Two tales from the many lives of Buddha. The top scene depicts Buddha Shakyamuni meditating in the Indrashala cave awaiting his rebirth on Earth. The bottom scene shows Buddha Dipankara meeting the hermit Sumedha. Among other Gandharan works of art, this Buddhist carving might include representations of the Hindu gods Indra and Brahma. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. The big bombshell is that we have an honest to goodness cameo of the legendary Greek hero Hercules! Image: Relief with Bud...
Apr 13, 2016•7 min
Episode 66 of the Ancient Art Podcast picks up where we left off in episode 65 with the Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the Art Institute of Chicago. We briefly touch on some commonalities between Buddhism and Star Wars. We also learn more about the historic origin of the four pillars around the dome, discover what the deal is with those lion capitals, and revisit the Persians, Persepolis, Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, and Buddha humbly giving his first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath. ...
Feb 11, 2016•4 min
Episode 65 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores a Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The subdued appearance of this small reliquary belies its cultural and aesthetic significance at the crossroads of East and West, where great empires collide. Who were the Gandharans and what is their legacy? Walk in the footsteps of godlike leaders, like Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, Cyrus, and Darius. Discovery the cultural and historic mark they left on the la...
Jan 22, 2016•6 min
Last time in our three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we explored the ancient hairless breeds of the New World and had a look at the popular ceramic funerary effigy of the Colima dog from a couple thousand years ago. We were also introduced to a young celebrity, Sputnik, my cute little hairless Xoloitzcuintli-Chihuahua mix. This time in episode 62 of the Ancient Art Podcast we're off to China to discover the prehistoric domestication of dogs and look closely at a 2,000 year old ceramic mastif...
Jul 20, 2015•7 min
In my third installment of a three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we're back in our familiar stomping ground of the Classical World to consider the roles of dogs in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient writings give us the names of prized breeds in antiquity, which we match to magnificent examples in art. Classical authors like Arrian and Xenophon have much to say about the roles of dogs, from hunting and guarding to racing and companionship, but what about warfare? We meet Odysseus and his faith...
Jul 20, 2015•11 min
Just in time for Christmas, episode 64 of the Ancient Art Podcast spins a Yuletide yarn. All decked out for the holidays, this amazing, little, elvish sprite weaves us up a tall mountain pass on an enchanting journey through antiquity. The 5,000 year old horned striding figure from the ancient Near Eastern Proto-Elamite culture captivates our imagination of the enigmatic wild man of collective ancient lore. Herein we meet Gilgamesh's Enkidu, Egyptian gods and Pharaohs, the Greco-Roman Hercules, ...
Dec 17, 2014•7 min
Dig in to this feast for the eyes as we discuss the role of dogs in ancient Mesoamerican civilization and art. This is our first in a three-part series on dogs in antiquity. This episodes serves up one of the most popular examples of canines in art, the Colima dog of ancient West Mexico, captured in an exemplary ceramic specimen in Art Institute of Chicago. Our lingua culinaria isn’t too off base, as the hairless hounds and pudgy puppies of ancient Mesoamerica were in fact a common food source. ...
May 16, 2014•7 min
It's a cosmic collision of contemporary and antiquity on the Ancient Art Podcast! The prophesied comet of the century, Comet ISON, may have bit the dust, but that's no reason to pile dirt on our exploration of comets of past and present in the world of art. In two rare examples of auspicious comets in antiquity, Augustus Caesar and Mithridates VI of Pontus exploit coinage as vehicle for propaganda. We discuss the cameo of Halley's Comet on the Bayeux Tapestry capturing the Battle of Hastings in ...
Feb 18, 2014•13 min
Greetings gashlycrumbs! Enjoy this spooktacular free Halloween segment of the Ancient Art Podcast episode 59, "A Witches' Sabbath!" Meet the wicked witches, devilish denizens, and things that go bump in the night in the Art Institute of Chicago's painting "A Witches' Sabbath" by Dutch artist Cornelis Saftleven. Grab the complete episode at http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious . The complete episode explores the peculiar fascination Dutch and Flemish artists had with the proverbial "fire and brim...
Oct 31, 2013•5 min
A short announcement about some changes to the Ancient Art Podcast. The Ancient Art Podcast and Curious.com have teamed up to host episodes of the podcast at Curious.com. Episodes now include quizzes, handouts, discussions, and more. Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious to see more! You can now help support the Ancient Art Podcast. Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/ and click on the "Donate" link. Thanks for the support and for 7 great years and counting! Connect at http://facebook.com/an...
