Ancient Heroes

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Solving the most baffling mysteries of the ancient heroes, both real and mythical.

Patrick Garvey


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 46m AVG DURATION
    • 80 EPISODES

    4.7 from 51 ratings Listeners of Ancient Heroes that love the show mention: alexander, patrick, clear, history, analysis, recommended, unique, well done, engaging, interesting, great, listening, good, love.


    Ivy Insights

    The Ancient Heroes podcast is a truly remarkable deep dive into ancient history that goes beyond the surface-level information provided by many other podcasts. Hosted by Patrick Garvey, this podcast stands out for its unique approach to exploring historical subjects. Garvey brings in authors and experts who have conducted extensive research on their respective topics, resulting in a wealth of knowledge that goes beyond simple facts. The production quality of the podcast is top-notch, with well-spoken narration and a completely professional feel.

    One of the best aspects of The Ancient Heroes podcast is the amount of information it provides about its subject matter. Each episode is thoroughly researched and supported by highly knowledgeable guests. This attention to detail ensures that listeners are getting accurate and well-rounded perspectives on ancient history. It's clear that Garvey goes out of his way to ensure he has all the facts before presenting them to his audience, which adds credibility to the podcast.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is how much there is to learn from it. The episodes cover various aspects of ancient history, providing fresh insights from different experts in the field. As a result, listeners can expect to gain a deeper understanding of their favorite subjects and discover new information they may not have known before tuning in. The excitement in learning something new shines through in each episode.

    However, no podcast is without its flaws, and The Ancient Heroes has some minor downsides worth mentioning. Occasionally, the depth of research and complexity of certain topics discussed in the episodes might be overwhelming for casual listeners or those who are not well-versed in ancient history. While it's admirable that Garvey strives for accuracy and thoroughness, some may find certain episodes challenging to follow.

    In conclusion, The Ancient Heroes podcast is an excellent choice for anyone interested in delving into ancient history on a deeper level. Patrick Garvey's well-spoken narration and commitment to factual accuracy make for an enjoyable listening experience. With each episode offering thorough research, supported by expert opinions and comprehensive analysis of ancient sources, this podcast is a must-listen for history enthusiasts. The unique approach taken by Garvey adds a fresh perspective to the subject matter and keeps listeners engaged throughout. Despite some potential complexities, The Ancient Heroes is an engaging and well-produced podcast that delivers fascinating content.



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    Latest episodes from Ancient Heroes

    #69 - Plato, Tyranny, and the Origins of Western Thought (w/ James Romm)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 43:25


    Which historical events and figures inspired Plato's greatest works? Historian James Romm visits to reveal the lesser-known aspects of the great philosopher's life that had an outsized impact on his immortal ideas.

    #68 - Alexander the Great: Monsoons & Mutinies in Mysterious Lands (w/ Rachel Kousser)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 45:00


    Exploring the lesser known later years of Alexander's life and campaigns with historian Rachel Kousser.

    #67 - Centaurs, Minotaurs and Mythological Hybrids (w/ Jeremy McInerney)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 49:09


    We've all heard of the various half-man, half-animal inventions of Greek mythology. Classics professor Jeremy McInerney joins to discuss the deeper, often overlooked meaning behind the stories of these fantastical creatures.

    #66 - Early Years of Alexander the Great and Hephaestion (w/ Christopher Cosmos)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 44:44


    Author Christopher Cosmos joins to talk about his new novel about the childhood of Alexander III of Macedon and his closest companion Hephaestion, as well as related topics.

    #65 - The Heir of Achilles, Chapter 3 (Author Reading)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 17:50


    Listen to me read the third chapter of my new novel The Heir of Achilles, now available on Amazon.

    #64 - The Heir of Achilles, Chapter 2 (Author Reading)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 15:54


    My reading of the second chapter of The Heir of Achilles, now available on Amazon.

    #63 - The Heir of Achilles, Chapter 1 (Author Reading)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 15:15


    Listen to me read the first chapter of The Heir of Achilles, now available on Amazon.

    #62 - One Thousand Years of Byzantium (w/ Anthony Kaldellis)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 52:52


    The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was a force from the 5th century to the 15th century AD. Historian Anthony Kaldellis comes on to talk all things Byzantium.

    #61 - Heroines of the Trojan War (w/ A.D. Rhine)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 40:20


    Historical fiction authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson (known together as A.D. Rhine) come on the show to talk about their epic retelling of the Trojan War, the overlooked storylines and characters of the Iliad, Bronze Age history, and much more.

    #60 - The Heir of Achilles (my new thriller novel)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 16:44


    I talk about my upcoming book (now available for preorder on Kickstarter).

    #59 - The World's First Empire (w/ Eckart Frahm)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 55:34


    Historian Eckart Frahm joins to discuss the great Assyrian Empire, Babylon, the Epic of Gilgamesh, cuneiform, and more.

