Dr. Jeffrey Spier, a former Senior Curator of Antiquities at the Getty Villa, joins Lexie to discuss the intricacies of museum work, particularly the challenges of displaying small artifacts such as coins and gems, the impact of the Getty’s 2022 exhibition 'Ancient Iran in the Classical World', the role of artifacts in understanding historical interactions between cultures, and the evolving field of museum curation. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our s...
May 29, 2025•52 min
Dr. Jenny Rose, a former professor of Ancient Iranian Studies at Claremont Graduate University, is interviewed by Charlotte Howley – a 3rd year PhD student in UCLA’s Program of Iranian Studies. They discuss the historical and contemporary significance of Zoroastrianism, including its underrepresentation in popular culture and scholarship, the evolving role of women and gender dynamics within Zoroastrianism, and the reception of Zoroastrian figures like Zoroaster and Cyrus the Great in European h...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Dr. Elizabeth Carter, professor emerita of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss how backyard digs sparked her early love for archaeology, her experience working in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, the intricacies of understanding the cultural significance of artifacts, and the difficulties young scholars face today due to the political restrictions on archaeological fieldwork in Iran. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and r...
Apr 17, 2025•48 min
Marco Ferrario, an ancient historian specializing in the longue durée of the Eastern Iranian world, joins Lexie to discuss how influential mentors and serendipitous opportunities pushed his interests from Classics into studying Ancient Persia and Central Asia, Bactria’s rich history and the challenges of studying the region, and the importance of interdisciplinary research to gain a more wholistic appreciation of antiquity. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please gi...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Dr. Nikolaus Overtoom, a professor of Ancient History at Washington State University, joins Lexie to discuss the significance of Parthian warfare, the strategic use of cavalry and the logistical challenges of utilizing war elephants, and examining Parthian interactions with the Greco-Roman world to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient Mediterranean world. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple ...
Mar 06, 2025•59 min
Dr. Jason BeDuhn, a professor of Religious Studies at Northern Arizona University, joins Lexie to discuss the history of Manichaeism, exploring its dualistic cosmology and its connections to various religious traditions, including Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Platonism, the challenges Manichaeism faced, including its eventual decline due to persecution in both the West and East, and archaeological discoveries related to Manichaeism, particularly in Egypt and China. We hope you enjoy this ep...
Feb 13, 2025•53 min
Dr. Rolf Strootman, a professor of Ancient History at the University of Utrecht, joins Lexie to discuss the complexities surrounding the Persian identity after Alexander the Great's conquests, Alexander's unique approach to governance and cultural integration, particularly through his marriages to Persian women, the role of women in his life, and the aftermath of Alexander's death. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us ...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Dr. Eve MacDonald, an ancient historian and archaeologist at Cardiff University, joins Lexie to discuss the often-overlooked technological advancements of the Carthaginians and the importance of understanding their narrative beyond the Roman perspective, her work on the Sasanian Empire and the significance of borderlands and how local identities evolved in response to the shifting powers of the time, and the role of monumental structures and the impact of monumental architecture on historical na...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr
Dr. Neville McFerrin, a professor of Art History at the University of North Texas, is interviewed by Charlotte Howley – a 2nd year PhD student in UCLA’s Program of Iranian Studies. They discuss the connections between dress, ornamentation, and architecture, particularly in the context of research on Pompeii and Persepolis, the concept of proprioception and how ancient peoples understood their environments and interactions within them, and the role of water and plant imagery in the art of Persepo...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Dr. David Potter, a professor of Classics at the University of Michigan, joins Lexie to discuss the intriguing figure of Empress Theodora, the perceptions of the Sasanians by the Romans, and the complex relations and greatest lessons we can learn from the two ancient empires. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or...
Nov 21, 2024•47 min
Dr. Mehrnoush Soroush, a professor of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago, joins Lexie to discuss studying water hydraulics, water management and usage by the Persians, whether we should consider water a luxury resource, and identifying the many changes & problems in both the ancient and modern world when it comes to dealing with water issues. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or S...
Oct 31, 2024•56 min
Dr. Tawny Holm, a professor of Jewish Studies and Classics at Pennsylvania State University, joins Lexie to discuss the importance of Aramaic language, why Papyrus Amherst 63 is so important, unique, and a bit odd, and the difficulties when teaching the Book of Daniel especially when dealing with the historical inaccuracies of the Persian timeline. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget ...
Oct 10, 2024•54 min
Dr. Ali Mousavi, a Pourdavoud Research Scholar and adjunct professor of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie for a special minisode to talk about a unique archaeological site from the Archaeological Gazetteer of Iran database! Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Mousavi: https://pourdavoud.ucla.edu/person/ali-mousavi/ Check out today’s site: https://irangazetteer.ucla.edu/catal...
Jun 27, 2024•6 min
Dr. Ali Mousavi, a Pourdavoud Research Scholar and adjunct professor of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie for a special minisode to talk about a unique archaeological site from the Archaeological Gazetteer of Iran database! Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Mousavi: https://pourdavoud.ucla.edu/person/ali-mousavi/ Check out today’s site: https://irangazetteer.ucla.edu/catal...
Jun 20, 2024•7 min
Dr. Ali Mousavi, a Pourdavoud Research Scholar and adjunct professor of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie for a special minisode to talk about a unique archaeological site from the Archaeological Gazetteer of Iran database! Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Mousavi: https://pourdavoud.ucla.edu/person/ali-mousavi/ Check out today’s site: https://irangazetteer.ucla.edu/catal...
