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Everyone knows Athens and Sparta...and yet, THEBES is not the common household name it should be.From its captivating mythology to its fantastic history, we'll look at the archeology, the military, the legends and the truth of this essential city state.Featuring Paul Cartledge of Cambridge University, James Romm of Bard College, Stephen Dando-Collins of Turner Publishing, Stephanie Larson of Bucknell University, Joel Christensen of Brandeis University and Elton Barker of The Open University. Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/
We can flatter ourselves that we're essential, that we're one of the good guys, that we're preventing things from being worse. But are we? Or is that just what we want to believe?
What matters is how we bring the show to a close, what matters is the ending we give each scene.
We're in an election year here, not just in America but across the world. Let us learn from Seneca.
We wrote an email over at Daily Dad (please subscribe if you haven't!) recently which notes Robert F. Kennedy's troubled childhood in the troubled Kennedy household. His family mourned the loss of his older brother. They put their hopes in his brother John. They fretted about his sister. His father thought that Bobby had little potential, that he wasn't everything a young Kennedy should be, so the boy, as one Kennedy aide observed, was “overlooked.”That was unfair. It must have been painful. Yet Kennedy's biographer, Evan Thomas, would write that this turned out to be a gift, arguing that he “had been saved by neglect.” Because it meant Bobby didn't have to deal with all the pressure. It let him develop at his own pace. It also allowed him to develop a conscience and an ability to empathize that most of the rest of the family lacked.When we look at the life of Marcus Aurelius (if you want a biography try Lives of the Stoics or How To Think Like a Roman Emperor), we can see a similar pattern. His early days as a boy were defined by loss. His father, Verus, died when he was just three.If you want to do more reading on these topics, we highly recommend Dying Everyday by James Romm (and we have a podcast with him on this topic). Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe is a great modern read on one of the biggest crimes of the 20th/21st centuries. And for more on the life of Seneca and Thrasea and some Stoics who did resist Nero, check out Lives of the Stoics (signed copies here).✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail
Maybe you don't see yourself as an artist, just like Socrates didn't see himself as an athlete, but maybe you are. According to Mikel Jollett, the founder of the band The Airborne Toxic Event and the author of a fascinating and haunting memoir about his troubled childhood, we have to “take our pain and make it useful. That's what it means to be an artist.” His own art came from growing up in a cult his mother had joined, then living with her series of messed up husbands, struggling with addictions, getting in trouble at school, not knowing what he ought to do with his life. But all this struggle ultimately shaped him and in turn shaped the art he would make.-P.S. Building the skill to take the challenges life throws at you and transform them into something useful takes practice. That's why we created the Daily Stoic Challenge Deck, full of actionable daily challenges for you to push and develop yourself year round. Bundle your pack with the Challenge Deck Vol. II and save—available over at the Daily Stoic Store!If you want to do more reading on these topics, we highly recommend Dying Everyday by James Romm (and we have a podcast with him on this topic). Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe is a great modern read on one of the biggest crimes of the 20th/21st centuries. And for more on the life of Seneca and Thrasea and some Stoics who did resist Nero, check out Lives of the Stoics (signed copies here).-And today's Daily Stoic Journal reading, Ryan discusses what the Stoics teach us about keeping constant watch over the flood of perceptions that fill our minds. Ryan quotes Mark Manson's Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life reminding us to find the right things to care about.✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail
What new information could there have possibly been for Seneca, in 62 AD, when he finally broke with Nero? Nero had been deranged for years (as detailed in James Romm's excellent book Dying Every Day). He had been blood thirsty for years, unfit for leadership since almost the beginning. Seneca knew better from the beginning–the man was a philosopher and historian and could not have been deceived for long.We can sit here and judge. We can shake our heads in bafflement. But we really shouldn't.---And in todays Daily Stoic video excerpt, Ryan shares some of his favorite Stoic lessons passed on by his mentor, Robert Greene. You can watch the full video at youtube.com/watch?v=uhKrwkTp8as.✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail
