Cost of Glory

The Greatest hero of all, Hercules - told by Seneca: Billionaire, Politician, Stoic Philosopher, and... Tragic Playwright.Highlights and power quotes from Seneca's "The Madness of Hercules":  in a new, brilliant, poetic translation by one of America's great poets, Dana GioiaGet a copy here: https://amzn.to/42TEUqJ(and support the show thereby)More about Dana Gioia and his work here:https://danagioia.com/

The Finale: Xenophon's Anabasis, book 7 of 7.  Highlights for the High Life. In this episode:-Sailing to Byzantium -How to Tame a Mob -Spartan Indecision-Drinking more wine from big horns with dangerous men -Raiding with Thracians -Fire attack at night -How to lose a good friend for good -What all gyms should aspire to be like -The importance of keeping your horse 

Highlights from Book 6 of Xenophon's AnabasisIn this episode:-Drinking parties, War Dances -Why every modern gentleman should sacrifice to the gods-How to gracefully decline a promotion -Hercules in Hell-On keeping the Fellowship together-Isolated sheep rustling incident threatens to start an international war -The value of a cool head 

Xenophon, Anabasis 5.  #1 Highlights for Life Success.  In this episode: -Fending off chaos in all its forms -Dealing with a power vacuum -The Source of the Golden Fleece -The BEST way to spend Sacred Funds (Hint: Real Estate) -Artemis and her 7 wonders Temple at Ephesus (cult statue here)-Sampling Local Delicacies (as always) -Pale white children as wide as they are tall-Dreams of city founding-The metaphysical basis of international law-Xenophon, hubris, and soldier punchingDon't forget to follow @costofglory on Twitter for updates and additional takeawaysAlso - Leave a review if you like this!

Top 4 takeaways from the life of Agesilaus.  Also, further reading:Plutarch, "On Sparta": https://amzn.to/3Ni3RaO-Cornelius Nepos, Lives of the Great Commanders (trans. Quintus Curtius): https://amzn.to/3AtrqpO-Xenophon, Hellenica: https://amzn.to/41YXmOx -Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire (historical novel): https://amzn.to/3V0gCsH-Paul Cartledge, Agesilaos and the Crisis of Sparta: https://amzn.to/3L3Wj9d-John Buckler, Theban Hegemony:https://amzn.to/3Lonc98-James Romm, The Sacred Band:https://amzn.to/3L1WoKA-Charles Hamilton, Agesilaus and the Failure of Spartan Hegemony: https://amzn.to/3oDn38PHow to Take Over the World Podcast: Philip of Macedon

Agesilaus, old King of Sparta, faces his final enemy, and greatest foe of all: the Theban commander Epaminondas.MapKey People: Agesilaus, king of Sparta Demaratus, king of Sparta Artaxerxes, King of Persia Epaminondas, Theban Statesman Pelopidas, Theban Statesman Antalcidas Xenophon, the Philosopher-warrior Gryllus, son of Xenophon Nectanebo, Pharaoh of Egypt Menelaus, king of Sparta Key Places: Sparta Thebes Leuctra Athens Corinth Arcadia Mantinea Tegea Elis Achaea Mt. Taygetos Eurotas River Messenia Kalamata Messene Mt. Ithome Pamisos River / Valley Megalopolis Olympia Egypt 

Sparta's greatest king, from his grandest moments, to his most challenging setbacks.  394-371 BC.In this episode:-Isolating your enemies-Working through intermediaries-The power of culture-Democracy vs. Oligarchy-personal integrity vs state integrityThanks to our Sponsor, Ancient Language Institute:  https://ancientlanguage.com/register-greek/Here's a nice map of ancient Greece Places: Thebes Corinth Athens (in Attica) Argos Sparta/Lacedaemon (in Laconia) AcrocorinthPeloponnese Cadmeia Olynthus Piraeus (Port city of Athens) ElisArcadiaMantinea Olympia Thespiae (in Boeotia) Plataea (in Boeotia) Leuctra (in Boeotia)   People:  Agesilaus Xenophon Antalcidas (of Sparta) Cynisca (of Sparta) Leontiades (of Thebes) Ismenias (of Thebes) Phoebidas - Spartan Commander Agesipolis - King of Sparta Pelopidas (of Thebes) Epaminondas (of Thebes) Sphodrias - Spartan Commander Cleonymus - son of Sphodrias Archidamus - son of Agesilaus Cleombrotus - King of Sparta 

The story of Sparta's greatest king. Sponsors: -The Excellent How To Take Over The World Podcast;  -Ancient Life Coach Rome Retreat In This Episode:-Inspiration from a rough childhood-The Spartan youth training system-The Spartan art of consensus building-The Iliadic vision of a Panhellenic King-Getting enemies to finance your war effort-War and Friendship among Greeks and PersiansPeople:AgesilausPompeyKing Archidamus (of Sparta)King Agis (of Sparta)King Leonidas (of Sparta)LysanderAlcibiadesPrince CyrusKing Artaxerxes (of Persia)Xenophon of AthensTissaphernesPlaces:Sparta Peloponnese (Peloponnesus)Athens Mt TaygetosMantineiaThebes (in Boeotia)Aulis (in Boeotia)BoeotiaAsia (Minor) Ephesus Lydia Sardis Phrygia CorinthArgosHaliartus (in Boeotia)HellespontThermopylae Orchomenus (in Boeotia)Cnidus (Knidos)Coroneia (in Boeotia)

Xenophon's Anabasis 4: The best parts of all, with analysis for action.In this Episode:-How to cross a guarded river-The mindset of people who push through massive stress and pain-Distinguishing yourself as middle management-The Sea, The Sea-Lawrence of Arabia, Xenophon admirer-Psychedelic Bees

Apply for the Rome Retreat: https://ancientlifecoach.com/retreatAnnouncing a new partnership!Alex gets interviewed by Ben Wilson of How to Take Over the WorldIn this episode: -What's in store-What Alex is listening to-Why Cost of Glory exists-Why biography is energizing-What the greats, ancient and modern, have in common-The true meaning of Zeal