The Endless Knot

Follow The Endless Knot
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Aven & Mark discuss etymology, history, literature, language, and cocktails, and the sometimes surprising connections between them all.

Mark Sundaram & Aven McMaster


    • Dec 17, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 6m AVG DURATION
    • 133 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Endless Knot with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Endless Knot

    Episode 123: Words Christmas Gave Us, with Grace Tierney

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 77:56


    Grace Tierney is back with another great book about the word origins, this time “Words Christmas Gave Us"! She regales us with festive stories and we talk about some of the fun traditions and treats of the winter holidays.It's been a long, unintended break since our last episode, but we're happy to be back at it, in time to wish everyone very happy holidays!Wordfoolery websiteTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 122: Says Who, with Anne Curzan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 61:05


    We spoke with Dr. Anne Curzan about her new book, “Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares about Words”. We talk about language change, inner grammandos, the benefits of learning the rules of texting from one's students, and of course, surprising connections!Also, please check out the Defeat Depression fundraising event, and the Sudbury Walk/Run on May 25.Anne Curzan's websiteTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    kinder says who anne curzan
    Episode 121: The Vesuvius Challenge, with Stephen Parsons

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2024 71:28


    Buried deep under volcanic ash lie hundreds of burnt scrolls containing texts from the first century. A new project is driving the work to try to read these chunks of carbon, to uncover new works and open new doors into the past. We spoke to one of the leaders of this project, Dr. Stephen Parsons, about the Vesuvius Challenge, the technical aspects of ‘virtual unrolling', the possibilities of new classical texts, the development of new ways of doing scholarship, and more. Also, please check out the Defeat Depression fundraising event, and the Sudbury Walk/Run on May 25.The Vesuvius ChallengeKaitlyn Hill's booksTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 120: Swimming in History, with Karen Carr

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 59:01


    We talked to Dr. Karen Carr about the global history of swimming — in myth, folktale, and history. Who swam, who didn't, and how do the stories different cultures told reflect these patterns? We also talked a bit about Dr. Carr's next book, all about silver, women, and textiles.Dr. Carr's academic websiteDr. Carr's history website and blog, Quatr.usTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 119: An Ecological Chain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 94:31


    We discuss the language and history of the ecological sciences, all the way back to the ancient Greeks, and the development of the food chain and food web models of ecological systems. And apologies for the unscheduled hiatus! Golden Chain CocktailFood Web videoCuckold video and podcast Frank N. Egerton. “A History of the Ecological Sciences: Early Greek Origins”, Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 82.1 (2001): 93-97 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 2: Aristotle and Theophrastos”, BESA 82.2 (2001): 149-152 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 3: Hellenistic Natural History”, BESA 82.3 (2001): 201-205 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 4: Roman Natural History”, BESA 82.4 (2001): 243-246 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 5: Byzantine Natural History”, BESA 83.1 (2002): 89-94 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 6: Arabic Language Science—Origins and Zoological Writings”, BESA 83.2 (2002): 142-146 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 7: Arabic Language Science—Botany, Geography, and Decline”, BESA 83.4 (2002): 261-266 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 8: Frederick II of Hohenstaufen: Amateur Avian Ecologist and Behaviorist”, BESA 84.1 (2003): 40-44 ———, “A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 9: Albertus Magnus: a Scholastic Naturalist”, BESA 84.2 (2003): 87-91Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 118: A Crisis of Masculinity, with Melanie Racette-Campbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 81:01


    We talk to Melanie Racette-Campbell about her new book, “The Crisis of Masculinity in the Age of Augustus”, and discuss why Roman elite men were particularly vulnerable to a societal transformation that changed their role in the state. What did it mean to be a good man in ancient Rome, and how and why did that change?Melanie's book is available hereTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 117: A Brief History of Misogyny

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2023 81:01


    The word “chauvinism” is an unlikely eponym, but it turns out that the story behind it has all sorts of interesting connections. And our discussion of those connections also leads us into the long history of misogyny in the western world, from Eve and Pandora to the Virgin Mary, courtly love, and Victorian womanhood. Cocktail: Pandora's Jar, from Nectar of the Gods“By Jingo” songHesiod's Works and DaysHesiod's TheogonySemonides 7Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 116: A Quiverful of Time Arrows