This week's guest is James Romm, author of Demetrius: Sacker of Cities. James is an Ancient Historian and an expert in the period after the death of Alexander, when 5 families fought for control of his empire. Demetrius was one of them, and was a hugely attractive figure.Oliver and James chat about whether Alexander was murdered, Pyrrhus of Epirus and what would the ancient world would have looked like had Alexander had survived. We'd all be speaking Greek, no doubt.Coming up, the Film Club continues with Argo, directed by Ben Affleck. Please subscribe and rate and review if you can.James Romm LinksDemetrius: Sacker of CitiesGhost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the Bloody Fight for his EmpireJames on TwitterAspects of History LinksAlexander the Great in the Dock - Aspects of HistoryOllie on Twitter
From Persia to India to Greece – they called him The Great – that is Alexander the Great. Also known as Alexander III of Macedon, he was one of the most successful military leaders of all time. Undefeated by the time of his death in 323 BCE, he is still a go-to figure when people want to define an empire builder. But how should we view this often cruel and destructive militarist today in the light of current world events? And, despite his brutality, like his ransacking of the beautiful capital city of Persepolis, is there a more progressive side to Alexander, his desire for cultural assimilation for instance, that explains why he became an inspiration not just to nationalists and imperialists but also to writers, poets, and the gay community? To discuss the relevance of Alexander the Great today, Rana Mitter is joined by James Romm, Professor of Classics at Bard College in New York state whose latest book is Demetrius: Sacker of Cities, the failed but would-be successor to Alexander the Great; Dr Haila Manteghi from the University of Münster in Germany who's the author of Alexander the Great in the Persian tradition; Ali Ansari, Professor of Iranian History at the University of St Andrews in the UK; and Meg Finlayson, a specialist on the evolution of the queer Alexander, from the University of Durham in the UK. Produced by Anne Khazam for the BBC World Service. (Photo: The Alexander mosaic, a Roman floor mosaic from Pompei that dates from circa 100 BCE. Credit: Simone Crespiatico via Getty images)
Dimes and Judas discuss the academic legitimization of chemsex, Aboriginals in Canada getting 40 billion dollars to kill their own children faster, and Tindr as a dysgenics program. After a recounting of how Dimes took just 4 days to become an insane colonial warlord in the cannibal survival game The Forest, they climb into the history of Rome through the book "Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero" by James Romm. Here they explain the notorious reign of Emperor Nero and his relationship with his tutor, famed Stoic philosopher Seneca, a tale of dynastic treachery and a preposterous amount of poisoning while in search of the very first Rationalist Emperor. Lastly, on this edition of The Coporanos Society, Dimes speaks with John Carter of Postcards From Barsoom fame, delving into the masculinity crisis in higher academia, pimps being gay, and how to create a better 21st century man.
A portrait of one of the ancient world's first political celebrities, who veered from failure to success and back again “This colorful biography of Demetrius . . . explores his rich inner life and reveals an ancient world of violence and intrigue.”—New York Times Book Review The life of Demetrius (337–283 BCE) serves as a through-line to the forty years following the death of Alexander the Great (323–282 BCE), a time of unparalleled turbulence and instability in the ancient world. With no monarch able to take Alexander's place, his empire fragmented into five pieces. Capitalizing on good looks, youth, and sexual prowess, Demetrius sought to weld those pieces together and recover the dream of a single world state, with a new Alexander—himself—at its head. He succeeded temporarily, but in crucial, colossal engagements—a massive invasion of Egypt, a siege of Rhodes that went on for a full year, and the Battle of Ipsus—he came up just short. He ended his career in a rash invasion of Asia and became the target of a desperate manhunt, only to be captured and destroyed by his own son-in-law. James Romm tells the story of Demetrius the Besieger's rise and spectacular fall but also explores his vibrant inner life and family relationships to depict a real, complex, and recognizable figure.
