The conquest of the Achaemenid Persian Empire by Alexander the Great and his Successors did not spell the end of Iranian civilization. During the early Hellenistic period, several Iranian dynasties manage to establish themselves as independent rulers in their own right, propagating and transforming Iranian traditions and cultures in a changing environment. We will be covering such figures Mithridates I Ktistes, the founder of the Kingdom of Pontus, Orontes I, ruler of horse-rearing Armenia, and ...
Aug 02, 2020•35 min
Concluding our look at the philosophies of the Hellenistic Age, we take a round tour of three other important schools: the ascetic and often times crass Cynics, the hedonistic predecessors of the Epicureans known as the Cyrenaics, and the Peripatetics, the heirs of Aristotle and the Lyceum. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Links Website/Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/...
Jul 20, 2020•34 min
Questions on the existence of true knowledge had plagued many Greek philosophers, but it was during the Hellenistic period when Skepticism, divided between two competing branches, emerged to openly cast doubt on the possibility of knowing anything at all. The disciples of Pyrrho of Elis, a contemporary of Alexander the Great, sought to achieve inner tranquility through indifference and lack of opinion, while the Academic Skeptics modeled themselves after Socrates, looking to engage in a perpetua...
Jun 29, 2020•31 min
From the super galleys of the Hellenistic monarchs to the engagements of Cape Ecnomus and Drepana during the First Punic War, the Hellenistic Age was the epoch of naval warfare in the ancient world. Joining us is nautical archaeologist and PhD student Stephen DeCasien to talk about the intricacies and evolution of the navy during the period, the practicalities and philosophy of building the gargantuan Tessarakonteres, and why it ultimately fell out of favor following the Battle of Actium in 31 B...
Jun 22, 2020•47 min
With an Egyptologist’s perspective, PhD student Henry Bohun joins the show to help explore the complexities of the relationship between the Greco-Macedonian rulers of the Ptolemaic Dynasty with that of their native Egyptian subjects. Despite being Macedonian to the core, the Ptolemies nevertheless saw themselves as heirs and continuators of the Pharaonic tradition, and the ways in which they did are explored in this episode. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina ...
Jun 14, 2020•34 min
The legacy of Cleopatra, the last independent queen of Ptolemaic Egypt and arguably the most famous figure of the Hellenistic period, is not just limited to the works of William Shakespeare. Joining us today is Yentl Love, creator and writer of the website "The Queer Classicist", who talks about the reception of Cleopatra (Qalūbaṭrah) in the Islamic tradition. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Links Website/...
Jun 11, 2020•24 min
In this episode we are joined by historian and Cornell PhD student John McTavish to discuss the Wars of the Diadochi, where the Successors of Alexander the Great fought over a period of 40 years to carve apart his empire and found their own kingdoms, giving birth to the Hellenistic World as we know it. We discuss the problems of early Hellenistic sources and chronology, diagnose the causes of the empire's rapid disintegration, and look at the major players and indigenous peoples responses to the...
May 31, 2020•38 min
Arguably the most popular of the Hellenistic philosophies, the Stoic movement, with its emphasis on reason and self-control, attracted several famous figures such as the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Macedonian king Antigonus II Gonatas, and Seneca the Younger. Believing that wisdom is the highest good and can be achieved through philosophy, the Stoics encouraged the rejection of emotion and the embrace of rationality as a way to live in accordance with nature, which was granted an innate s...
May 18, 2020•38 min
A quick update on the release of show merchandise and on the upcoming Q&A (question and answer) session for episode 050. Hellenistic Age Podcast Show Merchandise: Etsy Page (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Bookmark (https://etsy.me/2WmQxHE) Episode 50 Q&A Contact (send in by or before episode 048): Email (hellenisticagepodcast@gmail.com) Contact Page (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/contact/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com...
May 10, 2020•4 min
Named after the eponymous philosopher Epicurus (341 – 270 B.C.), the Epicurean school was one of the more popular if controversial doctrines to emerge during the Hellenistic period. Arguing that “Death is nothing” and denying the existence of the afterlife, Epicurus and his followers sought to explain the world through empirical observation and the famous theory of atoms and the void, looking to live the best life by embracing pleasure and avoidance of pain. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with t...
May 03, 2020•35 min
By 255 B.C., the Carthaginians were in dire straits, having faced the prospect of a Roman invasion of North Africa. However, the talented leadership of Xanthippus of Lacedaemonia and Hamilcar Barca managed to stave off defeat for another 15 years, but the unrelenting nature of the Romans in spite of military and natural disasters would bring an end to the First Punic War. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Li...
Apr 19, 2020•32 min
Dr. Nikolaus Overtoom joins us to discuss the Parthians and the Arsacid dynasty, a group that emerged from the Central Asian Steppes to come into conflict with the Seleucids and Hellenistic kingdoms during early-middle 3rd century B.C. We talk about Dr. Overtoom's work regarding early Parthian history, the adaptability of a steppe society ruling over a heavily urbanized Greco-Persian one, and his upcoming book "Reign of Arrows: The Rise of the Parthian Empire in the Hellenistic Middle East", whi...
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 12 min
The First Punic War, lasting from 264 to 241 B.C., was the longest uninterrupted war in the ancient world, fought between the Roman Republic and the Phoenician city-state of Carthage. Exploring the origins of the conflict is essential, tracing the earliest instances of Romano-Punic relations to the intervention of Rome on the behalf of the Mamertines in 264. While the Romans may be able to hold their own in land engagements, will they be able to meet the awesome nautical power of Carthage and em...
Mar 29, 2020•45 min
Polybius of Megalopolis (~200 - 118 B.C.) was a Greek nobleman and high ranking member of the Achaean League, whose political career was prematurely ended when he was taken as a political hostage to Rome. Rather than disappearing into obscurity, Polybius took it upon himself to compose a "universal" history, so as to explain to his fellow Greeks how the Romans managed to conquer the inhabited world in only 50 years. In this episode, we are going to spend time discussing the life and works of Pol...
Mar 14, 2020•34 min
The city-state of Carthage , founded by Phoenician settlers in modern Tunisia during the 9th century B.C., was a premier power of the western Mediterranean. Stretching their reach from North Africa into Spain, Sicily and Sardinia, the Carthaginians managed to establish a formidable economic empire thanks to their nautical prowess, eventually leading to their clash for dominance with the up-and-coming Roman Republic. In this episode, we will trace Carthage from its foundation to the 1st Punic War...
Mar 01, 2020•41 min
Though initially a critical failure upon release, subsequent re-cuts of the 2004 "Alexander" film by director Oliver Stone has been more positively received, and it has been praised as one of the most historically accurate films to depict the ancient world thanks to the historical consultant Robin Lane Fox. In this loosely-structured episode, we are joined by Trevor Culley of the "History of Persia Podcast" to give our thoughts on the movie and analyze it from both a technical and (more importan...
Feb 17, 2020•1 hr 2 min
In Greek Sicily, the rule of law was dominated by the tyrant, and no tyrant was more infamous than Agathocles (361 - 289 B.C.). For over three decades he ruled the city of Syracuse as both a tyrant and king, bringing it into a golden age. At the same time, Agathocles enacted political massacres and acts of brutality to ensure his control, and he waged war against the Phoenician city-state of Carthage, taking the battle to the shores of Africa in a bloody campaign that served as a precursor to th...
Feb 13, 2020•58 min
By 272 B.C., the throne of Macedon now lay firmly in the hands of Antigonus II Gonatas. As a “philosoper-king”, the court of Pella would play host to a great amount of intellectual celebrities of the early Hellenistic period, and peace would return Macedon to a state of prosperity. The situation would be different in Greece, as stirrings of rebellion would break out, first during the Chremonidean War, and later due to the rise of Aratus of Sicyon and the Achaean League. Show Links Website/Episod...
Jan 26, 2020•36 min
Antigonus II Gonatas, son and grandson of Demetrius I Poliorcetes and Antigonus I Monopthalmus, was not of the same military mold as his forebears, traditionally preferring the company of philosophers over the camp. However, it would be left to him to achieve the family dream of taking the throne of Macedon, all the while dealing with the likes of Celtic barbarians, cannibalistic tyrants, and the warrior-king Pyrrhus of Epirus, as he sought to restore order to Macedon after nearly 25 years of an...
Jan 15, 2020•30 min
We are joined by Dr. Kyle Erickson in order to discuss his work on the Hellenistic period and the Seleucid Empire in particular. We discuss the strategies of the Seleucid rulers in coming to terms with a large and diverse collection of people, the variety (and scarcity) of our sources including coinage, and looking at the ways Seleucid kings and queens broadcast themselves compared to their contemporaries. Show Links Website/Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2019/12/30/...