Jun 13, 2024•8 min
Dr. Ali Mousavi, a Pourdavoud Research Scholar and adjunct professor of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie for a special minisode to talk about a unique archaeological site from the Archaeological Gazetteer of Iran database! Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Mousavi: https://pourdavoud.ucla.edu/person/ali-mousavi/ Check out today’s site: https://irangazetteer.ucla.edu/catal...
Jun 06, 2024•8 min
This week we are joined by 5 Iranian Studies Graduate students: Emma Petersen, Charlotte Howley, James Scherrer, Ethan Friedland, and Hong Yu Chen. In this episode, they sat down with guest host Dr. Marissa Stevens to discuss their research and the state of the field. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit o...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Dr. Jonathan Winnerman, an Egyptologist, and Academic Administrator in Ancient Studies at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss exploring aspects of sacred kingship in New Kingdom Egypt, the importance of studying Hibis Temple to understand Persian-Egyptian kingship, and his work with UCLA’s Global Antiquity initiative and how it can provide a forum for the study of antiquity in a wider global context. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, an...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Dr. Touraj Daryaee, a professor of Iranian studies and director of the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California, Irvine, joins Lexie to discuss the big Sasanian Empire question that drew him into the field of Iranian Studies, who the Sasanians were and what we can thank them for, a look into the Sasanian economy and famous battles, and the resources available now and potentially in the future to aid the study of the Sasanian Empire. We hope you ...
May 02, 2024•56 min
Dr. Lara Fabian, a professor of Iranian archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss how she came to archaeology from a solid career outside of academia, the unique linguistic challenges when studying Iran and the Caucasus, tackling problems of Iron Age chronology, and understanding the true definition of the study of archaeology. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourd...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Dr. Julian Degen, a research fellow and academic teacher at Trier University, joins Lexie to discuss assessing Alexander of Macedon as a statesman rather than just as a conqueror, Alexander’s treatment of Greek mercenaries fighting for Darius, and the reconstructed Roman merchant boat project at Trier University. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute o...
Apr 04, 2024•52 min
Dr. Robert Rollinger, a professor of ancient history and ancient Near Eastern studies at the University of Innsbruck, joins Lexie to discuss deconstructing Eurocentrism as a crucial component of understanding ancient cross-cultural interactions, what made an empire and empire in antiquity, and exploring the state of both Achaemenid and ancient studies in general today. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or S...
Mar 21, 2024•51 min
Dr. Marissa Stevens, the Assistant Director of the Pourdavoud Institute and an Egyptologist, joins Lexie to discuss how she developed an interest in cross-cultural interactions via her work with 21st Dynasty Egyptian funerary papyri, her hopes for expanding Egypt-Persia projects and working at the Pourdavoud Institute, and about the types of future outreach initiatives the Pourdavoud could produce for the general public. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give ...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Dr. Christelle Fischer-Bovet, a professor of Classics, History, and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Southern California, joins Lexie to discuss whether the lack of instruction past the death of Alexander of Macedon hinders efforts to study the history of the aftermath his death created, a short introduction to the uses and movement of papyri in the Mediterranean, and the relationship between Ptolemaic Egypt and Seleucid Persia. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Dr. Henry Colburn, a research associate of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan and an adjunct faculty member at several institutions, joins Lexie to discuss finding a way to study the Persians in Egypt while coming from a Classics background, how to identify and spot a Persian in Egypt, and assessing problems in studying Parthian art especially due to the lack of remaining material culture and sites. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please...
Feb 08, 2024•54 min
Leyla Johnson, a Lebanese American video game developer specializing in historical strategy games and CEO of Mohawk Games, joins Lexie to discuss growing up in Lebanon with a love for history, learning all about Cyrus the Great and conducting historical research for her video game “Old World”, and working with a composer to achieve an ancient sounding and culturally appropriate game soundtrack. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, a...
Jan 25, 2024•49 min
Dr. Ali Mousavi, a Pourdavoud Research Scholar and adjunct professor of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss his experience growing up in Iran with an archaeologist father and how it shaped his career, creating the Archaeological Gazetteer of Iran for the Pourdavoud Institute, his experience working for UNESCO, and about the possibilities for digitally rendering ancient sites like the Getty’s “Persepolis Reimagined”. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, p...
Jan 11, 2024•55 min
Dr. John W.I. Lee, a professor of Ancient History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, joins Lexie to discuss why the Persian Wars weren’t his entry point into Achaemenid studies, how having a PhD student from Iran both enhances and challenges him as an educator, the personal and family relationships between Greece and Persia, and his freedom to design courses at a smaller institution. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating,...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Dr. Kathleen Lynch, a professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Cincinnati, joins Lexie to discuss how she got into studying ancient Athenian pottery in Persian Anatolia, why the Persians didn’t want ceramics but still adopted Greek artistic motifs, and how we can use technology in media/gaming to recreate accurate ancient Persian art. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Trevor Culley, creator and host of the History of Persia podcast, joins Lexie to discuss why he started a podcast on Persian history, what the writing process is like for a scripted history podcast, the reception to his show from diasporic Persian communities, and what parts of Persian history he’d like to see someone else take on going forward. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to ...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 3 min