In this episode of the Yale University Press podcast, we talk with author James Romm about his new book, Demetrius: Sacker of Cities. At the end of the episode, we discuss the larger goals of the Ancient Lives Series—to unfold the stories of thinkers, writers, kings, queens, conquerors, and politicians from all parts of the … Continue reading Ancient Lives with James Romm →
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Continuing with Sophocles' Antigone... There's nothing but tragedy in the city of Thebes. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: Sophocles' Antigone: quotes from the translation by Diane Rayor; translations by Frank Nisetich from The Greek Plays, new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Elizabeth Wyckoff and Robert Fagles may have also been referred to; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz; Theoi.com. If you're curious about the article about Antigone and feminism mentioned, find it here.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
In part three of Sophocles' Antigone, Kreon speaks with his son who was set to marry Antigone, and Antigone is finally sentenced to her death. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: Sophocles' Antigone: quotes from the translation by Diane Rayor; translations by Frank Nisetich from The Greek Plays, new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Elizabeth Wyckoff and Robert Fagles may have also been referred to; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz; Theoi.com.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Continuing with Sophocles' Antigone... Antigone is caught burying Polyneices, and both she and Ismene are going to be blamed by Kreon. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: Sophocles' Antigone: quotes from the translation by Diane Rayor; translations by Frank Nisetich from The Greek Plays, new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Elizabeth Wyckoff and Robert Fagles may have also been referred to; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz; Theoi.com.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
It's finally time for Sophocles' Antigone: the daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta deals with the aftermath of her family's horrifying legacy. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: Sophocles' Antigone: quotes from the translation by Diane Rayor; translations by Frank Nisetich from The Greek Plays, new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Elizabeth Wyckoff and Robert Fagles may have also been referred to; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz; Theoi.com.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Many listeners have written in expressing difficulty in accepting death and reframing it as the Stoics framed it. So, in today's episode, I speak with Professor of Classics at Bard University and author of "How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life" and "Dying Every Day, Seneca at the Court of Nero." During our conversation, James shares much about Seneca's life with me, and much about why overcoming death is critical to living a good life. We also discuss the concept of "dying well." -- Get rid of ads and support our work : https://link.stoicismpod.com/members Hang out with us in our free listener community: https://link.stoicismpod.com/discord Join our daily Stoic journaling program : https://link.stoicismpod.com/journaling Join our Stoic mentoring community : https://link.stoicismpod.com/path -- View a list of our sponsors : https://link.stoicismpod.com/sponsors -- Visit our website : https://stoicismpod.com Check out our reading list : https://stoicismpod.com/suggested-reading Read our articles : https://stoicismpod.com/category/articles -- Online copy of Meditations (Long) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-long Online copy of Meditations (Casaubon) : https://link.stoicismpod.com/meditations-casaubon Online copy of Seneca's Letters : https://link.stoicismpod.com/letters -- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Euripides is really here making us all fall for Menelaus and I don't know how to deal with it. Menelaus and Helen are reunited and plan their escape from Egypt.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: The Greek Plays edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Euripides' Helen translated by Emily Wilson. Thanks to Ash Strain for researching the play, as always!Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Things aren't looking good for Helen in Egypt, but then Menelaus rolls in and... makes things more difficult.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: The Greek Plays edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Euripides' Helen translated by Emily Wilson. Thanks to Ash Strain for researching the play, as always!Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
From classicist James Romm comes a “striking…fascinating” (Booklist) deep dive into the last decades of ancient Greek freedom leading up to Alexander the Great's destruction of Thebes - and the saga of the greatest military corps of the time, the Theban Sacred Band, a unit composed of 150 pairs of male lovers. The story of the Sacred Band, an elite 300-man corps recruited from pairs of lovers, highlights a chaotic era of ancient Greek history, four decades marked by battles, ideological disputes, and the rise of vicious strongmen. At stake was freedom, democracy, and the fate of Thebes, at this time the leading power of the Greek world. The tale begins in 379 BC, with a group of Theban patriots sneaking into occupied Thebes. Disguised in women's clothing, they cut down the agents of Sparta, the state that had cowed much of Greece with its military might. To counter the Spartans, this group of patriots would form the Sacred Band, a corps whose history plays out against a backdrop of Theban democracy, of desperate power struggles between leading city-states, and the new prominence of eros, sexual love, in Greek public life. After four decades without a defeat, the Sacred Band was annihilated by the forces of Philip II of Macedon and his son Alexander in the Battle of Chaeronea - extinguishing Greek liberty for two thousand years. Buried on the battlefield where they fell, they were rediscovered in 1880 - some skeletons still in pairs, with arms linked together. From violent combat in city streets to massive clashes on open ground, from ruthless tyrants to bold women who held their era in thrall, The Sacred Band recounts “in fluent, accessible prose” (The Wall Street Journal) the twists and turns of a crucial historical moment: the end of the treasured freedom of ancient Greece.
