The Plutarch Podcast
Tom Cox from grammaticus.co explores Plutarch’s Parallel Lives to introduce you to antiquity, encourage you in your education, or refresh your perspective on people and politics by stepping outside the news cycle. Biography invigorates the study of history by bringing it to life. Plutarch was the first master of this form, examining in a person the relationship between fortune, virtue, and excellence. Whether you just want to study antiquity from your armchair, sit at the feet of the greatest teachers of the West, or expand your own classical education, Plutarch’s Parallel Lives and the podcast are here to serve. Plutarch wrote almost 50 lives exploring the greatest leaders of the Greek and Roman world before Christ. His lives have been foundational to education for centuries, but they are often wrapped in the obscurity of older translations or bog the reader down with specific political and social terms from Athens or Rome. Let Tom translate the jargon and enliven the journey by outlining and explaining each essay encouraging you to dive in and learn from the teacher himself, or guide your students through his essays. Whether you learn or teach in a classroom or at home, join Plutarch—and Tom—in examining what it means to live well, by considering those who have lived before us.
Latest episodes
Jul 27, 2020 • 23min
Aristides
Send us a textAristides acts as a great introduction to the wars that made Athens great, the defensive wars against the Persian invaders, occurring between 490 and 479 BC. Plutarch admired Aristides immensely, so he serves as a great introduction to the standards Plutarch holds up for the other leaders he studies.The outline of his life pretty much follows the important events of the Persian Wars:Marathon – 490 BCPolitical Heighteponymous archonostracism (etymology!)Salamis – 480 BCPlataea Disaster – 479 BCAftermathFrom defense to offenseRise of the Delian LeagueI also link the important people to their places:Miltiades is general at MarathonThemistocles is the mastermind behind SalamisPausanias leads at PlataeaTranslationThe most modern translation available, while still being in the public domain.Support the show
Jul 27, 2020 • 37min
Solon
Send us a textSolon was not only the wisest man to be found in Athens, but the most profound political genius of antiquity; and the easy, bloodless, and pacific revolution by which he accomplished the deliverance of his country was the first step in a career which our age glories in pursuing, and instituted a power which has done more than anything, except revealed religion, for the regeneration of society .... By making every citizen the guardian of his own interest Solon admitted the element of Democracy into the State.—Lord Acton, "The History of Freedom in Antiquity" (1877)Rise to powerPolitical background in AthensDivisionsRich v. PoorHill v. Shore v. PlainLegislation 1, 2, 3!1) repeal Draconian laws2) Set up the Census Classes3) Areopagus, Council of 400, AssemblyAporias – the weird and bewilderingTravelEgyptCreteAsiaReturnTyrannyImportant PeopleThalesPisistratusCylon and Draco – political back-story for AthensImportant PlacesSalamisMegara DelphiEgypt (Canopus)AtlantisCreteLydiaSupport the show
