A relaxed journey through Roman history and mythology, hopefully with plenty of tangents, sidebars and interesting distractions along the way. Our goal- even if it ends up being unrealised- is to journey from the Theogony all the way to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and beyond. This show is just for fun, and we hope you have fun with it too!
It's finally the end of the Iliad! But before we wrap up, we still have time for a few questions. For instance, are all Achilles' funeral games either problematic or rigged? Will Cassie pointing out errors in the script lead to an increasingly irate Vince? And will the Jingle-Jangler make a cameo? All that to come on the final part of the Iliad!Sources for this episode:Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.Author unknown, Theoi (date unknown), Sperkheios (online) (Accessed 03/04/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Spercheios (online) (Accessed 03/04/2025).
It's been a long time in the making, but we finally get the fight between Achilles and Hector. Tune in for Priam and Hecabe trying to make their son see reason, a surprise cameo from Eddie Redmayne and how not to be respectful to your enemy's corpse...Sources for this episode:Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.
A shorter episode today discussing book XXI of the Iliad! Achilles goes round murdering people like there's no tomorrow, and one of the rivers he keeps flinging people into objects to this. Not only that, but we get more partisanship from the gods and an honouring of a grisly promise.Sources for this episode:Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Scamander (online) (Accessed 03/04/2025).As also stated in the episode audio, there will be no episode for the next two weeks as Autocrat is on a bit of an Easter break.
Patroclus is dead and Achilles is feeling seriously unhappy about it. And the Trojan army is going to know about it. But along the way, join us to give a sulking Odysseus a video game controller as a distraction and watch two grown men negotiate over a woman! Yay...Sources for this episode:Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antenor (Trojan) (online) (Accessed 22/02/2025).
We're sorry.Sources for this episode:Apollonius of Rhodes (1972), The Voyage of Argo. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.The Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica (2018), Linus (online) (Accessed 31/03/2025).The Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica (2021), Lake Avernus summary (online) (Accessed 31/03/2025).Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann.Ovid (1968), Metamorphoses. Translated by M. M. Innes. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Oeagrus (online) (Accessed 31/03/2025).
The United States of America may only have been founded in the 18th century, but the influences on it stretch all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire and, before that, the Roman Republic. We sat down with Jerry Landry from the Presidencies of the United States podcast to talk about the Senate, cities called Carthage, Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, and more!Sources for this episode:TBA
We've had Hector going ballistic on the opposing side- well, now it's Achilles' turn. He's not quite in the war itself yet, but we see him terrify the Trojans with just his appearance and Thetis getting Hephaestus to make new armour for mummy's special boy...Sources for this episode:TBA
You guessed it from the title- today is going to be a great day for Patroclus where nothing bad happens. He does get to do a grim version of fishing and wreak havoc among the Trojan lines before the Nothing Bad happens to him, though.Sources for this episode:TBA
A lot of spears getting thrown and a lot of fighting in this instalment of the Iliad. Not only that, but Zeus is preventing the other gods from taking action in the battle. But don't worry, Hera has a plan! A plan to distract Zeus. A very... hinted at... plan.Sources for this episode:TBA
It's Valentine's Day! Let's look at some of the romantic stories in Greek mythology and... oh. Well, at least Ovid gave up a prototype version of Romeo and Juliet to work with. That's right, it's the story of Pyramus and Thisbe!Sources for this episode:TBA
We continue to watch the gods meddle in human affairs as Zeus sends confusing omens and turns Hector into a boulder throwing maniac. Oh, and yet more people getting injured in ways that make the hosts shudder.Sources for this episode:Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiphus (online) (Accessed 19/01/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Eris (mythology) (online) (Accessed 19/01/2025).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ilus (online) (Accessed 19/01/2025).
