Julius Caesar Part 2: Rendezvous With Cleopatra
5/7/202653 min
Caesar’s campaign in Gaul begins. An invasion on an epic scale, it will also include two missions to the rain-lashed island of Britain. Back home, however, the collapse of the Triumvirate pushes Rome towards civil war. The conflict will spill across the Mediterranean, driving Julius Caesar into the arms of a certain Queen Cleopatra… A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 2 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Paul McGann0:28
[somber music] It's September in the year 52 BC. We're in the heart of Gaul, a vast territory that in today's terms covers France and much of the low countries. Atop a steep hill sits the Iron Age settlement of Alesia. It's known as an oppidum, a fortified town. The defenses here are massive. It's perhaps the most impregnable stronghold in the entire land. Covered on three sides by a thick forest, the open front looks out across the rolling ground of what will one day become Burgundy. Arrayed against the fortress are 10 Roman legions of Julius Caesar's conquering army. The Romans would normally have tried to storm Alesia using the latest weapons of war to smash down its walls, but there are 80,000 of Gaul's finest warriors holed up