Aug 04, 2013•2 min
Raise your glass to the most incredible chalice from antiquity. The Lycurgus Cup in the British Museum is truly exceptional for its exquisite beauty, delicate craftsmanship, magnificent detail, and a seemingly magical ability to transform colors before your very eyes. Discover the myth of the doomed Thracian king, Lycurgus, driven mad by Dionysus and ensnared by the wine god's creeping vines. Explore the wondrous curiosity of Roman cage cups found in collections across the world, including the C...
Jul 18, 2013•5 min
Episode 57 of the Ancient Art Podcast builds on what we learned in episode 53 about the mythology and artistry of the creepy creature of chaos, the Gorgon Medusa. This episode delves deeper into her primal lair. We confront her petrifying gaze while closely examining a few famous works of ancient art exploring Medusa’s roots, influences, and evolutions. Included are the Bronze Age Minoan "Snake Goddesses," the Polyphemus Amphora, the Nessos Amphora, the Temple of Artemis at Corfu, kylix eye-cups...
Apr 30, 2013•10 min
This episode of the Ancient Art Podcast is a journey in music, imagery, and text. There is no vocal component. Please visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/56 or subscribe to the video podcast to watch episode 56. In the epic journey of homebrewing, episode 56 of the Ancient Art Podcast takes you behind the scenes in "Build a Beer: Krampuslauf, Ein Holiday Ale mit Horns." From high in the snow-capped Alpine peaks comes a powerfully spiced beer brewed in the tradition of German & Austrian Glühwe...
Mar 24, 2013•6 min
Jump in for a VIP visit to the Art Institute of Chicago's new Jaharis Galleries of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art. Quadruple in size from the museum's earlier ancient art galleries, the new vista boasts a massive display of 550 ancient treasures from the Art Institute and collections around the world, including the British Museum, Getty Villa, Oriental Institute, Field Museum, and more. In this episode, we explore the aesthetics and merits of the new gallery design, point out some pitfalls, see...
Jan 25, 2013•9 min
He's knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows when you've been bad or good, So be good, for YOUR LIFE'S AT STAKE! Who's that hiding behind Santa's jolly mask? Episode 54 of the Ancient Art Podcast takes a holiday to the Austrian Alps to discover the true meaning of Christmas and meet Santa's various spooky, sooty sidekicks! We lift the lid on the mysterious, fur-clad, horned, Yuletide devil, Krampus, exploring his origin in pagan myths, history throughout the ages, and m...
Dec 02, 2012•10 min
In this spooktacular Halloween episode of the Ancient Art Podcast with monstrous fiends and tortured souls lurking about in dark shadows, we explore a mythic monster from the Classical world, the original femme-fatale, the slithering seductress, the Gorgon Medusa. From ancient poets Hesiod and Ovid, we discover the lineage, background, and tragic curse that damned this poor maiden, and reveal her "children," winged Pegasus and Chrysaor. We reveal the changing face of the obscured demoness in the...
Oct 31, 2012•9 min
When equipping yourself for the afterlife, be sure to bring enough wine! Episode 52 of the Ancient Art Podcast is all about Wine in Ancient Egypt. There really was a King Scorpion and what did he drink? Ancient Egyptian Spring Break drunken orgies. Embarrassing yourself for all eternity well before the Facebook generation. What's it really mean when your god gets drunk? King Tut's "wishing cup," Nebamun's hoity-toity parties, Herodotus goes to Bubastis, Hatshepsut's porch of drunkenness, and Sek...
Sep 22, 2012•9 min
Episode 51 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the art, culture, history, and mythology surrounding beer in Ancient Egypt. We'll look at the archaeological record to sort fact from fiction on the brewing process and dig up some modern attempts at recreating the ancient recipes for Egyptian beer. Chemical analysis of ancient beer residue paints a telling picture as funerary art and literary sources flesh out culture of some of the world's earliest brewers. Included in episode 51 are discussions o...
Jul 23, 2012•14 min
In some Buddhist traditions, people are encouraged to devote 100,000 miniature stupas, pagodas, or idols of Buddha as an act of extreme piety. Well, I'm not that pious. We celebrate 50 episodes of the Ancient Art Podcast with 50 images of Buddha. Enjoy this feast for the eyes of magnificent Buddhist treasures from the southern tip of India to the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, from the lush Southeast Asian tropics, stately caves of China, and serene bamboo groves of Japan. Explore more episodes, ...
May 30, 2012•5 min
Episode 49 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the ancient legends and origins of dragons, separating fact from fiction and good from evil. Dragons permeate our cultural heritage in many forms and fashions: as ferocious fire-breathing, flesh-eating monsters, noble emblems of honor, and peace-loving creatures of earth, air, and water. From the salty depths of the Mediterranean, across the sun-scorched deserts of Central Asia, to the misty mountains of China and Japan, where do dragons first take ...