Expect random acts of violence, petty squabbles and a chariot race with a twist as we journey through Books IX and X of the Iliad. Oh, and we give Odysseus more of a verbal beating that he doesn't deserve... Sources for this episode: Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ilus (online) (Accessed 19/01/2025). Inspiration for the drawing from the following https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/how-to-draw-a-horse/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Triumph_of_Achilles_in_Corfu_Achilleion.jpg
Covering Books VI through VIII of the Iliad today, we learn that it's dangerous to be a charioteer to Hector, as you might end up with a spear in a very tender area... We also see a pause from war as Hector has a quiet moment with his wife and son, and Odysseus gets his ego shattered. Sources for this episode: Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cubit (online) (Accessed 09/12/2024 and 18/01/2025). Inspiration for the drawing from the following: By Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein - Own work, James Steakley, 2001-08-06, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16878331
As the tenth year of the Trojan War continues, Diomedes starts cutting through the Trojans like a knife through butter. Aside from a possible cameo from a primary source author himself, Diomedes is about to show the world how cool he is- including taking on the God of War himself... Also, get ready for a cameo from the heiress presumptive who has been recording our jingles! Sources for this episode: Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Dares Phrygius (online) (Accessed 09/12/2024). Inspiration for the drawing from the following: By Copy of Nausykles or Kresilas (?) - Jastrow (2007), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2091049
We've finally started one of the famous works of the ancient world! In this instalment, Achilles and Agamemnon have a falling out because of a slave girl, Aphrodite proves herself the worst and the war is nearly settled right there and then after a siege of nine years... Sources for this episode: Homer (2021), The Iliad & The Odyssey. Translated by S. Butler. Oviedo: Entreacacias, S. L. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Ovid (1955), Metamorphoses. Translated with an introduction by M. M. Innes. London: Penguin Books. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Pentalogy (online) (Accessed 18/08/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Tetralogy (online) (Accessed 18/08/2024).
The Autocrat team is on a bit of a break before we get into the Iliad in episode 59 next week. However, we didn't want to leave you starved of content! This week includes a bit of an update on scheduling, plus some fun moments from the podcast's history- including some never seen before... Let us know if you want to see more bloopers, and we might include some on a Patreon someday!
A quick update welcoming you to 2025- or the 2778th year of Rome- and a primer on what you can expect for the year ahead. For any ancient Romans listening, feel free to ignore this until your New Year in March. Sources for this episode: Blakemore, E., National Geographic (2023), The new year once started in March- here's why (online) (Accessed 31/12/2024). The Editors, Encylopedia Britannica (2024), Chinese New Year (online) (Accessed 31/12/2024). Author unknown, Uchicago (date unknown), Roman Calendar (online) (Accessed 31/12/2024).
Agamemnon is a family man. It's just a shame that family is also the answer to who needs to be put up on an altar. As the Greeks are loitering at Aulis before setting off for Troy, we watch the goddess Artemis announce that Iphigenia needs to sacrificed in order to placate her anger... Sources for this episode: Antoninus Liberalis (1992), The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis. Translated by F. Celoria. London and New York: Routledge. Euripides (1910), The Plays of Euripides in English in 2 Volumes (Volume 1). Translated by Shelley Dean Milman, Potter and Woodhull. London and New York: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. and E. P. Dutton & Co. Evelyn-White, H. G. (1943), Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: William Heinemann Ltd. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Hyginus (1872), Fabulae. Edited by M. Schmidt. Jenae: Hermann Dufft. Lucretius (1921), On the Nature of Things. Translated by W. E. Leonard. London, Toronto and New York: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. and E. P. Dutton & Co. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Myrmidons (online) (Accessed 07/12/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Snake Island (Ukraine) (online) (Accessed 07/12/2024).
Christmas and the Anno Domini system of counting years are very intertwined. So, what better way to celebrate than to talk to someone going through every year of the AD calendar one at a time? We sat down with Dan from Augustus History, the creator of Yearly Histories, to talk about the challenges and the joys of such an endeavour.
Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. These are the three goddesses now fighting over an apple. And, strange as it sounds, it's this dispute that will lead to three naked goddesses standing in front of an unsuspecting mortal called Paris... Sources for this episode: Brooks, F. (1896), Greek Lyric Poets. London: David Nutt. Euripides (1967), The Bacchae and Other Plays. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Hyginus (1872), Fabulae. Edited by M. Schmidt. Jenae: Hermann Dufft. Koniaris, G. L. (1967), On Sappho, Fr. 16 (L. P.) Hermes 95(3): 257-268. Raynor, D. J. and Lardinois, A. (2014), Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works. New York: Cambridge University Press. Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company.
Content warning: Peleus is a terrible person, so expect a mild reference to some implied nastiness. Peleus is one of those people who gets things he doesn't deserve. Despite all that terrible behaviour we outlined in episode 55, he gets to marry a goddess! However, it's at the wedding that the seeds of something dreadful will be sown... Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Hyginus (1872), Fabulae. Edited by M. Schmidt. Jenae: Hermann Dufft. Ovid (1955), Metamorphoses. Translated by M. M. Innes. London: Penguin Books. Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Judgement of Paris (online) (Accessed 01/12/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Thetis (online) (Accessed 01/12/2024).
