Cost of Glory - Alex Petkas

Latest Episodes:

73 - Crassus III: Battle of Carrhae Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Crassus' famous campaign against the Parthians - what motivated it? What happened at Carrhae? What can we learn from it?

Thanks to our Sponsor!

Ancient Language Institute:
https://ancientlanguage.com

Key Figures
Marcus Licinius Crassus - The Protagonist
Gaius Pompeius Magnus - Pompey, the Rival
Lucius Licinius Crassus - the Orator
Publius Licinius Crassus - Crassus' father
Publius Licinius Crassus - Crassus' Son
Publius Clodius Pulcher - The Playboy Mobster
Titus Annius Milo - Anti-Mobster
Marcus Tullius Cicero - The Mentor
Gaius Julius Caesar - The Triumvir
Marcus Porcius Cato - The Nemesis
Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus - The Challenger
Ptolemy XII "Auletes" - The Piper King
Aulus Gabinius - Pompey's Crony in Syria
Trebonius - Willing Tribune
Ateius (Capito) - Unwilling Tribune
Gaius Cassius Longinus - The Assassin
Octavius - The Junior Officer
Orodes II - King of Parthia
Mithradates IV - Parthian Usurper
Surena - the Parthian Commander at Carrhae

Key Places
Rome
Ravenna - City in Northern Italy (cisalpine Gaul)
Luca - City in Northern Italy (Etruria/Cisalpine Gaul)
Curia - The Senate house
Syria - Roman Province
Mesopotamia
Iraq
Seleucia
Babylon
Ctesiphon
Carrhae
Euphrates River

Italian quote at the beginning: Dante, Purgatorio XX

72 - Crassus II: Puppet Master Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest Man in Rome. The plot thickens in the contest with Pompey, and Crassus takes on new allies: Catiline and Julius Caesar.

In this episode:
-How to defuse the resentment of opponents you've beaten
-The power of debt at Rome
-Fighting for the hardest prizes, but playing it like a game
-Cicero's mortgage and homeowner headaches

Thanks to Sponsors:

Ancient Language Institute:
https://ancientlanguage.com

--
Copythat, learn copywriting from the classics:
https://copythat.com/
For a discount (and to let them know I sent you), use this code: glory

71 - Crassus I: Richest Man in Rome Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

The story of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Richest man in Rome.

In this episode:
-The Real Spartacus
-How to make a fortune, ancient style
-Why Crassus was a better spender than modern billionaires

Thanks to our Sponsor!
Copythat, learn copywriting from the classics:
https://copythat.com/
For a discount (and to let them know I sent you), use this code: glory

Some Sources:
Barry Strauss, The Spartacus War
Plutarch, Life of Crassus

70 - How to Praise Oneself Inoffensively - Part 2 Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

Plutarch gives more examples of how to get it right, from Great Leaders of Greece & Rome

-Phocion,
-Agathocles,
-Pericles,
-Sulla,
-Themistocles,

69 - How to Praise Oneself Inoffensively Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

You know you want to do it. But how? Plutarch offers a few key examples.

68 - Catiline III: The Last Stand Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

Highlights from Rome's Deadliest Conspiracy, the Catilinarian conspiracy.

Featuring speeches by Julius Caesar and Cato the Younger.

67 - Catiline II: Cicero's Moment Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

Get into one of the great moments of history - highlights from Cicero's speech Against Catiline. Featuring a quote or two from the original Latin.

66 - Catiline I: Rome's Deadliest Conspiracy Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

The Conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic at the height of its power. Catiline and his associates challenge Cicero and Cato.

Rumors were that Crassus and Caesar were involved...

Part I: Highlights from Sallust's War with Catiline.

ANNOUNCING - New Megaseries: Visions of Caesar. I am beginning an arc on the biographies of all the most prominent of the era of Caesar, including The Man himself. Crassus, Pompey, Cato, Caesar, Cicero, Brutus, Antony.

65 - Seneca, The Madness of Hercules Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

The Greatest hero of all, Hercules - told by Seneca: Billionaire, Politician, Stoic Philosopher, and... Tragic Playwright.

Highlights and power quotes from Seneca's "The Madness of Hercules":
in a new, brilliant, poetic translation by one of America's great poets, Dana Gioia

Get a copy here: https://amzn.to/42TEUqJ
(and support the show thereby)

More about Dana Gioia and his work here:
https://danagioia.com/

64 - Xenophon, Anabasis VII May 30, 2023

Show notes

The Finale: Xenophon's Anabasis, book 7 of 7. Highlights for the High Life.

In this episode:

-Sailing to Byzantium
-How to Tame a Mob
-Spartan Indecision
-Drinking more wine from big horns with dangerous men
-Raiding with Thracians
-Fire attack at night
-How to lose a good friend for good
-What all gyms should aspire to be like
-The importance of keeping your horse

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