Cost of Glory

A Spartan story about a conspiracy.  Whether it's a hostile corporate takeover, a plot to overthrow a president, or a school board coup, how do you make sure your conspiracy doesn't fail?  Learn this lesson or be sorry later.  Also featuring commentary from Aristotle's Politics.

How do you buy yourself some time when you can't afford to tell people the reason why?  A strategy used by a Spartan commander, Dercylidas.  Brought to you by the Greek philosopher-historian-warrior Xenophon.

How should we look at the lives of “problematic” great figures?  Join us as we join the ancient philosopher Plutarch, in sizing up two incredible men of action.  Who wins?    Shout out to sources and inspirations:  Ancient: Plutarch, life of SullaPlutarch, life of MariusPlutarch, life of SertoriusPlutarch, life of PompeyPlutarch, life of LucullusAppian, Civil WarsAppian, Mithridatic WarsCicero, pro Sexto RoscioSallust, Jugurtha Secondary:Arthur Keaveney (R.I.P.), Sulla, The Last RepublicanTheodor Mommsen, History of RomeGareth Sampson, Collapse of RomeCatherine Steel, The End of the Roman Republic; “Sulla the Orator”Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King 

Mass murderer or brilliant patriot?  Whatever your take on Sulla, it's worth analyzing the qualities that made him a joy to his friends, and a terror to his enemies.

How do you keep your team together in a civil conflict?  Can a country right itself by warring with itself?  What are the limits to which one man will go to punish his enemies?   In this episode, Sulla’s most famous, or rather infamous, acts as a leader.    —People—SullaPlutarchKing Pyrrhus CinnaMetellus PiusMarcus Licinius CrassusCarboGaius NorbanusLucius Cornelius Scipio (Asiaticus)SertoriusGnaeus Pompeius (Pompey)Gaius Marius (Jr.)DamasippusThe SamnitesTelesinusThe LucaniansLucius OfellaSextus Roscius (Amerinus)CiceroCatilineJulius CaesarThe GracchiMetellaMarcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul 78 BC) —Places—ApolloniaEpirusAdriatic SeaItalyDalmatiaCampaniaMt TifataCapuaCapitoline HillPicenumPraeneste (Palestrina)RomeColline GateAntemnae Field of Mars (Campus Martius)Temple of BellonaCircus FlaminiusAmeriaCumae

How does a great commander handle being undermined by his government back home?  How should we treat opponents we defeat?  And how do we negotiate the best deal when our backs are against the wall and our counterparts know it? In this episode: Sulla goes to Greece, to war against Rome’s arch rival Mithridates of Pontus.  Can he hold out against a vastly superior enemy army?  And can he weather the escalating crisis in Rome?  --People--Sulla, The HeroPlutarch, The NarratorMarius, The ScoundrelSulpicius, The HenchmanCinna, The PoliticianMithridates, The King Aristion, the TyrantArchelaus, The FoeFlaccus, The ReplacementFimbria, The BackstabberApellicon, The Book CollectorAndronicus, The Editor   --Places--RomeAthensPiraeusEpidaurusOlympiaDelphiBoeotiaMt ParnassusChaeroneaThebesLivadeiaOrchomenusLake KopaisAsia (Minor)The DardanellesDardanusEuboeaHalae --Divinities--MaBellonaMinervaVenusAphroditeApolloAsclepiusTrophonius

How do we get Fortune on our side?  What are the qualities necessary for daring unthinkable, unspeakable acts? When is it justifiable to massacre your enemies?   Sulla: A man of contradictions.  Enjoyer of dramas and hedonistic pleasures; most successful general of his generation, and one of the greatest of all time.  Patriot and champion of the ancient constitution; the Roman responsible for more Roman deaths than perhaps any other man in history.   Was Sulla one who broke the Republic? In this episode learn the arts of:-Wisdom-charm-gift giving-deception People:Gaius MariusJugurthaKing BocchusThe Cimbri and TeutonesQuintus Lutatius CatulusThe MetelliAemilius ScaurusMithridates of PontusThe ParthiansQuintus Pompeius RufusManius Aquillius (cameo)Publius Sulpicius Rufus  Places:RomeNumidiaGaulCiliciaCappadociaArmeniaEuphrates RiverPersiaParthiaNola

A principle for building exercises to control your anxiety or fear.  Favorinus, a philosopher from the time of Plutarch, offers some deft observations about Socrates.

Plutarch offers insight on relating to people above your station

Plato gives some insight in how to undermine your enemies.