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 85:14


    We look at the history of English's conceptualization of time, and update Mark's research on spatiotemporal metaphor. Also, words for arrows, the surprising origin of ‘toxic', and a bit of Latin poetry!Blue Arrow cocktailBow and Arrow cocktailTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 115: Like, Literally, Dude! with Valerie Fridland

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 85:14


    We spoke to Dr. Valerie Fridland about her new book, “Like, Literally, Dude!” and talked about the fascinating role that many ‘errors' in English speech actually play in communication. We discuss the never-ending changes that English has gone through, the surprisingly sophisticated rules behind our use of ‘um' and ‘uh', and much more.Dr. Valerie Fridland's websiteLike, Literally, Dude!Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 114a: The XYZ's of Spelling

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 72:55


    It's Part 2 of our mega-episode on spelling! This time, we get into some of the notorious mismatches between English spelling and modern English pronunciation. Explaining them takes us all the way back to Phoenician — several times — but maybe, just maybe, some bits of this odd language will make more sense to you when we're done!The XYZ CocktailOur video on “Spelling”Christopher Upward & George Davidson, The History of English Spelling (2001)David Sacks, Letter Perfect (2003)Kevin Stroud, The History of the Alphabet (audiobook)NativLang “Thoth's Pill - an Animated History of Writing”Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 114: The ABC's of Spelling

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 72:04


    We're wading into the messy world of English spelling in this episode — the first of two, since we couldn't fit all of the ‘quirks' of the language into one episode. The history of orthography in English is all tangled up with the history of the alphabet, so in this part we trace some of the twists and turns that resulted in our modern script. The ABC CocktailOur video on “Spelling”Christopher Upward & George Davidson, The History of English Spelling (2001)David Sacks, Letter Perfect (2003)Kevin Stroud, The History of the Alphabet (audiobook)NativLang “Thoth's Pill - an Animated History of Writing”Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Bonus: Livestream Q&A from LingFest23

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 74:57


    In this bonus episode, we answer questions from viewers and listeners during a livestream on our YouTube channel, as part of #LingFest23. Apologies for the sound quality, which isn't great.Also, sorry that we didn't manage a regular episode in February, but we'll definitely have one in March.LingComm23LingFest@AllEndlessKnot@toot.communityTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Announcement: LingFest23 Q&A Livestream

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 0:56


    Just a reminder that we'll be doing a Q&A livestream on our YouTube channel as part of LingFest in connection to the LingComm23 Conference on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 1:00pm Eastern. Please leave us your questions on this website, email us, or post on social media, or just show up on the day at the livestream.The livestream will be here, just click on Sunday afternoon to join in!

    Episode 113: Ovid's Metamorphoses in the 21st Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 81:23


    In this episode we talk to the authors of two new books on Ovid's Metamorphoses, the Latin epic poem he wrote in 8 CE. Stephanie McCarter has published a new translation of the poem, and Gareth Williams has written a short interpretive introductory work on the epic to go with the Columbia Core Curriculum. We talked with both of them about the way Ovid fits into contemporary society, what considerations there are when teaching this epic, and the joys and difficulties of engaging with Ovid's poetic brilliance.Content note for sexual violence and brief description of trauma.LingComm23LingFest@AllEndlessKnot@toot.communityStephanie McCarter's websiteOvid's MetamorphosesGareth Williams faculty pageOn Ovid's Metamorphoses“Landscape Near Rome during Storm” by Simon DenisTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 112: The Bellini, Art, and Patronage

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2022 86:26


    Episode 111: Haggard Hawks, back again!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 70:18


    We welcome back Paul Anthony Jones, of Haggard Hawks fame, to ell us about his new book “Why Is This a Question?”. We talk about how his experience of social media has changed since we last interviewed him in 2016, what it was like researching a book covering such wide-ranging topics, the state of the publishing industry, and more.Haggard HawksOur previous interview with Paul (episode 21)Citogenesis (the Wikipedia citation problem) coined in xkcd comicRidley, R. T. “To Be Taken with a Pinch of Salt: The Destruction of Carthage.” Classical Philology, vol. 81, no. 2, 1986, pp. 140–46.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 110: Music and Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 90:19