In the quiet before the storm of the Trojan War and its immediate causes, we introduce two major characters today. The first is Odysseus, great-grandson of Hermes and creator of oaths that blow up in his face. The second is Achilles- descendant of Zeus and an ancient Greek example of play dress-up to run away from your problems. Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Hyginus (1872), Fabulae. Edited by M. Schmidt. Jenae: Hermann Dufft. Statius (1928), Statius. Volume II: Thebiad V- XII and Achilleid. London and New York: William Heinemann, Ltd. and G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Content warning: the title should tell you everything you need to know here. The descendants of Tantalus are violent, and they don't mess about. Tantalus is usually known for being the originator of the word tantalising. But how bad can his story really be? In this episode, Vince tells a progressively more horrified Cassie about the messed-up lives of his descendants- including Agamemnon and Menelaus... Sources for this episode: TBA
Meet the most beautiful woman in the world- who may have hatched from an egg. She's got suitors lining up to marry her which poses a problem for her stepfather Tyndareus. Maybe Odysseus will have a short term solution that will only cause problems later? Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Pausanias (1886), Pausanias Description of Greece. In Six Volumes. Volume II: Books VII to X. Translated by A. R. Shilleto. London: George Bell and Sons. Plutarch (1938), Plutarch's Lives. Dryden's Edition, Revised, with an Introduction, by Arthur Hugh Clough. In Three Volumes (Volume I). Everyman's Library 407. London and New York: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. and E. P. Dutton & Co. Inc. Procopius (2016), The Secret History. Translated by G. A. Williamson. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Leda and the Swan (online) (Accessed 17/11/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Penelope (online) (Accessed 17/11/2024).
Prince Aeneas of Troy has a bit of an unusual parentage- he's the son of minor prince Anchises by Human Woman. Who is definitely human. And not Aphrodite. Sources for this episode: Evelyn-White, H. G. (1943), Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: William Heinemann Ltd. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Ovid (1955), Metamorphoses. Translated by M. M. Innes. London: Penguin Books. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Tithonus (online) (Accessed 16/11/2024).
The secondborn son of Priam and Hecabe was already making a big splash before he was born- and well before he swooped on a woman called Helen. There's not many of us who get a prophecy about our destructive legacy- or who get confused with a major European city... Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Ovid (1914), Heroides and Amores. Translated by G. Showerman. London and New York: William Heinemann and The Macmillan Co. Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company. Wilkinson, P., Carroll, G., Faulkner, M., Field, J. F., Haywood, J., Kerrigan, M., Philip, N., Pumphrey, N. and Tocino-Smith, J. (2018), The Mythology Book. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited. Author unknown, Merriam Webster (date unknown), What is a 'Firebrand?' (online) (Accessed 10/11/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Heroides (online) (Accessed 10/11/2024).
It's the start of Chapter II, so we're off to the Trojan War! Except... Not just yet. We need some background first. You might have heard of our subject today- she shares a name with one of the co-hosts... Sources for this episode: Euripides (1981), Medea and Other Plays. Translated by P. Vellacott. London: The Penguin Classics. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Lycophron (TBA) Ovid (1955), Metamorphoses. Translated by M. M. Innes. London: Penguin Books. Norwich, J. J. (2003), Byzantium: The Decline and Fall. London: The Folio Society. Any sources and future debate about Aesacus to be put here.
All Hallows' Eve is upon us... and that means spooky stories! Join us for two longer-form Greco-Roman stories and four tales from around the world. Plus, the Autocrat palace may or may not be haunted. So there's that. Sources for this episode (to be updated tomorrow): Marks, A. and Tingay, G. (date unknown), Romans. London: Usborne Publishing. Pliny (1969), The Letters of the Younger Pliny. Translated by B. Radice. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. Steel, R. W. , Gardiner, R. K. A. , McMaster, D. N. , Dickson, K. B. , Nicol, D. S. H. W. , Clarke, J. I. , Kröner, A. , Middleton, J. F. M. , Mabogunje, A. L. and Smedley, A., Encyclopedia Britannica (2024), Africa (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Tacitus (1983), The Annals of Imperial Rome. Translated by M. Grant. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Africa (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Claudius (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Curtius Rufus (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Hadrumetum (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) List of consuls (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Lucius Vitellius (consul 34) (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Quintus Curtius Rufus (online) (Accessed 28/10/2024).
