Wolfmen and amazons: why did the Greeks and Romans demonise their neighbours?
Dr Owen Rees reveals why classical Greeks and Romans were so fascinated by the 'barbarians' beyond their borders

Published: March 14, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Fearsome Amazons. Men who turned into wolves. Tribes who never grew old. Ancient Greek and Roman sources are packed with extraordinary descriptions of the peoples living beyond their borders. Speaking to Spencer Mizen, Dr Owen Rees explores these classical superpowers' sense of cultural superiority and reveals what we can learn about the ancient world by exploring life on the frontiers of empires.
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Owen Rees is the author of The Far Edges of the Known World: A New History of the Ancient Past (Bloomsbury, 2025).
Authors

Spencer MizenSenior Production Editor, BBC History Magazine
Spencer is senior production editor of BBC History Magazine
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