The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss the notion of the barbaroi in Greek culture; the origins and philosophical theories for slavery; and the legal status and type of roles (and importance) that slaves and metics (foreign residents) had in the Athenian economy Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2018/02/069-slaves-and-foreigners.html

In this episode, we discuss the various ways in which the ancient Greeks traveled, whether it was via land or sea; the physical layout of the port of Piraeus and the commercial activity that took place there; the mining district of Thorikos and how silver was mined for coinage and how coins were struck; farming techniques and how produce/goods were sold in the agora; the various types of manufacturing workshops at Athens and how they operated; and the disdain that the elites held for the merchant and manufacturing classes Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2018/01/068-travel-trade-and-work.html

‪In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Hephaistos (the god of fire, metalworking, and blacksmiths) and Hermes (the messenger god of trade, deceit, travelers, and borders) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2018/01/067-hephaistos-and-hermes.html   Intro by Abel Kay of The Tale of Rome Podcast Website: http://thetaleofrome.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/west4east

In this episode, we discuss the construction, history, and significance of the Athenian Agora (the civic, religious, legal, and commercial nerve center for Athenian democracy), including a walking tour of what a visitor then and now would see; and the rest of the Periklean building program (the Odeon in Athens, the Telesterion at Eleusis, and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/12/066-athenian-agora.html  

In this episode, we discuss the construction, the history, and the significance of the main buildings on the Athenian Acropolis (the Parthenon, The Propylaia, The Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and a few others); together, these buildings mark the high point of the glorification of Athens, and the Acropolis thus became a confident assertion of Athens’ cultural leadership of Greece, a bold endorsement of her self-image, and a dazzling instrument of political propaganda, with the result that many people later would consider the Athenian Acropolis to be the symbol of the legacy and the glories of Classical Greece Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/12/065-athenian-acropolis.html  

In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, craftsmanship, and strategic warfare who served as a kind of symbol for the city of Athens and civilization in general Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/12/064-protectress-of-athens.html

In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Poseidon, the violent and unpredictable god who ruled over the sea Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/063-lord-of-sea.html

In this episode, we discuss the Attic calendar year with a focus on the agricultural festivals and ceremonies; starting in the fall at the time of sowing we work our way around the year, month-by-month, until it is time to sow once again; particular attention is given to the Thesmophoria and the Eleusinian Mysteries but a dozen or so other festivals are described, including the Pyanepsia, the Oschophoria, the Chalkeia, the Proerosia, the Apaturia, the Haloa, the Thargelia, the Skira, the Kronia, the Herakleia, and the Boedromia (excluded are the Rural Dionysia, the Lenaia, the City Dionysia, and the Anthesteria) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/062-agricultural-festivals.html   Intro by Travis Dow of Podcastnik Website: http://www.podcastnik.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/podcastnik

In this episode, we discuss the primordial goddess Gaia (the personification of Mother Earth) and her relationship with Demeter, the goddess of agriculture; the myths and iconography of Demeter and her daughter Persephone / Kore (including the daughter's abduction by Hades); Persephone's dual role as Queen of the Underworld and an agriculture goddess, like her mother; and the various ways in which these two were worshipped together, particularly in the Peloponnese and Magna Graecia (but not including their Attic cults)  Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/061-two-goddesses.html   Intro by Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy Podcast Website: https://www.atozhistorypage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfThePapacyPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/atozhistory

In this episode, we discuss the mysterious, shadowy figure of Hades (Lord of the Underworld); the Greek perception of the afterlife and those who dwell in it; necromancy (the summoning of the dead to answer questions); where and how one can make a katabasis (decent) into the Underworld; and Homer's description of the abode of Hades in Book Eleven of the Odyssey and then comparing and contrasting that with the description found in Virgil's Aeneid Book Six, all while taking a tour of the Underworld, its major features, and its inhabitants Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/060-underworld.html   Intro by Chad Davies of The Scientific Odyssey Podcast Website: http://thescientificodyssey.typepad.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thescientificodyssey Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaddavies