Faint grid with evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines on a white background; larger plus signs mark some intersections.
Ancient Roman ruins with tall columns and historic buildings at sunset, likely the Roman Forum in Rome, Italy.
A man with dark hair is smiling at the camera, wearing a brown leather jacket over a black and gray shirt, with a plain white background.

Exploring the Ancient World, On Screen and Beyond

Dig into Darius’ latest documentaries, videos, books, conversations, and educational projects that invite audiences to look closer at the ancient world and the connections it shares with life today.

Explore the Work

Television & Film ↓

Feature ↓

Darius Arya on YouTube ↓

Books ↓

Podcast ↓

Speaking ↓

Press & Interviews ↓

Ancient Rome Live ↓

Television & Film

Darius brings archaeological expertise, curiosity, and accessible storytelling to productions filmed across the ancient world.Darius brings archaeological expertise, curiosity, and accessible storytelling to productions filmed across the ancient world.

Illustration with a man’s portrait, soldiers in armor, a starry sky, and the text “Life in Ancient Times” in large letters on a blue background.

PBS | Host

Life in Ancient Times

Darius explores places including the Circus Maximus and Colosseum, showing how spaces built for spectacle also reflected the values and power structures of Roman society.

Watch on PBS
Watch on YouTube
A man in a brown jacket stands outdoors with ancient ruins and a mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.

PBS | Host

Ancient Invisible Cities

Using 3D scanning and virtual-reality technology, Darius explores the hidden architecture of Athens, Cairo, and Istanbul. Each episode moves beneath familiar landmarks to reveal mines, fortresses, reservoirs, sacred spaces, and engineering achievements concealed within the modern city.

Watch on PBS
A man stands in front of an ancient stone archway in an open area, with blue sky and clouds in the background.

The Great Courses Plus | Host, Creator, Writer, and Director

Traveling the Roman Empire

Across eight episodes, Darius travels through Rome, Spain, Morocco, Jordan, Croatia, Serbia, and other former corners of the empire, exploring how Roman influence took root within distinct cultures and landscapes. Archaeology shares the screen with food, contemporary life, and the experience of traveling through these places today.

Watch the Series

Curious to experience Pompeii firsthand?

Explore opportunities to visit Pompeii and the Bay of Naples with Darius.

Explore Pompeii Experiences

Darius Arya on YouTube

Watch Darius’ Channel
Play Video

Rome

Beneath The Arena, Where Gladiators Waited To Die

Play Video

Rome

Why And How Did Rome Build a Giant Bridge Here?

Play Video

Rome

Why Augustus Built a Firewall in the Heart of Rome

Play Video

Rome

Excavating the Forum of Augustus: Under Via Alessandrina

Featured Book

Hidden Rome: Uncover the City’s Ancient Past

Rome’s story is visible everywhere, but some of its most revealing chapters remain underground, built into later structures, or hidden behind the city’s familiar landmarks.

Hidden Rome invites readers beneath the surface to discover the places, objects, and histories that reveal how the ancient city continues to shape modern Rome.

Buy the Book
National Geographic magazine cover titled “Hidden Rome: Uncover the City’s Ancient Past” with images of the Colosseum, Roman statues, and ancient artifacts.

Rome & Empire Podcast

An evergreen collection of conversations and on-location stories from Rome and across the ancient world.

Listen to the podcast

Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia

46m

Explore the palace of the emperor who brought the Roman Empire back from the edge of collapse and discover how the ancient complex became part of the living city of Split.

Listen to the episode

Green Gold – Dipping into the World Class Olive Oil of Italy

48m

Who doesn’t like olive oil? It’s an essential component of the Mediterranean diet. So, it’s high time to really learn the ins and outs of what defines “excellent” olive oil.

Listen to the episode

The Ides of March

52m

Walk through Julius Caesar’s final day in Rome and trace the places, decisions, and political tensions surrounding one of history’s most famous assassinations.

Listen to the episode

Museum of the Ara Pacis

30m

Darius presents the museum setting between the Tiber River and Mausoleum of Augustus and examines the altar and the history of the excavation that led to the creation of the Fascist museum.

Listen to the episode

Speaking Engagements

Smithsonian Associates

Gohagan Travel

The Society of Four Arts

Watch Lecture

ICAA (Institute of Classical Archaeology and Art) with Traditional Building

Learn More

Phillips Exeter Academy

Varsity Tutors

Watch

TedX Matera

Watch

US Fulbright program - USA Italy featured speaker

Press & Interviews

Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.
The image shows the CNN logo with bold, interlocking brown letters and a white outline on a light background.