    We talk about the origins of music, its connection (both etymological and scientific) with the mind, how language is used to describe and teach music, the Muses, and the Museum of Alexandria. Also featuring brief cameos from music YouTuber 12Tone.Monk's Muse Cocktail12Tone's video “Why Do Notes Have Names?” Ghost Notes Podcast“Future” videoMurdoch Mysteries episode “The Dominion of New South Mimico”Language: The Cultural Tool by Daniel EverettErskine, Andrew. “Culture and Power in Ptolemaic Egypt: The Museum and Library of Alexandria.” Greece & Rome, vol. 42, no. 1, 1995, pp. 38–48. JSTOR.Hardie, Alex. “Etymologising the Muse.” Materiali e Discussioni per l'analisi Dei Testi Classici, no. 62, 2009, pp. 9–57. JSTOR.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 109: Endangered Alphabets, with Tim Brookes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 62:43


    We spoke with Tim Brooks of the Endangered Alphabets project about the cultural importance of scripts, the pressures on marginalized and isolated scripts, his beautiful wood carvings, and the various initiatives he and his group have been working on to support script revitalization and creation around the world.Website: Endangered AlphabetsInhabit MediaTwitter: @endangeredalphaInstagram: @endangeredalphasTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 108: Widows, Indian Independence, and Partition

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 82:01


    Commemorating the 6th anniversary of the death of Mark's father, and the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, this episode connects widows and partition, and while also touching on the legacy of Alexander the Great, the origins of badminton and tennis, and obscure typesetting vocabulary.Merry Widow Cocktail Black Widow CocktailOlson, Kelly. “Fringed Clothing in Roman Iconography and Written Sources.” Textiles in Ancient Mediterranean Iconography, edited by SUSANNA HARRIS et al., Oxbow Books, 2022, pp. 149–60.Olson, Kelly. "Insignia Lugentium: Female Mourning Garments in Roman Antiquity". American Journal of Ancient History (New Series 3-4, 2004-2005 [2007]): 3-4, 2004, pp. 89-130. Hagerman, Christopher A. “In the Footsteps of the 'Macedonian Conqueror": Alexander the Great and British India.” International Journal of the Classical Tradition, vol. 16, no. 3/4, 2009, pp. 344–92.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 107: Polar Regions, Comics, and Classics, with Natalie Swain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 61:31


    We have a very fun conversation with Dr. Natalie Swain about her work on classical reception and the polar regions — the Arctic and Antarctic — science fiction, and comics. And Natalie and Mark find lots of overlaps and connections between their interests!“Between the Sheets: Reading the Coverlet as Comics in Catullus 64.” Image [&] Narrative 22.2 (2021)Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics@mazonianfeline#ClassicsTwitterComicsTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 106: Future in the Past?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 72:53


    We're talking all about the future in this episode — and if we even have one (in English). This is a topic near and dear to Mark's heart, and in part the subject of his dissertation! We get into the nitty gritty of grammatical tense, ways of thinking about the future, and a mystery cocktail. Our video on the FutureWhisky Exchange article about Futurist cocktailsLavery, Gerard B. “Hoc Aeui Quodcumquest : Lucretius and Time.” Latomus, vol. 46, no. 4, 1987, pp. 720–29. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41534650 Berns, Gisela. “Time and Nature in Lucretius' ‘De Rerum Natura.'” Hermes, vol. 104, no. 4, 1976, pp. 477–92. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4475983Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 105: Dionysus, Translation, & Queering Greek Drama with Emma Pauly

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 72:53


    This episode we have a fascinating conversation with classicist, dramatug, and translator Emma Pauly about all things Dionysian, Greek tragedy, and their translation of Euripides' Bacchae. We explore how Emma brings their experience with acting and directing to translating and analyzing Greek literature, and how our understanding of the past changes as we develop our understanding of gender and sexuality.Emma's websiteBacchae recordingEmma's translation of the seventh Homeric Hymn to DionysusTwitterInstagramTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 104: Words the Vikings Gave Us, with Grace Tierney

