Announcements: Next Tour, Seeking Video Editor, Connect on Social Media, Patreon update
Some announcements for those of you who care about what's happening at AGD behind the scenes...
May 24, 2025•4 min
Ancient Greece Declassified
The podcast that transports you to the ancient world and back, with some good conversation along the way. It's not just about ancient Greece. It's about a huge chunk of human history that the Greek texts give us access to: from Egypt and Babylon, to Persia, to Carthage and Rome, we'll sail the wine-dark sea of history with some expert guides at the helm. Topics will include archaeology, literature, and philosophy. New episode every month.
Episodes
61 Who is Lantern Jack? (Doug Interviews Me)
I chat with friend and fellow podcaster Doug Metzger about how I first became fascinated with the ancient world and share some of the adventures I had on the way to getting a PhD in Classical Philosophy. ------------------ Support AGD on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast ------------------ Timestamps [01:25] Why I started AGD [05:15] Why Stoicism is misunderstood today [11:20] Debunking two big myths about the ancient world [14:45] How I got interested in ancient Greece [19:58] Reggie Foster, r...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 4 min
60 The Rise of Athens (Themistocles and the Persian Wars, Part 3)
During the Persian Wars, the city of Athens was completely razed to the ground by the Persian army. And yet, from its ashes, a new Athens was born, more powerful and magnificent than any other city in the Mediterranean. How did the Athenians pull that off? In this finale to our Persian Wars saga, we explore the final battles of the conflict and the clever machinations of Themistocles—one of the chief masterminds and architects of Athenian power. Contents of the episode, with timestamps: [05:35] ...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 7 min
59 The Ancient Novels w/ Doug Metzger (Apuleius, Lucian, Chariton, Heliodorus, Petronius, Achilles Tatius)
Unveiling the wild world of ancient Greek and Roman novels with Doug Metzger, host of the " Literature and History Podcast ." ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast ------------------ Contents of the episode, with timestamps: 04:22 When did novels first arise? 09:12 The four genres of ancient novels 11:39 The typical plot (Callirhoe) 17:55 Daphnis and Chloe 21:10 Euripides' romances 28:17 Narrative in the Bible 32:43 Evolution of the ancient ...
Mar 01, 2025•59 min
58 What Did the World's First Pop Star Sound like? | Euripides and Ancient Music w/ Claire Catenaccio
What did ancient music sound like? In this episode, you will hear three songs that are over 2000 years old! Few people in the world today know more about ancient music than our guest in this episode. Claire Catenaccio is an assistant professor of classics at Georgetown University who specializes in the study of ancient drama and its modern reception. Her recent book "Monody in Euripides" explores monody – namely solo actor's song – in the tragedies of Euripides. Her scholarship is informed by he...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr
57 The Life of Plato w/ Robin Waterfield
Even after thousands of years of supposed progress in philosophy, there are still some who maintain that the entire history of western philosophy consists of footnotes to Plato. But who was Plato the man? If there is anyone who can answer that question, it's our guest in this episode. Robin Waterfield is a renowned scholar of antiquity who has written the first ever full biography of the ancient philosopher in English. Check out the book here . Contents of the episode, with timestamps: [04:10] P...
Dec 31, 2024•54 min
56 The Man Who Defeated the Persian Empire (Themistocles and the Persian Wars, Part 2)
In 480BC the Persian Empire invaded Greece with the largest military force the world had ever seen. Meanwhile in Athens, a man named Themistocles had spent the last ten years preparing for this moment. He had come up with a plan to defeat Persia, but it would require a mix of strategy, intrigue, deception, and plain old good luck... Contents of the episode, with timestamps: [05:45] How to Win Friends and Influence People [13:10] The Mines of Laurion [19:30] Athens VS Aegina [25:10] Battle of The...
Nov 26, 2024•56 min
55 Fire in the Cradle of Democracy (The Persian Wars, Part 1)
The three decades from 508-478BC were possibly the most consequential in all of ancient history. In this episode and the next, we tell the story of the Greco-Persian Wars through the eyes of Themistocles, the Athenian mastermind who guided the Greeks to victory. Contents of the episode, with timestamps: [04:50] Themistocles' Childhood and the Athenian Revolution [10:40] Democracy's Early Challenges [16:10] The Demagogue [26:35] The Ionian Revolt [31:25] Marathon [43:05] "Rejoice! We Are Victorio...
