gods for a yes/no answer to help you solve a difficult problem, how would they agree on what to reply? Why would these answers be time limited? And how would they make their answer visible in the entrails of the sacrificial sheep? 2:35 what is extispicy? 6…

1
Insurance vs King Hammurabi of Babylon 49:42

1+ y ago49:42

49:42

Was King Hammurabi’s Code the first written mention of insurance? How did insurance come to be, after all? And how does history change over time? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I talk about King Hammurabi’s Code, often considered to be the first legal code ever written and the first written mention of insurance. But i…

1
Ashurbanipal - अशुरबानीपाल | Ep 19 21:59

1+ y ago21:59

21:59

Ashurbanipal Ashurbanipal was the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. He ruled the region of Mesopotamia in the 7th century BC. Apart from his military conquests, Ashurbanipal is famous for his collection of ancient Mesopotamian texts, referred to as the Library of Ashurbanipal. This is his story. You can contact me at historyinhindiinfo@gm…

1
52. Birgül Öğüt: phytoliths in west Asian archaeology 39:04

1+ y ago39:04

39:04

Birgül explains about her work using microscopic plant remains to understand life in ancient western Asia. What are phytoliths and how do we find them? How can such microscopic evidence tell us about building use, for example? And where do they sit in the archaeological toolkit? 3:12 what are phytoliths? 5:14 sampling method 8:02 dung 11:43 limitat…

1
Insurance vs The Mystery of Helen Brach and Horse Insurance Fraud 44:25

1+ y ago44:25

44:25

Insurance vs The Mystery of Helen Brach and Horse Insurance Fraud How did the disappearance of a candy heiress result in the discovery of an insurance fraud ring? And were people hiring someone to murder their horses? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I tackle the true crime story of Helen Brach, and how the investigatio…

1
Episode 110 - The Loch Ness Monster and The Surgeon's Photo 16:54

1+ y ago16:54

16:54

In this episode, we will explore the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, as well as the surgeon behind a famous photograph of the beast, Robert Kenneth Wilson, a legend in his own right. And of course, we'll go on our usual tangents and side stories along the way!

1
51. Ali al-Juboori: Reflections 53:51

1+ y ago53:51

53:51

Ali reflects on his long career. How did he become an assyriologist? What are his achievements, and what is his legacy to the next generation? How was his academic career shaped by the twists and turns of political events? 1:56 from school to university 7:14 student life at Mosul 11:12 military service 12:39 research assistant 15:48 time in the UK …

1
Hammurabi - हम्मूराबी | Ep 18 18:49

1+ y ago18:49

18:49

Hammurabi - King of Babylon Hammurabi was the sixth and probably the greatest king of the Old Babylonian Empire. During his reign, he transformed Babylon from a small unimportant city to the centre of Mesopotamian world. His best remembered contribution is the Code of Hammurabi, a set of 282 laws. This is Hammurabi’s story. You can contact me at hi…

1
Insurance vs The NRA 46:34

1+ y ago46:34

46:34

How has the NRA impacted insurance? And why are insurers being asked to regulate the gun industry? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I try and tackle the NRA’s impact on the insurance industry, as well as discuss a new wrinkle in the discussion of gun safety: asking the insurance industry to take a regulatory role. Sourc…

1
Sargon The Great - सारगॉन द ग्रेट | Ep 17 20:18

1+ y ago20:18

20:18

Sargon Sargon The Great or Sargon of Akkad was the founder of the Akkadian Empire that flourished in the region of Mesopotamia in the 24th and 23rd centuries BC. He is considered by some to be the first emperor in recorded history. For a long time, historians thought he was just a legend till evidence of his existence was discovered. This is his st…

1
Episode 109 - Was Jack the Ripper a surgeon? 16:32

1+ y ago16:32

16:32

In this episode, we will explore the question of the identity of the 19th century serial killer based in the London neighborhood of Whitechapel. Specifically, we will consider the evidence provided by some authors that the notorious killer was a Welsh-born surgeon named Sir John Williams. And of course, there will be a bit of interesting trivia alo…

1
50. Dr Basima Jalil Abed 28:31

1+ y ago28:31

28:31

Dr Basima talks about her new research on a Late Babylonian economic archive from Shatir. She explains about her teaching, and incorporating tablet handling sessions at the Iraq Museum. 2:03 an Achaemenid archive 7:15 confiscated tablets 9:53 locating ancient Shatir 11:39 publication plans 15:00 teaching at Baghdad University 21:06 how did Basima b…

1
Insurance vs The Movies: Double Indemnity 47:46

1+ y ago47:46

47:46

Is Double Indemnity the best insurance movie ever? Is double indemnity even a real thing? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I discuss the movie Double Indemnity starring Fred McMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G Robinson, and the concept of double indemnity in the insurance industry. Sources and Links: Double Indemni…

1
Insurance vs Tontines! Tontines! Tontines! 49:16

2y ago49:16

49:16

Murder. Intrigue. And a financial product that bets on the death of people you don’t know. Tontines! Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I dig into the rise and fall of the tontine, a unique life insurance product that includes a mortality lottery. How did a financial product build bridges and real estate, fund wars, and e…

1
49. George Smith: the man behind the headlines SHORT VERSION 50:04

2y ago50:04

50:04

150 years ago, a young George Smith made headlines around the world. He had pieced together an Akkadian version of the Flood story found on fragments of clay tablets. Who was Smith, and why did his discovery have such a dramatic impact? What happened to him next? And what is his legacy? We're joined by guests Sophus Helle, Gareth Brereton, Strahil …

1
49. George Smith: the man behind the headlines 1:29:54

2y ago1:29:54

1:29:54

150 years ago, a young George Smith made headlines around the world. He had pieced together an Akkadian version of the Flood story found on fragments of clay tablets. Who was Smith, and why did his discovery have such a dramatic impact? What happened to him next? And what is his legacy? We're joined by guests Sophus Helle, Gareth Brereton, Strahil …

1
Insurance vs Eliot Spitzer 55:53

2y ago55:53

55:53

When a secretive industry meets an ambitious attorney general, what happens next? Welcome to the Insurance vs History Podcast! In this episode, I discuss Eliot Spitzer’s attempt to reform the insurance industry: specifically, the 2004 investigation into the big three insurance brokers and contingent commissions. Sources and Links: Inside Eliot Spit…

1
Episode 108 - The Michelangelo of Medicine: Frank Netter and the Atlas of Human Anatomy 14:21

2y ago14:21

14:21

In this episode, we will explore the famous 20th century medical illustrator Frank Netter and his magnum opus, the Atlas of Human Anatomy. While this work is his most famous, many people do not realize that Frank Netter was also a doctor, and (briefly) practiced as a surgeon, before spending the majority of his career as a commercial artist. Have a…

1
48. Amanda Podany: A New History of the Ancient Near East 39:18

2y ago39:18

39:18

How can 3000 years of history, documented by a mountain of sources, be surveyed clearly in a single book? Amanda tells us all about her new history of the ancient Middle East. Why did she use micro-histories? Who among the people in her book made the biggest impacts on her? 3:36 why micro-histories? 7:46 finding the non-elites 11:38 who did Amanda …

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