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 58:37


    It's time for some Old Norse, sagas, and daring Viking explorers! In this episode we talk to author Grace Tierney about her newest book, Words the Vikings Gave Us. We had a ton of fun in this conversation, and we're sure you will too!Grace Tierney's blog, WordfooleryOur video on Runes, and NativLang's matching videoTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Bonus: Karaoke April Fools!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 50:20


    It's April Fool's Day, and time for the annual Podcast Switcheroo, where podcasters trade episodes to give their audience something a little different and introduce them to a new show. This year we've got an episode from “The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly)”, all about the joys and embarrassments of singing karaoke. IN this episode hosts Adam Wainwright and Ed Cunard discuss questions like is a karaoke performance a cover song? What do musicians have to say about karaoke? What are the barriers to making music, and creativity in general? They also talk to punk and folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner about some of his most memorable karaoke experiences and about how he feels about cover songs, singalongs at concerts, and karaoke versions of his songs. After you've listened to this, why not add them to your subscriptions? Thanks to Moxy from “Your Brain on Facts” for organizing this event, and happy April Fool's Day to everyone!Our Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 103: Potatoes for Saint Patrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 78:55


    Happy Saint Patrick's Day! In this episode we talk about the saint's history, then dig into the potato — its etymology, its history, and how it's changed the world. With some tangents about batteries, famines, and travel in the Roman world.Old Potato CocktailIrish Maid CocktailPotato battery videoMonster videoTalking Turkey, episode 24Season to Taste, episode 35ORBISArticle about Irish Famine Relief by the Choctaw NationTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 102: Baking Greek Bread, with Josh Nudell

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 68:59


    We're talking about bread again! This time, about ancient Greek bread — its vocabulary, the many types of bread and how they were made, and the economic aspects of bread production. Josh shares his practical experiences of baking along with his research into the classical Greek world.Josh Nudell's websiteJosh on Twitter: @jpnudellTavola MediterraneaOur previous episode on bread, “Loaf”Thank you to Emma Pauly for editing and transcribing this episode.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 101: Not Your Average Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 106:25


    We start off the new year with a three-part discussion of statistics, insurance, stocks, astrologers, coffee, and more. We also trace some of the vocabulary that has come to English from Arabic, along with important mathematical concepts.Podcast recommendation: Khameleon Classics Cocktail: The Revolver Average Part 1 Average Part 2 Average Part 3 Ep 31 CreateICGEp 39 From Fossil Hunters to Mammoth CheeseEp 32 Ariadne's Cluevideo “How Do We Perceive a Poem?”Ripat, Pauline. “Expelling Misconceptions: Astrologers At Rome.” Classical Philology, vol. 106, no. 2, The University of Chicago Press, 2011, pp. 115–54, https://doi.org/10.1086/659835Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 100: Celebrating Connections

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 73:41


    Our hundredth episode! We're celebrating reaching three digits — and more than 6 years — with a whole bunch of our podcasting friends! These are just some of the amazing creators who make the independent podcasting world so wonderful, and we're very happy to be connected to them all. Please check out their shows at the links below. We also give you a brief “State of the Pod” update. Thank you to everyone who's been with us so far, and here's to the next century (of episodes)!Thank you to Christine Couisineau for help editing and transcribing this episode.The Kir Royale cocktailSandman Stories PresentsThe Partial HistoriansAccentricity PodcastLexitecture PodcastThe History of EnglishPontifacts PodcastBecause LanguageYour Brain on FactsBunny Trails PodcastThe Spouter Inn PodcastGrammar Girl PodcastWonders of the World PodcastLet's Talk about Myths, Baby PodcastLingthusiasm PodcastFootnoting History The Vocal Fries PodcastTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 99: Heavy Metal Music and Antiquity, with Jeremy Swist

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 79:00


    We talked to Jeremy Swist about his work on the reception of antiquity in heavy metal music. He discussed the ways the genre looks to the past for stories and imagery, and the many fantastic songs and albums that have been produced from this mix. We also talked about the problems with racism and white nationalism that can plague the intersection of the ancient world and metal music. Playlist of the songs Jeremy mentionedPour Forth Surquidous track@MetalClassicistHeavy Metal and the Ancient World on FacebookJeremy's blogMetal-archives.comTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 98: The Monster Episode of Monsters