Oct 01, 2024•52 min
AGD "Persian Wars" Tour in Greece! Jan. 3-11, 2025
AGD is going back to Greece this January 3-11 for another epic adventure! This time we'll be exploring the Persian Wars and the profound effect they had on Greek civilization. We will visit all the major focal points of the Greco-Persian showdown (Marathon, the Acropolis, Eretria, Salamis, Thermopylae, Plataea, and Delphi) as well as a wide variety of other fascinating historical sites. Check out our highlight reel from the first tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g-w7u6aQz0 To reserve your ...
Sep 07, 2024•7 min
54 Were the Spartans Proto-Fascist Losers? w/ Bret Devereaux
Bret Devereux is a military historian at North Carolina State University and author of the recent viral article "Spartans Were Losers: The US Military's Admiration of a Proto-Fascist City-State is Based on Bad History." He joins us to explain why he thinks that the traditional image of Sparta as an egalitarian society of warrior badasses is a lie. You can find his blog, where he writes extensively on Sparta, here: https://acoup.blog/2019/08/16/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-i-spartan-school/ ...
Jan 01, 2024•56 min
53 Why Platonism and Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke
As our world becomes increasingly hi-tech, more and more people have been turning to ancient wisdom traditions in search of meaning. There are two schools of ancient philosophy in particular that have seen a meteoric revival in recent years: Platonism and Stoicism. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke joins us to explore why this is happening. ------------------ Join the upcoming AGD Tour in Greece: greecepodcast.com/tour ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.co...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 22 min
"Enemies of Athens" Tour Announcement Oct. 11-19, 2023
AGD is going back to Greece this fall (Oct. 11-19) for another epic adventure! This time we'll be exploring areas that in ancient times lay in the shadow of – or in direct conflict with – the Athenian hegemony. Check out our video from the first tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g-w7u6aQz0 To reserve your spot, email us at [email protected] For the itinerary visit https://greecepodcast.com/tour...
Jul 27, 2023•8 min
52 A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece) w/ David Stasavage
This time we're taking a little break from Greece to explore the broader history of democracy. Was democracy really a Greek invention? Historian David Stasavage, author of The Decline and Rise of Democracy , thinks it was not. And in today's episode he explains why. --------------- Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/greecepodcast...
Dec 01, 2022•51 min
51 Anacyclosis – Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History
Polybius' theory of anacyclosis is the most sophisticated theory of political (r)evolution to have emerged from ancient Greek and Roman political thought. ------------------ To watch the highlight real from the last AGD tour in Greece, click here . ------------------ To read the passage in Polybius where he discusses anacyclosis click here . ------------------ If you'd like to read more about the theory of anacyclosis, I've written a few blogs on the subject: Anacyclosis, Act 1: From Monarchy to...
Nov 01, 2022•54 min
Announcing the "Mountains and Oracles" Tour in Greece! Jan. 3-11
AGD is going back to Greece this winter (Jan. 3-11) for an epic tour of Greece's northern regions, focusing on mountains and oracles. For more information or to reserve your spot, email us at [email protected]
Oct 19, 2022•5 min
R8 Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? | Plato's Republic, book 8
Plato argued that the inevitable next step in political evolution after democracy is tyranny. Many political thinkers throughout history agreed with him. Were they right? ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/greecepodcast --------------- A full transcript of this episode with references can be found on our website at greecepodcast.com...
Oct 01, 2022•1 hr
49 When a Philosopher Ruled the World | Marcus Aurelius w/ Donald Robertson
Was Marcus Aurelius really the enlightened ruler that history books and modern movies portray him as? And is his brand of Stoic philosophy applicable to the modern world? With us to discuss these and other questions is Donald Robertson, a psychotherapist and the author of How to Think Like and Emperor and Verissimus . ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/greecepodcast...
Jul 31, 2022•1 hr 13 min
AGD Tour Update – Only a Few Spots Left!
An update on the AGD Tour happening in Greece from August 16-24 For an outline of the itinerary click here .
Jun 04, 2022•7 min
48 Time Traveling to the Ancient World
Thirty three scholars, philosophers, and archaeologists answer the question: If you could time travel to the ancient world, who would you want to meet? Scholars featured + the timestamps when they appear: 2:10 Edith Hall 3:36 Eric Cline 4:30 Andromache Karanika 5:45 Josiah Ober 6:48 Rush Rehm 7:30 Ian Morris 8:02 Rebecca Newberger Goldstein 9:20 Patrick Hunt 9:46 Raffaella Cribiore 11:04 Mark Adams 12:20 Peter Adamson 13:47 Richard Martin 15:08 M. M. McCabe 16:37 Zina Giannopoulou 18:45 Greg Nag...