Dec 30, 2019•32 min
Often neglected in favor of his more glamorous son Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon (r. 359 - 336 B.C.) was one of the most important figures of the ancient world. His accession to the throne of a crumbling backwater kingdom would prompt him to not only save Macedon from destruction, but through a series of military and economic reforms, brilliant diplomatic maneuvers, and talented generalship, he would make it into the dominant power of the Greek Peninsula and lay the foundations for A...
Dec 24, 2019•45 min
From Alexandria to Ai-Khanoum, the Hellenistic period would give rise to some of the most impressive cities in the world as the royal dynasties sought to make their mark on the landscape with ambitious building projects and military settlements. We'll trace the path of a Hellenistic city from foundation to megalopolis, what exactly makes them "Hellenistic", and look at a variety of topics including their impacts on disease and human health and their overall legacy in the lands they were built up...
Dec 10, 2019•40 min
The reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (282-246 B.C.) would be the height of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, and his capital of Alexandria would become one of the most prosperous economic and intellectual centers in the world. Its wealth, in conjunction with Ptolemy's meddling in foreign affairs would invite conflict both from the neighboring Seleucid Empire in the 1st and 2nd Syrian War, and from within via the likes of Magas of Cyrene, testing the mettle of what one scholar calls "the Mediterranean super...
Nov 25, 2019•35 min
With the death of Ptolemy I Soter, the Hellenistic World would be subject to a collection of his formidable children: Ptolemy II Philadelphos, Arsinoe II, Magas, and Ptolemy Ceraunus. We also spend considerable time discussing the incestuous royal sibling marriages that would become standard policy of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Special thanks to Nicholas C. for editing work The Histo...
Nov 10, 2019•34 min
Ptolemy I Soter, a former commander of Alexander the Great turned King and Pharaoh of Egypt, was perhaps the craftiest out of all of Alexander’s Successors. A talented commander and even more brilliant politician, Ptolemy would wield diplomacy and intrigue with a deft hand, founding what would become the longest lasting Hellenistic Kingdom in his nearly 40-year reign. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Links ...
Oct 28, 2019•57 min
Led by rulers such as Chandragupta and Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan Empire would be the largest empire ancient India had yet seen. Stretching across almost all of the Indian subcontinent into modern Afghanistan and Iran, the Maurya would develop close contacts with the Hellenistic world. We will look at the history and the inner workings of the empire, as recorded by the likes of Megasthenes and Chanakya, and see how this highly developed state managed to sustain itself from 320 to 185 B.C. Epi...
Oct 07, 2019•56 min
The elephant, introduced to the Greco-Macedonians by way of Alexander's conquests, would prove to be one of the most iconic elements of the Hellenistic period. From the use of war elephants in battles like Ipsus and Zama, the scientific insights of authors like Aristotle and Megasthenes, and symbols of power for the Hellenistic rulers, we will explore the rise and fall of one of the ancient world's most interesting subjects. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2019/09/16/...
Sep 16, 2019•34 min
With the death of Seleucus I, Antiochus I Soter assumes control of the gargantuan empire. A Celtic invasion, the First Syrian War and a passionate forbidden romance? Just another day in the reign of the last "King of the Universe". Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Links Website/Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/030-the-seleucid-empire-antiochus-i-the-last-king-of-the-uni...
Sep 02, 2019•33 min
The founder of the Seleucid Empire, Seleucus I Nicator, had an extraordinary career. From a minor player in Alexander's campaigns to king of the largest realm in the Hellenistic world, we cover the origins of the empire in its entirety, taking us from administration in Babylon to the wars against Chandragupta Maurya and the Diadochi. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Links: Website/Show Notes (https://hellen...
Aug 12, 2019•52 min
From the background of the royal household to the forefront of the political life of the kingdom, queens like Cleopatra Philopator, Arsinoe II and Cleopatra Thea mark a transition in the way women achieved power. From royal motherhood to semi-divine patronage, we take a look at the roles and responsibilities that a queen had to her subjects and more. Title Theme: Seikilos Epitapth with the Lyre of Apollo, played by Lina Palera (https://soundcloud.com/user-994392473) Show Links: Website/Show Note...
Jul 23, 2019•36 min