    #57 - The Spear of Destiny, mysterious relics, and storytelling (w/ J.F. Penn)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 49:26


    Bestselling thriller author J.F. Penn joins to talk about the mysterious lance that was allegedly used against Jesus during the crucifixion and its role in her latest novel.

    #57 - Traveling through the Medieval World (w/ Anthony Bale)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 43:42


    English medievalist Anthony Bale joins to talk about the Middle Ages, from the top medieval travel destinations to the legends of King Arthur.

    #56 - Herod the Great and the Kingdom of Judea (w/ Martin Goodman)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 51:49


    Most know of King Herod from the Bible. But who was he really and what was his kingdom of Judea like in the years leading up to the birth of Jesus? Historian Martin Goodman comes on to help answer these questions and more.

    #55 - Collapse of Civilizations and the Aftermath (w/ Eric Cline)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 53:39


    What was the Late Bronze Age Collapse? What happened to the grand civilizations of the time, including Egypt and Greece? Archaeologist and best selling author Eric Cline joins to discuss.

    #54 - History's Holiest City (w/ Jodi Magness)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 58:51


    Classical and Biblical archaeologist Jodi Magness joins to talk about the history of Jerusalem, a sacred city in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We talk about the city's origins, its development into a major religious site, the lost Ark of the Covenant, and much more.

    #53 - The Dangerous Obsession with Human Origins (w/ Stefanos Geroulanos)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 67:06


    What is meant by human "prehistory" and how do we understand the story of our species? Historian Stefanos Geroulanos makes the case that modern ideas about human prehistory often say more about us than they do about our ancestors from the distant past.

    #52 - Reaction to Netflix's "Alexander: The Making of a God"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 24:07


    My thoughts on the controversial new miniseries about the campaign of Alexander the Great.

    #51 - Songs of Achilles and the Trojan War (w/ Joe Goodkin)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 55:08


    Modern-day traveling bard Joe Goodkin joins to talk about Homer, Achilles, and the legendary war at the heart of Greek mythology. He also performs a few of his original songs inspired by the Iliad.

    #50 - Ranking the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 22:30


    I rank these seven legendary structures from least impressive to most impressive.

    #49 - Hidden Tombs and Buried Treasure (w/ Douglas Preston)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 44:13


    Journalist and bestselling author Douglas Preston joins to discuss his first-hand investigations into some of archaeology's greatest mysteries.

    #48 - Seven Wonders: Lighthouse of Alexandria (w/ Michael Denis Higgins)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2023 53:57


    What was the Lighthouse of Alexandria actually like? Why is it included in the list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? We talk to scientist and scholar Michael Denis Higgins about the famous lighthouse and how it evolved over the centuries.

    #47 - Fossils, Amazons, and Folklore (w/ Adrienne Mayor)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 40:42


    How did fossils inspire ancient Greek and Roman myth? Were the Amazons real? Historian and classical folklorist Adrienne Mayor joins me to answer these questions and many more.

    #46 - Should museums return their foreign artifacts?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 20:54


    The Elgin Marbles at the British Museum have long been a lightning rod for debate about whether museums are obligated to return artifacts that were taken from other parts of the world. I talk about the factors I would consider when trying to decide what the right answer is.

    #45 - Pandemic in the Roman Empire (w/ Colin Elliott)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 55:49


    The Antonine Plague was a mysterious pandemic that hit the Roman Empire at the peak of its power. Historian Colin Elliott and I discuss what this historical pandemic was like, how the Romans reacted, parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more.

    #44 - The Inca Empire, Machu Picchu, & Mummies (w/ Christopher Heaney)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 53:15


    Inca expert Christopher Heaney joins the show to talk about this fascinating historic civilization of Peru and the Andes Mountains. We also talk about the controversies and challenges of Inca and other artifacts being owned by foreign museums.

    #43 - The Roman and Persian Empires (w/ Adrian Goldsworthy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 65:15


    We dive into the 700-year rivalry between the Roman and Persian Empires and how it shaped two superpowers of the ancient world.

    Plato: The man behind Socrates, Atlantis, and much more (w/ Angie Hobbs)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023 71:39


    Widely regarded as one of history's greatest philosophers, Plato is our leading source on the legend of Atlantis and the life and death of Socrates. Who was Plato and what can we learn from him? We talk to one of the world's top experts.

    Atlantis 101

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2023 33:40


    A primer on the famous story of Atlantis and the debate it has inspired. What do we actually know? What do the experts think?

    Mummies & Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (w/ Campbell Price)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 49:58


    Egyptologist Dr. Campbell Price comes on the show to talk about the real purpose of mummification, common misconceptions about ancient Egypt, and much more.

    Update on the Graham Hancock Controversy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 42:52


    The Society for American Archaeology sent an open letter to Netflix with a list of complaints and requests in reaction to its hit show "Ancient Apocalypse". I give my analysis and reaction.

    We need to talk about "Ancient Apocalypse" on Netflix

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 32:20


    I give my initial reaction to the popular new Netflix show Ancient Apocalypse and Graham Hancock's work more generally.