Back in episode 15, we discussed the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha in their experience of the great flood sent by Zeus to destroy humanity. However, there are other flood myths we didn't get to cover because of our focus. So, we welcomed Chris Stewart from the History of China to go through Chinese creation stories, flood myths, scientific controversy, and more! Sources for this episode: Allan, S. (2017), The Jishi outburst flood of 1920 BCE and the great flood legend in ancient China: preliminary reflections. Journal of Chinese humanities 3.1: 23-34. Bergman, J. (2003), Do Creation and Flood Myths Found World Wide Have a Common Origin? The Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism 5: 517-528. Wilkinson, P., Carroll, G., Faulkner, M., Field, J. F., Haywood, J., Kerrigan, M., Philip, N., Pumphrey, N. and Tocino-Smith, J. (2018), The Mythology Book. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited. Wu, Q., Zhao, Z., Liu, L., Granger, D. E., Wang, H., Cohen, D. J., Wu, X., Ye, M., Bar-Josef, O., Lu, B., Zhang, J., Zhang, P., Yuan, D., Qi, W., Cai, L. and Bai, S. (2016), Outburst flood at 1920 BCE supports historicity of China's Great Flood and the Xia dynasty. Science 353(6299), 579-582. Author unknown (2010), Holy Bible: International Children's Bible (New Century Version). Milton Keynes: Authentic Media Limited.
After 48 episodes, it's time to move on to the Trojan War. Before we do, let's look back at everything we've covered, watch the co-hosts quiz each other and answer your questions and comments! All while we struggle to pronounce words and feel pain over the fall of Constantinople. Plus, a voice from somewhere beyond the microphone... Some sources for this episode: Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), History of Portugal (online) (Accessed 17/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Siege of Perinthus (online) (Accessed 17/10/2024).
It is time to say an emotional goodbye to Heracles- but not before he sacks Troy before it becomes cool, does some light target practice on a centaur and builds himself a funeral pyre. Sources for this episode: Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L. and Stryer, L. (2007), Biochemistry (6th edition). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company. Homer (2021), The Iliad & The Odyssey. Translated by S. Butler. Ovieda, Spain: King Solomon. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Plutarch (1973), The Age of Alexander. Translated by I. Scott-Kilvert. Harmonsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. Robertson, J. (1788), The Parian Chronicle, or the Chronicle of the Arundelian Marbles; with a Dissertation Concerning its Authenticity. London: J. Walter, Charing Cross. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Agesilaus II (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Argead dynasty (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Aristomachus (mythology) (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Caranus of Macedon (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cleodaeus (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Coenus of Macedon (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Eurysthenes (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Heracleidae (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Iole (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Leonidas I (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Neoptolemus (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Temenus (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Tyrimmas of Macedon (online) (Accessed 06/10/2024). Sources for drawing research: Afidah, A., Agustina, M. F. and Trisnawati, R. K. (2022), Colorful God and Goddess as the representation of modern Greek mythology in Lore Olympus. DIKSI 30(2): 160-169. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Apollo (online) (Accessed 14/10/2024).
Just to let you know that there won't be a new episode this week due to one of the co-hosts not feeling great. However, stick with us! In this filler episode, we discuss the direction the podcast is going to take over the next few weeks and go through a bit of housekeeping. Not only that, but if you are lacking your history podcasting fix this week, there's an exclusive clip of episode 69 of After Alexander- before it's even out on that podcast's feed...
Another instance of a cursed family tree- this time in two stories. The first is one of a man who just wants to find a nice statue and settle down. In the second, a series of cursed events lead to someone Aphrodite can fall in love with! A handy precedent to set as we wind our way towards the Trojan War... Sources for this episode; Bernstein, N. W. (2023), The Complete Works of Claudian: Translated with an Introduction and Notes. Oxon and New York: Routledge. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Ovid (1955), Metamorphoses. Translated by M. M. Innes. London: Penguin Books. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Galatea (mythology) (online) (Accessed 13/08/2024).
