Instant Classics

Diving into the infamous tale of Nero, the hosts unpack the truth behind the phrase 'fiddling while Rome burns.' They clarify that the fiddle didn't even exist then and shed light on Nero's actions during the devastating fire, including relief efforts and urban reforms. The episode questions the enduring scapegoating of individuals, like Nero and the Christians, amidst chaos. With fascinating historical context, they reveal how this story transformed into a powerful political metaphor, resonating through centuries and reflecting modern leadership crises.

Can it really have taken seven episodes of Instant Classics to get to everyone’s favourite Roman meme: the toga party? Mary and Charlotte grasp the thistle - or rather the sinus (fold at the front of a toga) - and ask what exactly is a toga? Who wore them and when? And how do you make one?  In this fact-filled episode, we discover that - despite the antics of students around the world today - a toga wasn’t a bed-sheet turned into a sort of cheap tunic for getting blind drunk in, but an elaborate, woollen garment more like a cloak or robe that signified power. We find out how many kilometres of woollen thread were necessary to make a toga, where the word ‘candidate’ (as in political candidate) comes from and which Roman emperor wore platform shoes to make himself look taller.  As they go deeper into the folds of the toga, Mary and Charlotte reveal how wearing one was about much more than looking smart but got to the very essence of what it meant to be Roman.  And… in case you’re wondering… one of our hosts has been to a toga party. But can you guess whether it’s Mary or Charlotte?  @instaclassicpod for Insta, TikTok and YouTube @insta_classics for X email: instantclassicspod@gmail.com Mary and Charlotte recommend some further reading Roman dress has been a bit of a boom area of study recently. Mary Harlow explains many of the practical aspects (including a fun video showing how to actually put one on) here: https://romanleicester.com/2020/06/30/dress-to-impress/ There is good, accessible stuff on the rights and wrongs of toga-wearing here: https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/unromantest/chapter/the-roman-man-and-the-toga/ More specialised:  Camilla Ebert, Sidsel Frisch, Mary Harlow, Eva Andersson Strand and Lena Bjerregaard (eds), Traditional Textile Craft: An Intangible Cultural Heritage? (Centre for Textile Research, University of Copenhagen, 2016) Judith Lynn Sebasta and Larissa Bonfante (eds), The World of Roman Costume (Wisconsin UP, pb, 1994)  Jonathan Edmondson and Alison Keith (eds), Roman Dress and the Fabrics of Roman Culture (University of Toronto Press, 2008)  If you want to follow up some ancient writers:  the phrase ‘the race that wears the toga’ is from Virgil, Aeneid 1, 282;  Augustus’ rules on wearing togas in the forum are mentioned at Suetonius, Augustus 40; Augustus keeping a handy toga at home at Suetonius, Augustus 73; Claudius’ rules in the court case at Suetonius, Claudius 15. There is a full translation of Tertullian’s (baffling) On the Pallium online here: https://www.tertullian.org/articles/hunink_de_pallio.htm Instant Classics handmade by Vespucci Producer: Jonty Claypole  Executive Producer: Natalia Rodriguez Ford Video Editor: Jak Ford Theme music: Casey Gibson   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover the mythical figure of Cassandra, whose prophetic gifts were both a blessing and a curse. Explore how her warnings about the Trojan Horse highlight the tragedy of being unheard. From ancient texts to modern celebrity culture, her story reveals the complexities of communication and belief. Inspired by figures like Greta Thunberg, Cassandra transcends time, urging us to reflect on the nature of truth and understanding. The discussion delves into her tragic fate and the broader implications of her legacy in contemporary society.

Explore the captivating origins of Rome, from the legendary tale of Romulus and Remus to the intriguing roles of Aeneas and Evander. Delve into how myths shaped Roman self-identity and revealed their fascination with origins, weaving stories that mirrored their political strife. The dual narratives of Romulus's demise reflect deeper civil tensions, while archaeological findings provide a tangible, though often incomplete, glimpse into ancient history. Discover how Rome's immigrant culture embraced outsiders, cultivating a unique identity of inclusion.

Dive into the fascinating world of the Parthenon, a stunning icon of Ancient Greece. Explore its rapid construction and the diverse workforce behind it. Uncover the true purpose of temples as homes for gods, and discover the significance of rituals held in honor of Athena. Marvel at the impressive sculptures, richly painted façades, and the golden statue of Athena inside. Learn about the temple's continuous transformation across history and get travel tips for modern visitors to this ancient wonder.

Mary and Charlotte delve into the ancient roots of free speech, exploring Athenian concepts of isegoria and parrhesia. They reveal how Athenian comedy allowed biting satire while ordinary speakers faced limitations. The discussion touches on the precarious nature of democracy, highlighting the tension between truth and persuasion. The lives of Socrates and Cicero serve as poignant case studies, showcasing the dangers of speaking out in both Athens and Rome. A fascinating look at how ancient debates resonate with today’s free speech controversies.

Dive into the intriguing world of The Odyssey's opening lines, where themes of loss and divine influence set the stage for an epic journey. Explore the role of the muse in inspiring complex narratives and the moral ambiguities of Odysseus's leadership. The discussion centers around the enigmatic term 'polytropos,' revealing the multifaceted nature of its protagonist. With humor, the hosts invite you to ponder who in your life embodies this complexity. Get ready for a captivating exploration of storytelling and character in ancient poetry.