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 132:45


    It's Halloween, and the monsters are out! In this episode we tackle Monster Theory (as formulated by J.J. Cohen) , examine the linguistic and cultural origins of a range of Classical and classic movie monsters, look at how they connect to the history of currency and money, and explore the intersections of monsters and the New Woman. We also sample a beautiful cocktail from the upcoming cocktail book Nectar of the Gods by Liv Albert from “Let's Talk about Myths, Baby”. Thank you, Liv!The Monster videoMonster Theory by J.J. CohenTracking Classical Monsters in Popular Culture by Liz GloynOur podcast episode interviewing Dr. GloynHorace Odes 1.37Hesiod passage about Medusa is Theogony 270ff; more info about Medusa hereOvid passage about Medusa is Metamorphoses 4.753ffGeneral sources for this episodeTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 97: Aegyptiaca Romana, with Bet Hucks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 55:43


    We speak to Bet Hucks about Roman importation and love of Egyptian art and other cultural material, the importance of thinking about material remains in assemblages and considering the contexts in which they were displayed, and some innovative ways of bringing the physical experiences of the past to modern audiences. Oh, and also, crocodiles! Bet's Twitter: @RomanAegyptiacaBet on academia.eduThanks to Emma Pauly for editing and transcription of this episode.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 96: What's the Earliest English Word?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2021 85:56


    What do you think the earliest English word was? How could we possibly look for such a thing, and what do the possible options tell us about early English history and the movement of peoples in the early medieval period? We tackle these questions, in an episode about Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians, Celts, Tacitus, Bede, and more.Reminder: Mark will be running another session of his Speakeasy seminar course, The Origins of English: Learning to Think Like an Etymologist, which is open to anyone who's interested. Registration is now open at Speakeasy.com for the session running on Sunday afternoons (Eastern time) from September 12th October 3rd. Recipe for Old English cocktailEarliest English Word videoJabzy's Anglo-Saxon Invasion videoThe Early Greek Alphabets: Origin, Diffusion, chpt 4 by Rosalind ThomasC. Krebs, A MOST DANGEROUS BOOK: TACITUS' GERMANIA FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO THE THIRD REICH. London: W.W.Norton & Co., 2011. Other sourcesWhy do Poles call Italy WŁOCHY? (video)Bonus episode about the term “Anglo-Saxon” from December 2019Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 95: Reckonings, with Stephen Chrisomalis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 73:19


    It's time for a reckoning! Or, to be more accurate, a number of reckonings. We talk to Dr. Stephen Chrisomalis, a linguistic anthropologist who specializes in the anthropology of mathematics and the interaction of language, cognition, and culture, about his new book Reckonings. It's a fascinating discussion of how we write and represent numbers, and how that's changed over the years. Why don't we use Roman numerals any more? It's more complicated than you might think…Announcement: Mark will be running another session of his Speakeasy seminar course, The Origins of English: Learning to Think Like an Etymologist, which is open to anyone who's interested. Registration is now open at Speakeasy.com for the session running on Sunday afternoons (Eastern time) from September 12th October 3rd. Glossographia (blog)Twitter: @schrisomalis Wayne State University faculty pageReckonings webpage Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 94: Catullus & Shibari, with Isobel Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 82:34


    We talked to Isobel Williams about her fascinating and illuminating new translation of selected poems of Catullus, illustrated with her drawings of the Japanese art of rope binding, shibari. Our discussion ranges over the connections between the world of shibari and the emotional struggles depicted in Catullus's poetry, the way translation and learning Latin can feel like being tied up in, and untangling, knots, and much more.Content Note: fetish, sex, brief mention of sexual violence, discussion of enslavement and use of slavery as metaphorBlog about drawing shibari (Japanese rope bondage): Boulevardisme Straight blog about drawing: Drawing from an uncomfortable position Website: Isobel Williams Twitter: @otium_CatulleInstagram: @isobelwilliams2525From Isobel: “For the online book launch, I compiled a video (>20 minutes) of self and others reading in Latin and English from the book. It starts with Sappho in ancient Greek and ends with Shakespeare, to show the continuity Sappho -> Catullus -> Ovid -> Shakespeare (it contains no Ovid). The video is here 'Catullus: Shibari Carmina' - readings and performances - YouTube”Page about the bookLink to the book for Canada and US: Catullus: Shibari Carmina | Independent Publishers GroupJames Methven's Precious Asses – highly recommendedIrish poet and mediaevalist Bernard O'Donoghue – Poet, Academic, Medievalist and Literary CriticTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 93: The Americano, the Negroni, America, and Rome