Quick correction- we call Orthus the father of Cerberus in the episode, but it's actually Typhon! Just swap 'father' for 'brother' and everything still works. The final and most dangerous task is here, and we've got to go down into the underworld... We've got the whole package: Heracles solving fighting-based problems; Harry Potter connections from Cassie, and Vince going down a rabbit hole about mythological chronologies! Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press.
Back in episode 33, we examined what the ancient authors had to say about the phoenix. Well, this time the basilisk is under scrutiny! Also, find out which snake we think it probably sprung from! That and Part II of Harry Potter references... Sources for this episode: Alexander, R. McN. (1963), The Evolution of the Basilisk. Greece & Rome 10(2): 170-181. Rackham, H. (1967), Pliny Natural History with an English Translation in Ten Volumes. Volume III: Libri VIII-XI. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Harvard University Press and William Heinemann Ltd.
Originally meant as a wedding gift for either Zeus or Hera, the Golden Apples lie in a garden far in some direction- either north or west, the sources disagree. Look forward to a cameo from a sly Atlas! He may have already become a mountain due to Perseus' shenanigans in episode 17 if you believe Ovid but hey, who's really keeping score... Plus sky giraffes. We can't forget about those. Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press.
A heroine in Greek mythology! Her story involves the stories of many other heroes, including Peleus, the fallout from Oedipus and Jason and the Argo. We also see that if you want to get ahead in life, all you need is some divine golden fruit and you'd be... well... golden. Sources for this episode: Aelianus, C. (1665), Various History. Translated by T. Stanley. London: Printed for Thomas Dring. Bernstein, N. W. (2023), The Complete Works of Claudian: Translated with an Introduction and Notes. Oxon and New York: Routledge. Florio, P. I. (1983), Birth of a Lion x Leopard Hybrid in Italy. International Zoo News 30/2(178): 4-6. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Tzetzes, J. (last edited 2018), Chiliades or Book of Histories. Translated by A. Untila, G. Berkowitz, K. Ramiotis and V. Dogani.
If there's one thing Heracles is good at... It's gratuitously killing things. Oh good, here's another chance to do that while fetching some cows from the remnants of Atlantis! That and horrify Cassie by committing crimes against doggos... Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press. Author unknown, UNRV Roman History (date unknown), The Aventine Hill (online) (Accessed 07/05/2024).
You either die a hero... or you're Jason. Let's watch the wheels come off the wagon off Jason's cart as he angers a powerful sorceress by marrying princess Glauce behind her back. Expect violence, murder and a wild life the hosts were very excited to tell each other about! Content warning: It's Medea, so we're going to get a lot of violence. Sources for this episode: Aelianus, C. (1665), Various History. Translated by T. Stanley. London: Printed for Thomas Dring. Baldauf, S. L. and Palmer, J. D. (1993), Animals and fungi are each other's closest relatives: congruent evidence from multiple proteins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 90(24): 11558-11562. Campbell, N. A., Urry, L. A., Cain, M. L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P. V. and Reece, J. B. (2018), Biology: a global approach, 11th edition (Global Edition), Harlow, Pearson Education Limited. de Carli, G. J. and Pereira, T. C. (2017), On human parthenogenesis. Medical Hypotheses 106: 57-60. Euripides (1981), Medea and Other Plays. Translated by P. Vellacott. London: The Penguin Classics. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Riley, H. T. (1889), The Metamorphoses (Ovid), Literally Translated Into English Prose, With Copious Notes and Explanations. London: George Bell & Sons. Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company. Watts, P. C., Buley, K. R., Sanderson, S., Boardman, W., Ciofi, C. and Gibson, R. (2006), Parthenogensis in Komodo dragons. Nature 444: 1021-1022. Sidenote: The Medea Complex is characterised as a wish of a mother to kill one's children, while the Argo became the constellation Argo Navis. Sources for these tangents: Stern, E. S. (1948), The Medea Complex: The Mother's Homicidal Wishes to her Child. Journal of Mental Science 94(395): 321-331. Tyminski, R. (2014), The Medea Complex- Myth and Modern Manifestation. Jung Journal 8(1): 28-40. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Argo Navis (online) (Accessed 18/08/2024).