    The World's First Superpower (w/ Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 57:20


    The Persian Empire was one of the ancient world's greatest powers. Historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones joins me to discuss the rise, reign, and fall of this massive (and massively misunderstood) empire.

    Ukraine & the Heroes of Snake Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 27:23


    Millions around the world heard the Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island tell a Russian warship to "go fuck yourself". In this episode, I talk about the island's surprising connection to ancient mythology and reflect on the nature of warfare.

    Achilles, the Greatest Greek Warrior (w/ Marta González González)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 44:42


    Achilles is one of the most revered and misunderstood heroes in Greek myth. Historian Marta González González joins us to discuss his controversial relationship with Patroclus, the true motivations behind his choice to sacrifice his life, and much more.

    Exercise & the Ancients (w/ Bill Hayes)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2022 42:04


    How is the modern world of exercise connected to antiquity? Writer and researcher Bill Hayes comes on to talk about how physical training has changed and evolved through human history.

    Ancient Pandemics (w/ Lee Mordechai)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 56:01


    What were pandemics like in ancient times? How do they compare to what the world has been going through with COVID-19? Historian and expert in ancient disasters Lee Mordechai joins us.

    The End of Roman Empire (w/ Michele Salzman)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 53:41


    Historian Michele Salzman joins me to discuss the events and people that contributed to the demise of the once-mighty Roman Empire.

    Early Followers of Jesus (w/ Erin Vearncombe)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 51:26


    The first few centuries after the death of Jesus make up possibly the most mysterious and crucial era in the history of Christianity. Religion scholar Erin Vearncombe joins us to talk about who these early followers of Jesus were and how their behavior was much different than conventional wisdom may have us believe.

    Greek Civilization through the Ages (w/ Roderick Beaton)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 59:37


    Historian Roderick Beaton joins us to discuss the evolution of the Greek world during ancient times and its lasting legacy.

    The Persian Empire vs. Greece (w/ John Hale)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 67:44


    Archaeologist and historian John Hale joins us to talk about the pivotal conflicts between the Persian Empire and the city-states of ancient Greece in the 5th century BCE, as well as other related subjects.

    Decoding the Rosetta Stone (w/ Edward Dolnick)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 47:55


    We've all heard of the Rosetta Stone, but few know the real story of how it was discovered and decoded. Author Edward Dolnick joins us to tell us about the people who finally cracked the code and what it meant for understanding ancient Egyptian civilization.

    The Mysterious Final Days of Alexander the Great (w/ David Grant)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 57:32


    How did Alexander the Great die and what was his actual succession plan? Author and researcher David Grant joins us to discuss his investigation into what Alexander wanted for his massive empire after his death, as well as other related subjects.

    Brutal Arena Spectacles of Ancient Rome (w/ Chris Epplett)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 51:22


    What were the gladiator games of Ancient Rome really like? How did they utilize deadly animals? Did women compete as gladiators? Ancient historian and leading gladiator expert Chris Epplett joins us to answer these questions and many more.

    Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and Today (w/ Kara Cooney)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 61:52


    Were there any limits on the power of the Pharaohs? Why were there more female rulers in Egypt than in other ancient civilizations? Egyptologist Kara Cooney comes on to discuss how political power was wielded in Ancient Egypt and how those principles are still relevant today.

    Odysseus, Homeric Myth, and the Age of Heroes (w/ Jonathan Burgess)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2021 55:54


    What did the ancient Greeks believe about the journey of Odysseus? Should we look for historical places and events behind Greek mythology? Jonathan Burgess, Professor of Classics at the University of Toronto, helps us answer these questions and much more.

    The Earliest Pharaohs & their Legacy (w/ Aidan Dodson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 49:54


    What do we know about the first Egyptian rulers? Leading Egyptologist Aidan Dodson comes on the show to discuss the beginnings of ancient Egyptian civilization and much more.

    Monsters, Ghosts, & Oracles: Beliefs in the Ancient World (w/ Garrett Ryan)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2021 36:34


    Did the ancient Greeks and Romans believe in supernatural phenomena? Did they believe mythological monsters and gods really existed? Author and academic Garett Ryan comes on the show to help answer these questions and many more.

    Ancient Egypt, Pyramids, & Rewriting History (w/ Jason Colavito)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 38:16


    Why is ancient Egyptian civilization, including the Great Pyramids, the subject of so many conspiracy theories? Author Jason Colavito joins me to discuss how and why the history of Egypt has been rewritten and manipulated over the centuries.

    Could an Ancient Fighter Defeat Jon Jones?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 27:16


    Would a fighter from the ancient Mediterranean world stand a chance against today's greatest champion in a no holds barred contest? I dive into the history of mixed martial arts in ancient Greece and examine the key factors to consider in this timeless debate.

    Where is the Lost Ark of the Covenant?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2021 48:31


    The Ark of the Covenant, which allegedly held the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments, was among the holiest (and most feared) objects of ancient history. We look at the story of the Ark and what may have happened to it on the week of the 40th anniversary of the release of the iconic Indiana Jones film "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

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