Why This Assassination Site Has Become a Tourism Hotspot in Rome

Watch the video
A person stands on a large rock formation in a vast, sandy desert surrounded by rugged, rocky mountains under a clear sky.
The Guardian logo in bold, brown serif font on a light background.

From Petra to Wadi Rum: An Archaeologist’s View of Jordan

Read the Article
Ancient stone amphitheater with semi-circular seating and a central stage, surrounded by trees and ruins under a partly cloudy sky.
wsj

In Ostia, a Search for the Secrets of Rome’s Port

Read the Article
Marble statue of a figure with curly hair raising one arm and looking upward, showing detailed facial features and drapery.
The CBS logo features a stylized eye symbol followed by the bold capital letters “CBS” in brown.

Ancient Art Returns to Public View in Rome

Watch on CBS
Marble statue of a figure with curly hair raising one arm and looking upward, showing detailed facial features and drapery.
National Geographic logo with a rectangular yellow frame to the left of the words “National Geographic” in bold, uppercase letters.

Could Pompeii happen again? An archaeologist answers questions about the lost city

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Tom Hiddleston's 'Pompeii: Out of Time' AMA: Archaeologist Darius Arya Bids Storytellers 'Don't Talk Down to People'

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

FRANCE TV ROME- Rome: la passion de Musk pour la Rome antique

Watch Video
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Smologies with Alie Ward- Ancient Rome with Darius Arya

Listen
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

When in Rome

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.
The image shows the CNN logo with bold, interlocking brown letters and a white outline on a light background.

Ancient Roman crime scene open to visitors

Read Article
Ancient carved cameo showing a figure on horseback, wearing a tunic and raising an arm, with detailed horse and rider features against a dark background.

Romancing the stones of Naples

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk fight in Colosseum would spark riot… Says Famed Archaeologist

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Interview with classical archaeologist Darius Arya

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.
The image shows the CNN logo with bold, interlocking brown letters and a white outline on a light background.

Seized artifacts worth $20 million are shown off on return to Italy

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Building a NEW floor for the Colosseum! A chat with BBC Radio

Read Article
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.
The image shows the CNN logo with bold, interlocking brown letters and a white outline on a light background.

‘Tomb raiders’: The pandemic is making it easier than ever to loot ancient Roman treasures

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Seeing Rome with Darius Arya

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Talking Rome, History, and Pizza with Darius Arya (via Zoom)

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Interview with Classical Archaeologist Darius Arya

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Classical Archeologist Darius Arya. Darius Arya discovers the present by digging up the past.

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Talking to: Archaeologist & Rome Expert Darius Arya

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Campo dei Fiori. An Expat Archeologist Peels Back the Layers of his Favorite Roman Neighborhood

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Caligula ‘thought he was a god’

Watch
Ancient Roman ruins with stone columns and remnants of walls, surrounded by modern buildings and trees in the background.

Roman dig backs ancient writers’ portrait of megalomaniac Caligula

Watch

Join Darius Live

History becomes more engaging when there is room to ask questions.

Through Ancient Rome Live, Darius hosts free online seminars, in-depth masterclasses, and conversations with scholars and experts from across the ancient world.

Explore Ancient Rome Live
Stone relief showing three robed figures standing side by side, each facing forward, with draped clothing and distinct hand gestures.

Augury and the Will of the Gods

People walk around a large plaza with a central equestrian statue, surrounded by historic buildings and sculptures under a partly cloudy sky.

Geology of Rome

Marble bust of a bearded man in front of a torn ancient manuscript with Greek writing on a black background.

Edict of Caracalla (Constitutio Antoniniana)

Ancient Roman fresco with red architectural elements, statues of draped figures, and a central pedestal featuring swans and a golden vessel, surrounded by decorative mythological motifs.

Dating Pompeii I: The Literary Evidence

Work With Darius

Bring a Deeper Perspective to Your Next Project

Darius works with producers, broadcasters, publishers, museums, universities, cultural organizations, event planners, and brands seeking an informed and engaging voice on archaeology, Rome, travel, and the ancient world.

Whether the opportunity involves hosting a series, appearing as an expert, developing a documentary, delivering a lecture, contributing to a publication, or creating an original cultural project, Darius brings together scholarly depth, on-camera experience, and a genuine instinct for storytelling.

Work With Darius