If Objects Could Talk

If Objects Could Talk

What is Athena's owl doing in the Greek marketplace? How does a snake bracelet celebrate her favorite holiday? This first season on If Objects Could Talk, the newest series from Getty Podcasts, artifacts leave the museum vault and come alive to share their side of the story. Featuring objects from Getty's antiquities collection, each episode introduces listeners to the history, creation, and everyday use of incredible items like an Egyptian cat statue, an ancient kind of dice, and a glass flask shaped like a fish. Voice actors and immersive sound design bring these historical fiction tales to life.

Episodes

November 17, 2025 12 mins

(Rerun) 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.

 

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

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This week we're sharing an episode of another art history podcast we love! Who Arted celebrates art in all of its forms and in terms anyone can understand. Each episode tells the story of a different artist and artwork. Who Arted is written and produced by art teacher Kyle Wood with the goal of making art history fun and accessible to everyone.

This episode focuses on King Tut's tomb. On November 26, 1922, Howard Carter prepared to ...

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October 27, 2025 13 mins

Like a noir detective, this key with a horsehead handle becomes embroiled in a mysterious disappearance—her very own! Help her investigate the blacksmith’s workshop and solve the case so she can open her special box again. 

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

 For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, ima...

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October 20, 2025 14 mins

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 ma...

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October 13, 2025 13 mins

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-cou...

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October 6, 2025 10 mins

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, ...

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September 29, 2025 13 mins

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 listenin...

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September 22, 2025 12 mins

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...

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September 15, 2025 9 mins

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 col...

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September 8, 2025 12 mins

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 ...

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September 8, 2025 12 mins

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 mor...

Mark as Played
September 8, 2025 10 mins

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 m...

Mark as Played
August 18, 2025 1 min
Trailer for the first season of Getty's new podcast for kids and families
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