In Ancient Greece, the Iliad was the poem above all other poems - an epic full of war and bloodshed that tells of the great heroes who fought and died for Troy.  But not so long after the supposed composition of the Iliad, a woman on the Mediterranean island of Lesbos, close to the coast of modern-day Turkey, introduced a new and enduring note to poetry: desire.  Her name was Sappho. She was revered through the Ancient World, but today only one work survives in its entirety: a poem usually known as the Hymn to Aphrodite. The rest is fragments - only about 600 lines of the 10,000 lines the Romans were still reading seven centuries after her death.  Sappho lived in the 7th Century BCE, long before the rise of Athens as the dominant city-state in Ancient Greece. It was before democracy, before the Parthenon and, arguably, before the extreme subjugation of women common in the later “classical” period. Women weren’t exactly liberated in seventh century Lesbos, but it looks like they were a lot freer than in fifth-century Athens.  From her poetry, we can tell she was an aristocrat, a singer, a lover, and a mother.  Sappho, famously, loved women. And in this episode, Charlotte and Mary explain why they also love Sappho. Not only is she the great poet of desire, but she also writes about nature, motherhood, middle-age, bad knees, and why war - despite what her brothers might say - is boring.  Charlotte and Mary recreate what they can of Sappho’s life and art. And they ask the big question: why is it that so little of her work survives compared to many male writers of the ancient world? Are medieval monks to blame? Was she, as Otis Redding sang, just too hot to handle?  @instaclassicpod for Insta, TikTok and YouTube @insta_classics for X email: instantclassicspod@gmail.com To join the Instant Classics Book Club and share our trip into Homer’s Odyssey, go to  https://instantclassics.supportingcast.fm/ New episodes will be published every other Tuesday, and available exclusively for members beginning 30th September. Sign up now with the promo code EARLYBIRD25 to receive a 25% discount on membership.  Mary and Charlotte’s recommended reads: There are hundreds of translations and adaptations of Sappho. Two of Mary and Charlotte’s recent favourites are: Anne Carson: If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho and Stanley Lombardo: Sappho, Poems and Fragments In her book, Eros, the Bittersweet, Carson also asks what makes Sappho the great poet of desire.  The world behind the poetry is the subject of Rosalind Thomas’s “Sappho’s Lesbos”, in The Cambridge Companion to Sappho. This is a fairly specialist collection of essays, but takes the story of Sappho’s influence right up to the present, from the USA to India, China and Latin America. For the controversies around the new discoveries of Sappho’s poetry made a decade ago, start with Roberta Mazza, Stolen Fragments (extraordinary detective work on the world of the illegal  trade in ancient papyri). Three articles by Charlotte also discuss that “new” Sappho and lift the lid on the problems: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/29/sappho-ancient-greek-poet-unknown-works-discovered  https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/jan/09/a-scandal-in-oxford-the-curious-case-of-the-stolen-gospel  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/mar/25/doubts-cast-over-provenance-of-unearthed-sappho-poems Instant Classics handmade by Vespucci Producer: Jonty Claypole  Executive Producer: Jo Meek  Senior Producer: Natalia Rodriguez Ford Video Editor: Jak Ford Theme music: Casey Gibson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think ‘Roman sport’ and images of Kirk Douglas, Russell Crowe, Paul Mescal and other Hollywood gladiators may come to mind. But while the Romans were partial to blood-sports, chariot-racing was the really big thing.  The archaeological remains of chariot-racing tracks have been found all over the Roman Empire, but none suggest a scale or grandeur close to the Circus Maximus in Rome. At full capacity, we think it could take a quarter of a million people - that’s twice the largest football stadium today.  In this episode, Mary and Charlotte recreate what a day at the races was actually like for the Romans. They describe how chariot-racing worked as a sport, what the experience may have been like for the spectators (courtesy of the poet Ovid), although remain stumped by the not insignificant issue of how a quarter of a million people went to the loo when archeological labour has - so far - only discovered one, solitary toilet.  They also describe how the chariot-racing industry worked, and the phenomenal wealth that prize charioteers acquired (Cristiano Ronaldo looks underpaid in comparison).  Ultimately, it is impossible to draw comparisons with sporting events today because chariot-racing at the Circus Maximus was far more than entertainment. It played a hugely important role in the political life of the empire as one of the few places where the people in large numbers could encounter the emperor . As a consequence, it was not only a site for chariot-racing but for mass public protest. How the emperor behaved, before the gaze of the city, was critical to his popularity. While no emperor was ever unseated at the Circus Maximus, it gave his enemies a chance to see whether the people would mind if something unpleasant happened to him later.  @instaclassicpod for Insta, TikTok and YouTube @insta_classics for X email: instantclassicspod@gmail.com To join the Instant Classics Book Club and share our trip into Homer’s Odyssey, go to  https://instantclassics.supportingcast.fm/ New episodes will be published every other Tuesday, and available exclusively for members beginning 30th September. Sign up now with the promo code EARLYBIRD25 to receive a 25% discount on membership.  Mary and Charlotte’s recommended reads: For good introductions to the “sport”, try: F. Meijer, Chariot Racing in the Roman Empire (Johns Hopkins, 2010) J. Toner, The Day Commodus Killed a Rhino: understanding the Roman Games (Johns Hopkins pb, 2015) The career of the super successful Diocles is the theme of an online article by Peter Struck: https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/greatest-all-time Mary discusses the problems that emperors had at the races  in her book Emperor of Rome (Profile pb, 2024) Instant Classics handmade by Vespucci Producer: Jonty Claypole  Executive Producer: Jo Meek  Senior Producer: Natalia Rodriguez Ford Video Editor: Jak Ford Theme music: Casey Gibson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The journey of Odysseus unfolds, revealing themes of adventure, identity, and morality. The podcast dives into its rich characters and complex narrative, including father-son dynamics. A film adaptation by Christopher Nolan adds modern relevance, while discussions on diverse translations showcase the poem's accessibility. Listeners discover how the oral tradition shapes its legacy, making this ancient tale resonate today. Personal connections to the story highlight the timeless allure of Odysseus's quest for home, making it an epic for the ages.