If Objects Could Talk – Details, episodes & analysis

What dangers await Athena’s brave and loyal owl at the Greek marketplace? This Athenian coin shares his take on how money was made and used in ancient Greek city states—and how different states had different rules around the agora, or marketplace, that could sometimes get you into trouble!

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the owl coin with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

Does this acrobatic astragalos (an ancient kind of dice) have what it takes to win the big game? Learn about the twists and turns of ancient gameplay and how sheep knucklebones aren’t so different from modern dice.

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the astragalos with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

How does a snake bracelet celebrate her favorite holiday? Learn about gold jewelry, the meaning of snakes for ancient Egyptians, and the Roman holiday of Saturnalia from this snake who knows all the best secrets!

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the snake bracelet with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

Come see the bracelet in person at the Getty Villa in gallery 216!

A pair of feet lights up the scene—literally. This feet-shaped lamp knows he’s a little silly, but he’s got some seriously important work to do! Hear about how ancient houses were designed and lit in a time before you could just flip a switch.

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the feet lamp with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

This Egyptian cat statuette is here to set the record straight. Yes, she’s a little bit of a diva, but don’t all cats deserve to be worshiped? No, she’s not really the goddess Bastet, just an offering to her, thank you very much. And no, she’s certainly no phony! Hear about the role of cats in ancient Egypt and how this statuette proved her age, with a little help from some conservation scientists.

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the Bastet statuette with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

Blowing glass is just like blowing bubbles, sort of. This fish flask is used to leading a school (she is a fish, after all!) so she’ll teach you all about Roman glassblowing and ancient apprenticeships—as well as the importance of creativity and kindness.

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the fish flask with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

One of the three women on this hydria (water jug) gives us a peek at some old-fashioned water cooler gossip. At a time before indoor plumbing, the water fountain was a center of urban life—so these ladies got to hear it all!

If you don’t see an image of hydria with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

Start your day the Roman way with an offering to this pocket-sized household demigod called a Lar. Follow along with a family’s daily rituals and routines and hear how this Lar protected two young boys from getting into trouble.

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the Lar with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.

This dancing Satyr—half goat, half man, all prankster—is on the move, sealing important documents that travel across Etruria, a pre-Roman civilization. With his good-luck scarab on his back, he travels to help a birthday girl’s wish come true and only gets them into a little bit of trouble playing “hide the sheep.”

This podcast uses episode-specific artwork. If you don’t see an image of the satyr scarab gem with this episode, you may have to turn on this setting in your podcast app.

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.