384. The Roman Invasion: Gods on Hadrian’s Wall (Ep 2)

384. The Roman Invasion: Gods on Hadrian’s Wall (Ep 2)

August 5, 2026 · 48 min · Season 39 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of the Roman invasion on British life and spirituality, featuring insights from Dr Eleanor Barraclough.

The Roman Conquest of Britain. The furthest western point of the empire. How did life change for ordinary people after the invasion? Why do Middle Eastern gods end up on Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England? And how does the famous gorgon face carved into stone in Bath blend Celtic and Roman spiritual beliefs? In Episode 2 of this series, William Dalrymple and Anita Anand are joined by Dr Eleanor Barraclough, author of Beyond the Walls: In Search of the Celts, to discuss how the arrival of the Romans altered the gods of these isles. Try Attio for free at attio.com/empire Summer sale is here: get an annual Empire Club membership for an extra 20% off with code SUMMER26. That's ad-free listening, early-access, every bonus episode, and full access to our exclusive members' series. Sale ends August 31st, so grab it before summer's over.   For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Imogen Marriott Editor: Bruno Di Castri Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

People in this episode

Hosts: William Dalrymple, Anita Anand

Guest: Dr Eleanor Barraclough

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Attio

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Goalhanger

Books & works: Beyond the Walls: In Search of the Celts

Places: Hadrian’s Wall, Bath, Britain, Northern England

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