Apr 23, 2012•16 min
Episode 48 returns our attention to the art of the famous ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles as we dig deep into the secrets of the frequently copied and highly praised statue of Apollo Sauroktonos, the Lizard Slayer. We look at a few later marble and bronze copies of this acclaimed work housed in the Vatican, Louvre, and elsewhere. We also explore the possibility that the original bronze Apollo Sauroktonos may not be lost to history. The hidden meaning behind the Lizard Slayer comes to light as ...
Mar 18, 2012•8 min
A short audio announcement. We recently had to move the podcast over to a new web host. Trying to make the transition as smooth as possible, in short, if you've received this, then you're in the right place and your podcast client is connected to the correct feed. If you have any old bookmarks for the podcast, especially ones with the words "me.com" or "mac.com" in the links, then those will probably stop working come this summer. My advice would be to bookmark the homepage itself, ancientartpod...
Feb 20, 2012•1 min
Just how much can we discuss about a pile of wood? Well, episode 47 of the Ancient Art Podcast about the "Roman Fasces" dares to find out! Composed of a bundle of rods with an axe blade sticking out, this ancient symbol of solidarity and judicial authority was a very recognizable sight in Ancient Rome. We explore the symbolism of the fasces, its different makes and models, where it came from and where it went. The fasces remains highly popular today on military and political crests, emblems, and...
Feb 10, 2012•8 min
Episode 46 of the Ancient Art Podcast takes us in and out and around one of the most magnificent works of imperial Roman architecture, the Ara Pacis Augustae, of the Altar of Augustan Peace. We'll explore how the Ara Pacis weaves together images from Rome's legendary past and 1st century BC present to paint a picture of a new Golden Age era of peace and prosperity under the reign of Augustus Caesar. We also discuss the ongoing difficulty and debate in identifying some of the scenes and figures d...
Dec 31, 2011•12 min
Pardon me sir, but do you have any garum? Slurp up a puddle of fermented fish guts with the Ancient Art Podcast! Episode 45 explores the decorative delights, culinary curiosities, and amorous affections of the ancient Greek world. While it packs a punch as an interesting cultural anomaly, the fish plate is an often-overlooked curiosity in the lineup of ancient Greece ceramics. In the 4th century BC, the ancient Greek appetite for fish blossomed as a culture phenomenon, an art form, and a borderl...
Nov 28, 2011•9 min
Episode 44 of the Ancient Art Podcast concludes the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions with the false belief that Ancient Egyptian civilization is dead. Scarcely recognized around us in its present form, the legacy of Ancient Egypt continues to thrive. In pyramids and tombstones, icons and cupids, chemistry and alchemy, Ancient Egyptian civilization lives on in our art, language, architecture, and religion. Visit http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/top10 for the compl...
Nov 06, 2011•10 min
Number 2 in the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions explores the hot issue of race and ethnicity in Ancient Egypt, including the two most frequently invoked figureheads of the discussion, the Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra. Despite the heated rhetoric arguing for or against a specific racial identity for any Ancient Egyptian individual, the point remains that the Ancient Egyptians would have thought the whole modern debate is just plain silly, having been f...
Aug 29, 2011•7 min
Don't Panic! Celebrating the our 42nd episode with a brief nod to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by the uncanny Douglas Adams, the Ancient Art Podcast continues to explore the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths & Misconceptions with "The 'Boy King' Tutankhamun." Arguably the most famous and studied figure from Ancient Egypt, Tutankhamun is shrouded in mystery. Who was this enigmatic ruler behind all the myth and mysteries? Who were his parents? What does his reign tell us about the cultural...
Jul 28, 2011•6 min
Is Ancient Egyptian art truly unchanging for thousands of years? Were the Egyptians just stuck in the mud or what? No and no! The Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions continues with an examination of broad changes to Egyptian art across the history of their civilization. We go from the Early Dynastic Period through the Old and Middle Kingdoms up to the New Kingdom and beyond exploring stylistic and thematic variation that's deeply entrenched in Ancient Egypt's cultural evolution. In ...
Jun 30, 2011•9 min
Too often the 18th Dynasty "Heretic King" Akhenaten (r. ca. 1353-1336 BC) is labeled the world's first monotheist, proselytizing the one true god Aten, the solar disk. But was he truly a monotheist or is there something deeper going on here? Episode 40 explores this question, continuing the countdown of the Top 10 Ancient Egyptian Myths and Misconceptions. We examine the pros and cons to the argument, looking at historic, literary, and artistic evidence. As an added bonus, we compare passages of...
May 26, 2011•8 min
