The History of Ancient Greece

Latest Episodes:

059 Olympian Zeus Oct 23, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Zeus, the mighty patriarch who ruled over Mount Olympos; included are his Indo-European origins as the supreme sky god; his role as the god who maintains order and justice by presiding over normative civic, social, and family relationships; his connection with Themis (Divine Law), Nemesis (Revenge), and the three Moirai (the Fates); his worship as a rain-making, agricultural deity, both on mountain peaks (Attika and Krete) and the Underworld (symbolizing the regenerative life cycle); his worship in Arkadia and its relationship to werewolf transformation and human sacrifice; his oracles at Dodona and Siwa (where he was syncretized with Libyan god Ammon); his Panhellenic sanctuary at Olympia; his connection with Nike (Victory) and his worship as a savior or bringer of freedom against foreign foes (Persia and Carthage); and the "philosophical Zeus" that arose as some questioned polytheistic religions during the Hellenistic Period

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/059-olympian-zeus.html

Intro by Lee Accomando of the Viking Age Podcast

Website: http://vikingagepodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vikingagepod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VikingAgePod

058 Classical Temples Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the innovations during the 5th century BC in the realm of temple building (outside of Attika, that is); included are the Temple of Aphaia at Aigina, the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Hera II at Poseidonia (Paestum), the Temple of Victory at Himera, the Temple of Apollo at Syracuse, the Valley of the Temples at Akragas (Agrigento), the Temple of Hera at Selinous, the unfinished temple at Segesta, and the Temple of Apollo at Bassai

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/058-classical-temples.html

Intro by Ben Jacobs of the Wittenberg to Westphalia: Wars of the Reformation Podcast

Website: http://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wittenbergtowestphalia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2wpodcast

057 Classical Paintings Oct 09, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the innovations during the 5th century BC in the realm of painting on pottery, walls, and wooden panels; included are some of the most famous vase paintings of the Kleoprades Painter, the Berlin Painter, Onesimos, the Brygos Painter, the Pistoxenos Painter, Sotades, the Niobid Painter, the Achilles Painter, the Penthesilea Painter, the Pisticci Painter, and the Meidias Painter; the wall paintings of Polygnotos, Mikon, Timarete, Parrhasios, Zeuxis, Apollodoros, and the Tomb of the Diver at Poseidonia (Paestum); and the Pitsa Panels

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/057-classical-paintings.html

Intro by Ray Belli of the Words for Granted Podcast

Website: http://www.wordsforgranted.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wordsforgranted

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wordsforgranted

056 Classical Sculptures Sep 25, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the innovations during the 5th century BC in the realm of free-standing statuary in the round, stelai, and architectural relief; included are the Kritios Boy and the Angelitos' Athena from the "Persian debris", the Tyrannicides by Antenor, the Charioteer of Delphi, the Artemision Zeus/Poseidon, the Riace Warriors, the Statue of Zeus Carrying Ganymedes, the Mourning Athena, the Exaltation of the Flowers, the Enthroned Goddess, the Charioteer of Motya, the Relief of Hades and Persephone Enthroned, the Relief of Aphrodite and Hermes in a Chariot Drawn by Eros and Psyche, the Diskobolos (Discus Thrower) of Myron, the Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer) and Diadoumenos (Youth Tying a Headband) of Polykleitos, the Helmeted Athena, the Wound Amazon, the Cat Stele, and the Stele of Hegeso

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/09/056-classical-sculptures.html

Intro by Laura Carlson of The Feast Podcast

Website: http://www.thefeastpodcast.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Feast_Podcast

055 The Dionysian Mysteries Sep 11, 2017

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In this episode, we discuss the Phrygian goddess Kybele; her cult's transportation from Asia Minor to Greece in the 6th century BC; her assimilation with various aspects of the cults of Gaia, Rhea, and Demeter as the Great Mother and as a civic protector (particularly in Athens); her cultic rites and influence on Dionysos (Bakkhos), particularly music, wine, and an ecstatic following; the myths of two other Phrygian deities, Agdistis and Attis; some of the myths and the iconography of Dionysos and his companions (Seilenos, Pan, the Satyrs, and the Mainades); the historicity and major themes of Euripides' The Bakkhai ("The Followers of Bakkhos"); and the cultic elements of Dionysiac worship (particularly in Delphi, Boiotia, and the Peloponnesos)

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/09/055-dionysian-mysteries.html

Intro by Savannah Marquardt of Ritual Podcast

Website: https://www.ritualpodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RitualPodcast

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RitualPodcast

054 Old Comedy and Aristophanes Sep 04, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the Lenaia, the intricacies of Old Comedy, and what is known about the lives and works of the earliest comedic poets, who set the stage for Aristophanes and his eleven surviving works that effectively define the genre today

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/09/054-old-comedy-and-aristophanes.html

053 Euripides at War Aug 28, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the historical context and major themes of Euripides' surviving plays that he produced against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War, which include Children of Herakles, Andromache, Hekabe, Suppliants, Elektra, Madness of Herakles, Trojan Women, Iphigenia in Tauris, Ion, Helene, Phoenician Women, Orestes, and Iphigenia at Aulis (excluding Bakkhai)

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/08/053-euripides-at-war.html

052 Early Euripides Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the life, theatrical innovations, and tragic works of the third great Athenian playwright, Euripides; and the historicity and some of the major themes of his earliest surviving plays, which include Cyclops, Rhesus, Alcestis, Medea, and Hippolytus

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/08/052-early-euripides.html

Intro by Sam Hume of The History of Witchcraft Podcast

Website: http://witchcraftpodcast.libsyn.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyofwitchcraft

051 Sophokles Aug 07, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the life, theatrical innovations, and tragic works of the second great Athenian playwright, Sophokles; and the historical context and major themes of his seven surviving plays, which include Antigone, Ajax, Oidipous Tyrannos, Women of Trachis, Philoktetes, Elektra, and Oidipous at Kolonos

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/08/051-sophocles.html

050 Early Tragedy and Aischylos Jul 24, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss what is known about the lives and works of the earliest tragic poets who set the stage for the first great Athenian playwright, Aischylos, to make all sorts of theatrical innovations at the onset of the Classical Period; and the historical context and major themes of his seven surviving plays, which include Persians, Prometheus Bound, Seven Against Thebes, Suppliants, and the trilogy known as Oresteia (whose three plays includes Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, and Eumenides)

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/07/050-early-tragedy-and-aeschylus.html

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