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 56:16


    A day after Independence Day in the US, we investigate the history of the name “America” and two related cocktails, with some side trips into the sack of Rome in 410 CE and the use of the Fall of Rome as a historical parallel for the United States. This episode completes our mini series on country names, in the season of national holidays in north America. Cocktails: Americano & NegroniRutilius Namatianus, De Reditu Suo"The Fall of Ancient Rome and Modern U.S. Immigration: Historical Model or Political Football?" Frank Argote-Freyre and Christopher M. Bellitto. The Historian Vol. 74, No. 4 (WINTER 2012), pp. 789-811Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 92: Canuck, and Re-Thinking Canada's Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 77:36


    This episode is being released for Canada Day, but it's not a celebration. This year, even more than most, we feel that this day needs to be one of reckoning with our past and trying to make a better present and future. So we talk about the history of the word Canuck and the various stories that Canadians tell themselves about their county, and we also discuss the role of Classics in the early history of the colonial project in Canada, as well as how to think about Classics today in relation to Indigenous issues. And then we finish with some quick etymologies of uniquely Canadian words and phrases. Content note: there is brief mention of residential schools and discussion of historical racism.Le Canuck Cocktail Jacques Cartier Heritage MinuteMinute Women podcastDictionary of Canadianisms on Historical PrinciplesBrill's Companion to Classics in the Early AmericasZachary Yuzwa on TwitterRobinson-Huron Treaty lawsuitMuskoka chairBeavertailsNanaimo barsFiddleheadsSpilePorketta Bingo“Only in Canada, You Say?” by Katherine BarberTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 91: Roman Gardens, with Victoria Austen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 62:33


    We talk to Dr. Victoria Austen about Roman gardens. What defines a garden? Where were the gardens at Rome, and what were they for? How did Romans think about gardens and gardening, and what roles did they play in literature, philosophy, and the public relations efforts of emperors? @Vicky_AustenTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 90: Unrolling Books and Evolving Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 78:03


    We talk about the history of the book, the reading habits of the ancient Romans, the pliability of sheep skins, and the mechanisms of semantic change that cause words to evolve over time. Oh, and we discuss Charles Darwin's own language for his new theory."Codex Cocktail" was created for us by Ed Bedford — recipe hereLiber Adest newsletterMcCutcheon, R. W. “Silent Reading in Antiquity and the Future History of the Book.” Book History, vol. 18, 2015, pp. 1–32., www.jstor.org/stable/43956366“In Ancient Rome” by Joseph Howley, in Further Reading, edited by Matthew Rubery and Leah Price. 2020.Erasmus Darwin videoTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageRedbubble storeThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Switcheroo 2021!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 38:07


    This year for April Fool's Day we're taking part in a podcast switcheroo where podcasters are trading episodes to introduce their audiences to other podcasts they think you might enjoy. So we're having the great folks from Bunny Trails, Shauna and Dan, showcase one of their episodes, about the phrase “Queen Bee”.Bunny Trails PodcastShownotes for this episode (including transcript)Our Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 89: Horses in Antiquity, with Carolyn Willekes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 78:00


    We speak to Dr. Carolyn Willekes about horses in antiquity: their development and domestication, their use in warfare, their training and breeding, and her many adventures riding horses across Greece, Turkey, Mongolia, and Canada. The Horse in the Ancient World: From Bucephalus to the HippodromeGreek Warriors: Hoplites and HeroesTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Announcement: Online Course

