Podcast: Venetian Stories
A podcast of Venetian Stories — episodes from the History of Venice from the time of Augustus until today.
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Episode 28 — The early sources
The principal primary sources for the earliest period of Venice are not many, but their history is rather messy.
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Episode 27 — Cassiodorus
A letter to the people of the lagoons from the Ostrogoth government, from 537.
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Episode 25 — The Venetian Carnival
Pigs and bulls lose in the alleyways, wooden castles smashed with maces, human towers and funambulists. The Venetian carnival was quite unlike the modern replica.
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Episode 24 — Festa delle Marie
A tale of pirates, maidens, box-makers, oranges, and ancient promises being kept for centuries, but others not so much.
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Episode 23 — Venice treacle — the cure-all remedy
Venice produced and exported Theriac, an ancient wonder medicine for just about every ailment imaginable. It was a flourishing business for centuries, and an important part of the Venetian economy.
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Episode 21 — The Plague Doctor
The well-known image of the plague doctor with the beaked mask doesn’t really have a lot of support in our sources. Did he even exist?
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Episode 20 — Venice and the plague – part 4
The plague slowly diminished during the 1700s, even if it didn’t disappear, and Venice reorganised the Lazzaretti.
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Episode 19 — Venice and the plague – part 3
During the 1400s, Venice had created defences against the recurring outbreaks of the plague, and they kept Venice mostly safe for the following centuries. Mostly safe.