The Amazons feature for the first time in a major way, as Heracles is tasked with fetching a belt from their queen! All in order to please the first recorded instance of both a spoiled princess and a daddy's girl... Content warning: An apparent Amazon practice of mutilation gets mentioned very briefly. Sources for this episode: Beverly, B. I. (1947), Spoiled Children. Postgraduate Medicine 2(2): 90-92. Euripides (1930), Euripides in Four Volumes (Volume III). Translated by Way, A. S. London and New York: William Heinemann and G. P. Putnam's Sons. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Herodotus (1904), The Histories of Herodotus. Translated by Cary, H. New York: D. Appleton and Company. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press.
A rightful heir who's been defrauded of his inheritance, a king with a fetch-quest and a talking boat. Just the right ingredients to summon together an Avengers-style all-star cast of Greek heroes. All while our hero barely seems relevant in his own story... Content warning: It's a story containing Medea, so it gets a bit brutal at times. Sources for this episode: Apollonius Rhodius (1889), The Argonautica. Translated by E. P. Coleridge. London: George Bell and Sons. Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Aeolus (son of Hellen) (online) (Accessed 04/08/2024).
Carnivorous horses! Speculation about Alexander the Great! A cameo from the jar! This episode has it all. Expect Heracles to have to clean up someone else's mess, as well as deal with a bunch of his groupies and an unexpected funeral... Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press.
You might think you've seen a few vain people in your life, but this one gets an entire psychological trait named after him. He's quite the heart-breaker, but is he prepared to have his own heart broken? Sources for this episode: Chadburn, H. (2014), Narcissus poeticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T193504A2239955. Evelyn-White, H. G. (1943), Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: William Heinemann Ltd. Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd. Riley, H. T. (1889), The Metamorphoses (Ovid), Literally Translated Into English Prose, With Copious Notes and Explanations. London: George Bell & Sons. Sheldon, F. A. S. (1816), History of the heathen gods, and heroes of antiquity, to which is added an original translation of the battle of the gods and giants. The whole newly arranged, corrected and enlarged, with the addition of several original and valuable articles. Boston: Isaiah Thomas. Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company. Tzetzes, J. (last edited 2018), Chiliades or Book of Histories. Translated by A. Untila, G. Berkowitz, K. Ramiotis and V. Dogani. Author unknown, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (online) (Accessed 26/06/2024). Author unknown, Kew (date unknown), Daffodils (online) (Accessed 26/06/2024). Author unknown, Theoi (date unknown), NARCISSUS (Narkissos) (online) (Accessed 26/06/2024).
We've come back for one last look at the Theseus saga, as in this week's task we sort of deal with the consequences of Minos II annoying Poseidon that time! Not that we're sure how this fits with the timeline of Minos dying on Sicily but hey- at least there's a big bull for Heracles to deal with. Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press.
Constantine the Great founded New Rome, or Constantinople, in the 4th century. However, there was already a city there centuries earlier. For the mythical roots of Byzantium, we have to go back to yet another man with dubious parentage- this time called Byzas... Sources for this episode: Angelov, D. (2019), The Byzantine Hellene: The Life of Emperor Theodore Laskaris and Byzantium in the Thirteenth Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bernstein, N. W. (2023), The Complete Works of Claudian: Translated with an Introduction and Notes. Oxon and New York: Routledge. Doležal, S. (2020), The Reign of Constantine, 306-337: Continuity and Change in the Late Roman Empire. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. Genesios (1998), On the Reigns of the Emperors. Translated by A. Kaldellis. Canberra: Australian Association for Byzantine Studies. Kazhdan, A. P. (ed.) (1991), The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Volume 1-2-3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mango, C. (1990), Nikephoros Patriarch of Constantinople Short History. Washington D. C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Michael the Syrian (2013), The Chronicle of Michael the Great, Patriarch of the Syrians. Translated by R. Bedrosian. Long Branch, New Jersey. Oldfather, C. H. (1963), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume II: Books II (continued) 35- IV, 58. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press. Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company. Venning, T. (ed.) (2006), A Chronology of the Byzantine Empire. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Whitby, M. and Whitby, M. (2007), Chronicon Paschale, 284-628 AD. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. Wiseman, T. P. (1983), The Wife and Children of Romulus. Classical Quarterly 33(ii): 445-452. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Byzas (online) (Accessed 25/06/2024).
The shareholders have agreed that the Heracles Cleaning Company is branching out today, because we're going to deal with a pest species running riot in Stymphalus! How many birds? A million, you say? Well, maybe or maybe not... Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press. Prip, C. (2018), The Convention on Biological Diversity as a legal framework for safeguarding ecosystem services. Ecosystem Services 29: 199-204. Author unknown, International Union for Conservation of Nature Brief (2021), Invasive Alien Species and Climate Change. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.
