Julian Dorey Podcast

#380 - “Secret Link!” - Ancient Rome Expert on Vatican Egypt Tie, Cleopatra & Odyssey | Toldinstone

Feb 6, 2026
Garrett Ryan, PhD historian of Ancient Rome and Greece, author and YouTuber. He explores Roman military intelligence, frontier logistics and how empires tax and govern far-flung provinces. He dives into Egypt-Rome links, moving obelisks and St. Peter’s layered history. He also covers Alexander’s rapid conquests, Roman shipping risks and the founding of Londinium.
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INSIGHT

Repurposing Pagan Monuments

  • Rome repurposed pagan monuments like Egyptian obelisks to assert Christian dominance by re-inscribing them.
  • Sixtus V moved and Christianized the Vatican obelisk with exorcism formulae and a cross.
ANECDOTE

Ptolemy Seizes Egypt

  • After Alexander's death, his generals fought forty years over his empire and Ptolemy seized Egypt and Alexander's body.
  • The Ptolemies ruled Egypt as Greek kings while adopting Egyptian royal symbols.
INSIGHT

Rome Undermined Hellenistic Kings

  • Rome's defeats of the Hellenistic kingdoms were incremental: naval, land, diplomatic pressure and debt dependency.
  • Roman bankers and military victories gradually stripped Hellenistic kings of independence.
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