20 Sept 2026
116- The Reign of King Firehead
Servius Tullius is on the throne! We had an exciting start last time, but today it's all a bit slower-paced with tax reform, property classes and admin. Still, let's watch the first census be conducted, discuss Roman money, and examine quite why Servius hates tortoises.
Time period: 578- 534 BCE
Relevant individuals:
Servius Tullius, 6th King of Rome
Sources for this episode:
Appian (1972), Appian's Roman History in Four Volumes (Volume I). London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
Carr, J. L., Riedle, D. J., Munscher, E., Pearson, L. S., Kessler, E. J. and Dreslik, M.J. (2025), Macrochelys temminckii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2025: e.T232775771A507158.
Casale, P. and Tucker, A. D. (2017), Caretta caretta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T3897A119333622.
Cassius Dio (1961), Dio's Roman History (Volume I). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
Dionysus of Halicarnassus (1960), The Roman Antquities of Dionysus of Halicarnassus (Volume II). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press.
Eutropius (1760), Eutropius: Epitome of the Roman History. London: Printed for W. Johnston et al.
Livy (1971), The Early History of Rome. Translated by A. de Selincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
Luiselli, L. (2024), Testudo marginata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T21653A2777760.
Luiselli, L. (2024), Testudo hermanni (errata version published in 2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T21648A268511652.
Luiselli, L., Capula, M., Di Vittorio, M., Marrone, F. and Vamberger, M. (2024), Emys trinacris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T158469A778721.
Marks, A. and Tingay, G. (date unknown), Romans. London: Usborne Publishing.
Matyszak, P. (2008), Chronicle of the Roman Republic: The Rulers of Ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
Moldowan, P. D. and van Dijk, P. P. (2025), Chelydra serpentina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T163424A251347989.
Orosius (1936), History Against the Pagans. Translated by I. W. Raymond. Available at Attalus.
Sextus Aurelius Victor (1825), Galerie Romaine, ou les Hommes Illustres de Rome et les Cesars. Translated by A. Caillot. Paris.
Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996), Emys orbicularis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T7717A97292665.
Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996), Testudo graeca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T21646A9305693.
van Dijk, P. P., Harding, J. and Hammerson, G. A. (2011), Trachemys scripta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T22028A97429935.
Wallace, B. P. and Broderick, A. C. (2025), Chelonia mydas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T4615A285108125.
Wallace, B. P., Tiwari, M. and Girondot, M. (2013), Dermochelys coriacea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T6494A43526147.
Author unknown, British Army (date unknown), Pay, Salaries & Benefits (online) (Accessed 26/07/2026).
Author unknown, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (online) (Accessed 15/09/2026).
Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Solidus (online) (Accessed 15/09/2026).
Sound Effect by freesound_community (https://pixabay.com/users/freesound_community-46691455/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=81796)from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=81796)