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2021 1:29


    Aven: Hi everyone. This isn't a regular episode of the Endless Knot podcast. Just a quick announcement. Mark: I wanted to let you all know about something new that I'm doing: an online seminar series. It's basically a short course open to anyone, on the Speakeasy platform. The title is: "The origins of English: learning to think like an etymologist" and it's going to be four one-hour classes on zoom, in which, through a series of linguistic puzzles, we will follow in the footsteps of etymologists and historical linguists to reconstruct the relationships between languages and long forgotten roots of English words.The class is limited to 12 people and starts on Thursday, March 4th, at 7:00 PM eastern time, running on the three following Thursdays at the same time. If you're interested, you can go to our website at alliterative.net, and there's a link to the Speakeasy page, where you can buy a ticket.Or if you'd like to take part, but the timing doesn't work for you, you can leave Speakeasy a message about what would be better, and we'll try and take that into consideration when we schedule the next session. Because if this goes well, I'm hoping not only to be able to repeat it, but also do some different courses on Old English poetry, on the development of English from the early middle ages to today, and more Aven: So if you think this sounds fun, please go to our website at www.Alliterative.net for more information.Mark: Hope to get to meet you online sometime soon! Link for more info and to buy tickets

    Episode 88: Meta-Etymology

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 81:42


    We talk about the etymology of “Etymology” itself, and then discuss the basics of historical linguistics, including Grimm's Law, Verner's Law, and more. We also talk about Isidore of Seville, the etymological puns of Latin poets, and the way Mark does his research for his videos.The Simple Truth cocktailOur “Etymology” videoIsidore of Seville's EtymologiaeKeith, A. M. “Etymological Wordplay in Ovid's 'Pyramus and Thisbe' (Met. 4.55-166).” The Classical Quarterly, vol. 51, no. 1, 2001, pp. 309–312.Shelton, Colin. “Logical Complexity and Etymological Wordplay.” Latomus, vol. 73, no. 2, 2014, pp. 385–398.O'Hara, James J. “Vergil's Best Reader? Ovidian Commentary on Vergilian Etymological Wordplay.” The Classical Journal, vol. 91, no. 3, 1996, pp. 255–276.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 87: Alexander the Great, with Meg Finlayson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 96:12


    This episode is all about Alexander the Great, and especially about his reception by later Greeks & Romans, the middle ages, and modern popular culture. We had the pleasure of interviewing Meg Finlayson who studies Alexander and his reception and shared her knowledge, enthusiasm, and dreams of a new Alexander movie with Colin Farrell playing Philip!Meg's twitter @agameganonTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 86: Who's on Your Calendar?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2020 109:41


    Happy holidays! In this seasonal episode we discuss the origins of the modern Western calendar, the names of the months and days of the week, and the sources we have for Roman calendars and Germanic gods. Happy new year, and may it be better than the last!Our poster storeCrosscut DistillerySabbathMillennialOvid's FastiHerbert-Brown, Geraldine. “Fasti: the Poet, the Prince, and the Plebs” in A Companion to Ovid, ed. Peter E. Knox, Wiley-Blackwell. 2013.Transcript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 85: Election Talk to Take Your Mind off the Election

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 75:16


    It's election night 2020 in the US, and our video from 4 years ago about the language of politics is relevant once again. We discuss the changing vocabulary of democracy and what it can tell us about shifting attitudes towards popular rule and politicians. It may not be a complete break from political coverage, but at least it's mostly about the distant past, not the uncertain future!Ballot Box CocktailMashed Radish blog post on CandidateMashed Radish blog post on PollAnatoly Liberman on Booth“Sublime” video“Sublime” podcastTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 84: Linoleum: It's Not As Boring As You Think!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 76:38


    n this episode we go from the origin of the world to the many uses of olive oil, with discussions of Roman mosaics, and trademark law along the way. This is the third of our episodes on Intellectual Property, following Episode 42: Bugging Out! on patents and Episode 57: Freebooting, Piracy, & Copyright on copyright. Also, it's the start of Season 6, and we want to thank everyone who's joined us over the last 5 years. It's been a blast, and here's to another half decade!“The asàrotos òikos mosaic as an elite status symbol” by Ehud FathyAncient History Encyclopedia — the oliveOxford Dictionaries blog post on “gasoline”Hesiod, TheogonyFirst oil derrick — pictureTranscript of this episodeThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 83: Recipes and Authority, from Intelligent Speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2020 25:25