Jun 01, 2022•48 min
R7.5 The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke
Philosophers today often dismiss Plato's Theory of Forms as an outdated and failed attempt by a pre-modern thinker to explain knowledge. However, cognitive scientist John Vervaeke offers a radically different take on Plato's theory and how it ties in with recent debates about the nature of intelligence. John Vervaeke is a professor at the University of Toronto and the creator of the popular YouTube series Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.
May 13, 2022•1 hr 3 min
AGD Trip to Greece! August 16–24
An announcement about the upcoming Ancient Greece Declassified tour in Greece this summer.
May 04, 2022•6 min
R7 The Cave | Plato's Republic, book 7 w/ Ben Morison
The cave analogy, which takes up the majority of book 7 of the Republic, is one of the most famous passages in all of western philosophy. In this episode, we are joined by Ben Morison, professor of philosophy at Princeton, to dive deep into the allegory and unpack its various levels of meaning.
Apr 30, 2022•1 hr 2 min
R6.5 Why People Hate Plato
Plato is at once the most loved and possibly the most hated philosopher of all time. This episode explores five reasons why he drives some people mad. Contents of the episode, with timestamps: Reason 1: Who should rule? [7:30] Reason 2: What political system is best? [12:20] The Ship of State [15:10] Reason 3: What is truth? [20:20] Reason 4: What is knowledge? [30:35] The Divided Line [40:25] Reason 5: What is good?
Apr 29, 2022•1 hr 7 min
44 The Invention of Duty
Where does the notion of 'moral duty' come from? In this conversation with Simon E. Drew we dive deep into the history of the concept and discuss my recent book The Invention of Duty . This episode was originally published on The Walled Garden podcast and is here republished as a crosscast.
Jan 27, 2022•1 hr 15 min
R6 The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful | Plato's Republic, book 6 w/ Gabriel Richardson Lear
Book 6 of the Republic is the work’s core section where Plato lays out his metaphysics. Appealing to his signature Theory of Forms, Plato offers a transcendent vision of the Good as the ultimate source of human knowledge. Joining us to help us unpack this theory is Gabriel Richardson Lear, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago and author of the book Happy Lives and the Highest Good: An Essay on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics . ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified...
Dec 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min
42 The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova
Was Homer was influenced by the stories of civilizations to the east of Greece? Joining us to discuss the Hittites and their potential (direct and indirect) influences on the Greek epic tradition is Mary Bachvarova, professor of classics at Willamette University and author of From Hittite to Homer: The Anatolian Background of Ancient Greek Epic ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a one-time donation: paypal.me/greecepodcast...
Nov 28, 2021•59 min
R5 Philosopher Queens | Plato's Republic, book 5 w/ Mary Townsend
The most controversial part of Plato's Republic is its fifth book, wherein Socrates argues for the political equality of men and women, the abolition of the nuclear family, a strange eugenics program, and the idea that philosophers kings and philosopher queens should be put in charge of political affairs. With us to discuss book 5 is Mary Townsend, assistant professor of philosophy at Saint John’s University in Queens and author of the book The Woman Question in Plato’s Republic . --------------...
Oct 18, 2021•54 min
R4.5 Anatomy of the Soul | Plato's Republic, book 4 w/ Jonathan Lear
In book 4 of the Republic , Plato sets forth perhaps the most famous psychological theory from Greco-Roman antiquity: the tripartite model of the human soul. But how good of a model is it? How does it hold up from the perspective of modern psychology? With us to discuss these questions and more is Jonathan Lear, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago and a practicing psychoanalyst who serves on the faculty of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. His article " Inside and Outsid...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr
R4 Hogwarts and Kallipolis | Plato's Republic, book 4
What do Plato's Republic, Sigmund Freud, and the Harry Potter saga have in common? Find out in this episode, which offers an exploration of book 4 of Plato's Republic and its many parallels in modern literature and psychology.
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 13 min
38 Alexander the Great: Inherited Glory w/ Adrian Goldsworthy
Was Alexander the Great really that *great* on his own? Or did he owe much of his success to the work of his father Philip II of Macedonia? Joining us to discuss the matter is Adrian Goldsworthy, military historian and author of the new book Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors . A video version of this episode is available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/zZwyvimmX3k ------------------ Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a one-time donation: pa...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 2 min
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