Ancient Greece Declassified

Edith Hall, a world-renowned classicist and expert in ancient Athenian theater, joins to discuss how comedy played a pivotal role in Athenian democracy. She reveals how theatrical performances poked fun at prominent figures, including politicians like Pericles and societal norms with scatological humor. Hall shares insights on Aristophanes' works, emphasizing their critique of power and absurdities in Athenian life. The conversation highlights the innovative ways actors engaged audiences and reflects on the enduring legacy of these comedic masterpieces.

Papyrologist Raffaella Cribiore on education in the ancient Greco-Roman world---- Much of our modern educational system – from the names of our institutions to the books we consider the "classics" – derive from Greco-Roman antiquity. But what was it like to go to school in ancient times? This question is surprisingly difficult to answer because little direct evidence remains. Raffaella Cribiore, professor of Classics at New York University and award-winning author of "Gymnastics of the Mind: Greek Education in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt," is perhaps the world's foremost authority on education in the ancient Mediterranean. She joins us to talk about what the archaeological evidence from Egypt can tell us about schools, students, and teachers throughout the Greco-Roman world.

Archaeologist Patrick Hunt joins us to discuss Hannibal - the infamous Carthaginian general and one of the greatest military strategists of all time. Having witnessed Carthage's defeat by the Romans as a child, Hannibal dedicated his life to thwarting Rome's imperialist ambitions and restoring power to his native Carthage. In 218 BC he famously led an army with war-elephants across the Alps into Italy, where he campaigned undefeated for over 15 years against the Romans. He came tantalizingly close to toppling the power of Rome several times, but ultimately Rome was able to endure. Hannibal finally met his match in the Roman general Publius Scipio, who defeated him at the Battle of Zama, near Carthage, in 202 BC. Patrick Hunt has lead expeditions across over 25 Alpine passes in search of the route that Hannibal took. He directed the Stanford Alpine Archaeology project for 18 years and also works for National Geographic. His new book is: Hannibal.

Xenophon Moussas, physicist and member of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project, sheds light on the mysterious device that has been described as an "ancient computer," an "astronomical calculator," and a "mechanical cosmos." For more information on the mechanism – including images, reconstructions, and other resources – visit our website at greecepodcast.com/9 Also check out the YouTube channel "Clickspring" to see a clockmaker build a replica of the mechanism piece by piece.

Delve into Plato's profound questions on justice, beauty, love, and truth in a discussion with Rebecca Newberger Goldstein. Explore the enduring influence of Socrates and Plato on Western philosophy. Reflect on the historical context of existential questions and the validation-seeking tendencies of modern society. Uncover the philosophical evolution of Socrates and Plato through their dialogues and ideas.

Archaeologist and professor of Classics at Stanford University, Ian Morris, discusses the Persian expeditions against Greece in 490-479 BC. He explains the latest research on economies, technologies, and demographics of both civilizations and how they may have affected the outcome of the conflict. The episode touches on some main ideas from Morris' book 'War: What is it good for?' which counters the belief that warfare has made human societies progressively less violent. The podcast explores the concept of productive vs unproductive war, the differences between the Persian Empire and the ancient Greek world, the role of democracies and republics in going to war, and the geographical significance of Maelidus in history.

Rush Rehm, Stanford professor of classics and theater with experience directing ancient plays, guides a lively tour of Greek tragedy. He traces theater’s Athenian origins and its ties to emerging democracy. He explains masks, chorus, civic festivals, tragic structure, and why suffering and mythic settings matter. He also considers how plays shaped public judgment and communal life.

Explore democracy and demagogues in ancient Athens with historian Josiah Ober. Learn about the unique political developments, economic prosperity, and citizen participation in the Athenian system. Discover the challenges in controlling demagogues like Cleon and the fragility of democracy. Reflect on the lessons from ancient Greece for modern democratic societies.

Andromache Karanika, UC Irvine classics professor and Sappho scholar, guides a lively tour of Lesbos, Sappho’s social world, and the poet’s performance practices. Short takes cover Sappho’s persona, sexuality, musical innovations, fragment 31, why so much was lost, and the thrill of recent papyrus discoveries.

Andrew Ford of Princeton University joins us for a conversation about the Iliad. What makes it so...epic? And what kind of vision of the world does Homer provide his audiences?