    Back in June we had the pleasure of being part of the Intelligent Speech Conference 2020 — this year, held entirely online. It was a day filled with amazing podcasters and great conversations, and in this short episode we're sharing the talk that we gave at the event. It's about the word Recipe and early cookbooks, medicine, and women's magazines. If you'd like to see the images that accompanied the presentation, you can watch the talk on YouTube, where the questions and post-talk discussion are also included.Transcript of this episodeIntelligent Speech ConferenceThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 82: Plagues, with Moxie from Your Brain on Facts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 95:19


    It's time for us to talk about plagues — ancient, medieval, literary, etymological, and psychological! We're joined by Moxie from Your Brain on Facts for a very fun — if slightly disturbing — discussion of many aspects of historical plagues.Transcript of this episodeYour Brain on FactsGardner, H.H. Pestilence and the Body Politic in Latin Literature. 2019.Episode 44: "Us" & "Them" in the Ancient & Anglo-Saxon WorldsEpisode 51: Race & Racism in Ancient & Medieval Studies, Part One: The ProblemEpisode 52: Race & Racism in Ancient & Medieval Studies, Part Two: ResponsesThorneloe Race forum episodeStatue/SystemicCrisis/DiscriminationThug/ProtectThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSSrbgtk5r4

    Episode 81: The Rise (and Fall) of Skywalker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2020 77:57


    In an episode that was recorded in late May before the protests started, we took a break from COVID talk to give our thoughts on the final movie in the Star Wars saga. We discussed how it was similar to or different from ancient epic, medieval romance, and Icelandic sagas, but mostly we talked about the ways it failed to bring together the many threads of the Star Wars story.Given current events, and the protests against police brutality and systemic anti-Black racism, we urge our white and non-Black listeners to continue their education on these subjects and, if you're able, donate to support people fighting for justice. One good podcast series is “Seeing White” from SceneOnRadio, and there are anti-racism reading lists here and here; you can donate to Black Lives Matter or The National Bail Out Fund, or any of the many causes that need funds right now.We also have two episodes on race and racism in medieval studies and classics; they're several years old now, but may be of interest for thinking about issues of race in our particular fields, and the role our disciplines have played in supporting structural racism in Europe and North America. EPISODE 51: RACE & RACISM IN ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL STUDIES, PART ONE: THE PROBLEM and EPISODE 52: RACE & RACISM IN ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL STUDIES, PART TWO: RESPONSES.Transcript of this episodeStar Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire CookbookLyceumThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 80: Runes and Early Writing Systems

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 94:54


    We take a look at the history of runes and their connection to early alphabets and Germanic culture. Then we take a trip back to the Phoenician and Egyptian origins of the modern English alphabet, and talk about some of the earliest examples of Greek writing, in inscriptions, epic poetry, and myth. Also, introducing Lyceum, a new platform for educational podcasting!Transcript of this episodeThe “Screaming Viking” cocktailLyceumNativLang's video Muslim Vikings & Magic Letters: The Odd History of Runes pt 1Images of English RunesThe story of Hyacinth (see under “Larkspur”) and images of possible “Ai Ai” flowers“THE TEXT: Signs of Writing in Homer.” Homer: The Poetry of the Past, by ANDREW FORD, Cornell University Press, Ithaca; London, 1992, pp. 131–171. JSTOR.The Runecast podcastThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Episode 79: Sex & Gender

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2020 87:23


    We trace the etymologies and development of the words “sex” and “gender”, as well as words for women and men in Greek, Latin, and English, touching on Roman, Greek, and medieval English ideas about gender. Then we discuss the grammatical term “gender” and how it differs across languages around the world.Transcript of this episodeThe History of Sex PodcastThe “Pink Lady” cocktailThis episode on YouTubeOur Patreon pageThis podcast is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International LicenseThe Endless Knot RSS

    Claim The Endless Knot

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel