#Thelxinoe ~ Classics News for July 12, 2021

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Hodie est a.d. IV Id. Jul. 2774 AUC ~ 3 Hekatombaion in the first year of the 700th Olympiad

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We have now reached the end of the Greco-Persian Wars, but with most of our sources focusing on the Greek experience and perhaps not giving us a completely accurate picture of the Persians. In this episode we are going to delve deeper into Persia’s experience in the Wars, look at their motivations and what led them to, ultimately being unsuccessful. To do this I have invited Trevor Culley from the History of Persia Podcast to come on and share his knowledge about the Persians with us, and help us look at the Persian perspective during the Wars. Trevor’s personal experience with both Persian history and podcasts began with a college extra credit assignment to listen to the first Hardcore History episode on the Achaemenids. He was instantly enthralled with the stories of the Kings of Kings and coming a little late to the party, started listening to podcasts. On one hand, He started heading down the road toward PhD that will let him study ancient Persia for a living. On the other, as he binged his way through both the History of Rome and early episodes of the History of Byzantium he was always excited for the episodes dealing with the Parthians and Sassanids. Trevor was surprised and disappointed to discover that there was not a similarly dedicated podcast dealing with the great empires east of Rome. This would inspire and motivate him to create the History of Persia Podcast back at the start of 2019.

Akhenaten was an Egyptian Pharaoh in the 18th dynasty that departed from traditional worship to primarily worship the sun deity, Aten, moving Egypt from polytheism to henotheism. British Egyptologist Dr Joyce Tyldesley, The University of Manchester, joins the show again to discuss what scholars know about Akhenaten’s life.

Julius Caesar is considered by many as a key individual whose influence ended the Roman Republic. His life was complex, and in modern times, his legacy lives on in facets like the Month of “July”. Head of the Classics Department, Professor Richard Alston, Royal Holloway, University of London, joins the show again to discuss the early period of Julius Caesar’s life.

On the day of the Euro 2020 final, we’re talking England versus Italy…Ancients style (well, sort of). Historian and archaeologist Dr Simon Elliott returns to the podcast to talk us through Julius Caesar’s two invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC. Hear what the Romans knew about Britain before the expedition, why Caesar wanted to invade, and what the “greatest PR man of the ancient world” learnt from the first, less successful, campaign. Simon’s book, Roman Conquests: Britain is out at the end of July 2021.

100 BCE – 200 CE – The emergence of the Silk Road saw the rise and fall of four great global empires and the spread of trade encouraged the spread of philosophy and religion across the whole of the Eurasian landmass.

In this episode, Barbara Graziosi introduces Homer, whose mythological tales of war and homecoming, The Iliad and The Odyssey, are widely considered to be two of the most influential works in the history of western literature.

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‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

If it thunders today, it portends an unexpected cold snap in the summer, as a result of which the necessities of life will be spoiled.

… adapted from the text and translation of:

Jean MacIntosh Turfa, The Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar, in Nancy Thomson de Grummond and Erika Simon (eds.), The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press, 2006. (Kindle edition)

#Thelxinoe ~ Classics News for July 10, 2021

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

Hodie est a.d. VI Id. Jul. 2774 AUC ~ 1 Hekatombaion in the first year of the 700th Olympiad

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The Social War took place on the Italian Peninsula in the 1st century BCE between Rome and its allied communities. Professor Federico Santangelo, Newcastle University, is back on the show to explain what happened and why it occurred.

Liv speaks with Dr. Victoria Austen about the wide world of mythology and classical reception: Troy, Circe, Silence of the Girls, Song of Achilles, even the Aeneid as reception. Books mentioned: The Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, A Thousand Ships and The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes, a trilogy by Emily Hauser, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood, Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin, and the House of Names by Colm Toibin. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it’s fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I’m not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.

Corbulo finishes round one in Armenia and gets a promotion. Meanwhile in Britain, a certain queen decides to take on the Romans – Boudicea. Exactly why, though, is a bit of a mystery.

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‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

[Saturday] If it thunders today,  it portend there will be healing river waters.

[Sunday] If it thunders today, it portends hot weather and rainstorms and a scarcity of grain.

… adapted from the text and translation of:

Jean MacIntosh Turfa, The Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar, in Nancy Thomson de Grummond and Erika Simon (eds.), The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press, 2006. (Kindle edition)

#Thelxinoe ~ Classics News for July 9, 2021

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

Hodie est a.d. VII Id. Jul. 2774 AUC ~ 29 Skirophorion in the fourth year of the 699th Olympiad

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Vorenus and Pullo are shipwrecked on an island, Caesar and Pompey fight it off offscreen, and the beginning of a relationship between Servilia and Octavia. There is also a special interview with Ken Cranham, who played Pompey.

In this episode, we discuss the 2004 film Troy, starring Brad Pitt. Unsurprisingly, we had a lot to say. Featuring: American imperialism, and Homeric combat, and just a little bit more complaining about the costuming in Troy: Fall of a City.

The Minoans were a civilization on the Island of Crete that flourished, and ended, during the Bronze Age. Professor in Archeology, Louise Hitchcock, The University of Melbourne, joins the show again to share what’s known about them.

“Famously warlike and imperialistic, the Neo-Assyrians cut a swathe across the ancient Near East. Surviving artwork and written sources give us clues as to how they accomplished this.” The team discuss Ancient Warfare XIV.6, the Neo-Assyrian Empire at war.

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‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

If it thunders today, it portends an appearance of the gods and the promotion of many good people.

… adapted from the text and translation of:

Jean MacIntosh Turfa, The Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar, in Nancy Thomson de Grummond and Erika Simon (eds.), The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press, 2006. (Kindle edition)

#Thelxinoe ~ Classics News for July 8, 2021

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

Hodie est a.d. VIII Id. Jul. 2774 AUC ~ 28 Skirophorion in the fourth year of the 699th Olympiad

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The Etruscans were an ancient civilization on the Italian Peninsula that had a distinct language, were skilled at seafaring, and worshiped their own pantheon of deities. Professor Alexandra Carpino, Northern Arizona University, joins the show to discuss this ancient civilization.

Bagram, also known as Begram, has been in the news a lot recently. Over the past couple of days, the last US and NATO troops have withdrawn from Bagram air base, which they have occupied for some 20 years. But this area of Central Asia, situated south of the Hindu Kush mountain range, also has some remarkable ancient history.In the area around Bagram lie the remains of two ancient cities: the cities of Kapisa and Begram. Both cities witnessed several waves of ancient superpowers. The Persians came here, as did Alexander the Great and his successors. But it was during the age of the Kushan Empire (1st – 4th centuries AD) that it appears the rich, ancient city of Begram (and the neighbouring metropolis of Kapisa) enjoyed its golden age.In this fascinating podcast, University of Freiburg’s Lauren Morris brilliantly guides us through Begram’s ancient history and why this site is so extraordinary. Lauren also tells the remarkable story behind the excavations at Begram during the 1930s and how it could be a big hit Netflix show in its own right.Part 2 will be out soon and will be centred on the Begram’s most remarkable archaeological discovery: the Begram Hoard.

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Alia

‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

If it thunders today, it portends peace for the region but destruction of the cattle herds and people will be afflicted with a dry cough.

… adapted from the text and translation of:

Jean MacIntosh Turfa, The Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar, in Nancy Thomson de Grummond and Erika Simon (eds.), The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press, 2006. (Kindle edition)

#Thelxinoe ~ Classics News for July 7, 2021

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

Hodie est Non. Jul. 2774 AUC ~ 27 Skirophorion in the fourth year of the 699th Olympiad

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Oh say can you see where this one is going? Many people have heard about the influence of the Roman Republic on the shaping of the American government but are perhaps unaware how much deeper the ancient underpinnings go. This week, with Carl Richards’ The Founders and the Classics: Greece, Rome, and the American Enlightenment, as their guide, Jeff and Dave take a star-spangled look at the Greeks and Romans read, revered, and almost rejected by the founders of the United States. From the earliest days of the revolution Washington, Adams, and Jefferson (and others) saw themselves and each other through the prism of many an ancient great, both historical and fictional. What did it mean that Sam Adams was the “Palinurus” of the Revolution? Why did Washington see himself as Cato?  Why does Benjamin Rush (boo!) come along and try to pour cold, stale ale over the whole classicy enterprise? And perhaps most importantly, if you don’t have busts of your friends in your personal library are they really your friends?

Waste not, want not! In this episode, learn all about ancient Mediterranean olive oil production and how real people producing this delicious food used the manufacturing byproducts to create a closed-loop, sustainable system. Dr. Erica Rowan, an expert on archaeobotanical (plant!) remains, joins us to explain how the ancient Romans in North Africa, Spain, and Italy used industrial olive oil waste as a fuel source to heat their homes, kilns, bakeries, and even to power the olive presses themselves!

The Tetrarchy was a collegiate form of government when four emperors ruled Rome simultaneously. Dr Roger Rees, University of St Andrews, joins the show again to explain what the Tetrarchy was, how it functioned, and why it was dissolved.

In this episode, Alice and Nicolas interview Prof. Kate McLoughlin. A Professor of English at Oxford University and Tutorial Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Kate works on the representation of war in literature in many different genres, from the ancient world to the present day. Among other books, she is the author of Martha Gellhorn: The War Writer in the Field and in the Text, which explores Gellhorn’s fictional writing alongside her journalism. She also wrote Authoring War: The Literary Representation of War from the Iliad to Iraq; and, most recently, Veteran Poetics: British Literature in the Age of Mass Warfare, 1790-2015. She is currently working on a literary history of silence, partly inspired by her research into veteran experiences and their representation.

It’s time for another episode of The Ozymandias Project with Lexie Henning! Tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for an exciting odyssey as we discuss overcoming creative blocks, trying to balance the history and folklore elements when writing for Odyssey & Valhalla, and whether being involved in the making of video games, in any capacity, could be considered a STEM field.

Elynn introduces the historical geography of the Neo-Elamite kingdom. What do we know about the borderlands and their role in Assyrian-Elamite relations? Why don’t we know where so many places are, and why is that so significant?

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Alia

‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

If it thunders today, it portends rain storms harmful to grain.

… adapted from the text and translation of:

Jean MacIntosh Turfa, The Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar, in Nancy Thomson de Grummond and Erika Simon (eds.), The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press, 2006. (Kindle edition)