Steering away from the standard format of stories for a bit, this episode we will be talking all about the phoenix! Is it what you were expecting? Is it like in Harry Potter? Eh... Not quite. Sources for this episode: Bernstein, N. W. (2023), The Complete Works of Claudian: Translated with an Introduction and Notes. Oxon and New York: Routledge. BirdLife International (2018), Chrysololophus pictus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679355A131874282.Cooke, F., Dingle, H., Hutchison, S., McKay, G., Schodde, R., Tait, N. and Vogt, R. (2008), The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide. Sydney: Weldon Owen Pty Ltd. Evelyn-White, H. G. (1943), Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: William Heinemann Ltd. Herodotus (1904), The Histories of Herodotus. Translated by Cary, H. New York: D. Appleton and Company. Rackham, H. (1967), Pliny Natural History with an English Translation in Ten Volumes. Volume III: Libri VIII-XI. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London: Harvard University Press and William Heinemann Ltd. Riley, H. T. (1889), The Metamorphoses (Ovid), Literally Translated Into English Prose, With Copious Notes and Explanations. London: George Bell & Sons. Robine, J.-M., Allard, M., Herrmann, F. R. and Jeune, B. (2019), The Real Facts Supporting Jeanne Calment as the Oldest Ever Human. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 74(S1): S13-S20. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Phoenix (mythology) (online) (Accessed 29/05/2024).
This next task has hired the Heracles Cleaning Company, because it's time to muck out some stables! Not just any stables, though- the famously impossible stables of King Augeas... Plus, we get to hear the hosts speculating about rice paper for a sizeable fraction of run time! What's not to love? Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1989), Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes. Volume I: Books I and II, 1-34. Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, UK: Harvard University Press.
In today's episode, we are delighted to be joined by Daniel from the YouTube channel Eastern Roman History! This is a collaboration where we discuss the best and the west that the Byzantine portion of Roman history has to offer us. We discussed our candidates for the greatest Byzantine emperors over on his channel- now let's turn to the worst rulers who have ever sat atop the imperial throne. Sources used in our discussion during this collaboration: Davis, L. D. (1990), The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787), Their History and Theology. Wilmington, Delaware: Michael Glazier, Inc. Dennis, G. T. (1984), Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Gibbon, E. (1905), The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Volume IV. London: Methuen's Standard Library. Hughes Linn, J. (2012), The Roman Grain Supply, 442-455. Journal of Late Antiquity 5(2): 298-321. Norwich, J. J. (2013), A Short History of Byzantium. London: Penguin Books Ltd. Panou, Eirini (2023), Ensuring Childbirth in Byzantium: Deviant and non-deviant practices. Byzantina Symmeikta: 165-181. Turtledove, H. (1982), The Chronicle of Theophanes: An English translation of anni mundi 6095-6305 (A.D. 602 813), with introduction and notes. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Venning, T. (ed.) (2006), A Chronology of the Byzantine Empire. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Andronikos I (online) (Accessed 06/04/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Basiliscus (online) (Accessed 06/04/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Zoe Porphyrogennita (online) (Accessed 06/04/2024).
Sometimes we get tales of star-crossed lovers and, well... sometimes we get whatever this is. Let's explore the bizarre story of Psyche, a tale which feels as though every character needs to be sat down in a psychiatric chair and work through some issues. Just an advance warning- there are some references to suicide in the story itself (although this is kept to an absolute minimum in our retelling). Sources for this episode: Apuleius (2004), The Golden Ass. Translated by E. J. Kenney. London: The Penguin Group. Cooper, R. L. (date unknown), "Walking About in the Heart of the Forbidden Zone": Surrealist Practices and Affective Space. Di Leo, J. R. (2015), Higher Pleasure: In Defense of Academic Hedonism. The Comparatist 39: 196-207. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Hedone (online) (Accessed 29/05/2024).
Another fetching job! Heracles might be the equivalent of an Ancient Greek delivery man, but this time he's being sent to fetch a boar... Sources for this episode: Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann. Guerber, H. A. (1929), The Myths of Greece & Rome: Their Stories Signification and Origin. London: George G. Harrap & Company Ltd. Oldfather, C. H. (1993), Diodorus of Sicily: the Library of History. Books IV.59- VIII. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
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