James Romm talks to Tom about the site of the Ancient Greek games, the subject of a new book by Judith Berringer, Olympia: A Cultural History. They discuss the various contests in which athletes competed, the punishment for those found cheating, the importance of the games as a political platform, and the colossal statue of Zeus in whose honour they were held.Subscribe to the LRB from just £1 per issue: https://mylrb.co.uk/podcast20bTitle music by Kieran Brunt / Produced by Anthony Wilks See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
A re-airing of Liv's 2019 episodes covering Euripides' Bacchae, one of his most gruesome and brilliant plays... Don't anger a god like Dionysus, even if he's your cousin.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: Bacchae, translated by Emily Wilson from The Greek Plays new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Bacchae and Other Plays translated by James Morwood, and Bakkhai translated by Anne Carson.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Alexander the Great, perhaps the most commanding leader in history, united his empire and his army by the titanic force of his will. His death at the age of thirty-two spelled the end of that unity. The story of Alexander's conquest of the Persian empire is known to many readers, but the dramatic and consequential saga of the empire's collapse remains virtually untold. It is a tale of loss that begins with the greatest loss of all, the death of the Macedonian king who had held the empire together. With his demise, it was as if the sun had disappeared from the solar system, as if planets and moons began to spin crazily in new directions, crashing into one another with unimaginable force. Alexander bequeathed his power, legend has it, “to the strongest,” leaving behind a mentally damaged half brother and a posthumously born son as his only heirs. In a strange compromise, both figures—Philip III and Alexander IV—were elevated to the kingship, quickly becoming prizes, pawns, fought over by a half-dozen Macedonian generals. Each successor could confer legitimacy on whichever general controlled him. At the book's center is the monarch's most vigorous defender; Alexander's former Greek secretary, now transformed into a general himself. He was a man both fascinating and entertaining, a man full of tricks and connivances, like the enthroned ghost of Alexander that gives the book its title, and becomes the determining factor in the precarious fortunes of the royal family. James Romm, brilliant classicist and storyteller, tells the galvanizing saga of the men who followed Alexander and found themselves incapable of preserving his empire. The result was the undoing of a world, formerly united in a single empire, now ripped apart into a nightmare of warring nation-states struggling for domination, the template of our own times.
I find it very fitting that with this 50th episode we are now transitioning into a new phase of Greek history. A point that is often officially seen where the Archaic Age ends and the Classical Age starts, its also where we say goodbye to Herodotus as our main foundational source and welcome in Thucydides. While it is also a major transitional event in the Greek world coming away from the Persian invasions, with all of the political and diplomatic developments that would occur leading to conflict from within the Greek world. Though, before picking back up the narrative, I wanted to provide an introduction to this period we will be spending quite some time with. To do this I have invited Prof. James Romm on the show to help give us an introduction to Thucydides and the subject of his history, the Peloponnesian War. I had decided to reach out to Prof. Romm as I had recently come across a book he was involved in titled “The Greek Histories” with came out this year. This work is focused on providing an introduction to a number of Ancient Greek writers, of who Thucydides was one. So, I felt this was perfect timing given where we were currently in the series. James Romm is an author, reviewer, and the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization. His reviews and essays have appeared in the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the London Review of Books, the Daily Beast, and other venues. He has held the Guggenheim Fellowship (1999-2000), the Birkelund Fellowship at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Writers and Scholars at the New York Public Library (2010-11), and a Biography Fellowship at the Leon Levy Center of the City University of New York (2014-15). Prof. Romm is also the author and editor of a number of books including but not limited to, The Sacred Band, Ghost on the Throne, The Greek Histories, the how to, an ancient guide series of books and the landmark Arrian, the Campaigns of Alexander the Great.James Romm's Links:WebsiteTwitterJames Romm's Books:The Greek Histories The Sacred Band How to Give: An Ancient Guide to Giving and Receiving How to Keep Your Cool: An Ancient Guide to Anger Management How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life Dying Every Day: SENECA AT THE COURT OF NERO Ghost on the Throne Herodotus The Edges oSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/castingthroughancientgreece)
In this episode, my guest is James Romm the author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero. James is a Professor of Classics at Bard College in NY. He specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture. He has also edited two books on Seneca for the Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series titled How to Die and How to Keep Your Cool. In the conversation, James and I discuss: The meaning of Dying Every DayThe Two Seneca'sFear and DeathLiving a meaningful lifeHumility and wisdomWisdom in daily life and much moreConnect with James Romm: jamesromm.com/Follow In Search of Wisdom:Twitter: twitter.com/searchofwisdomInstagram: instagram.com/searchofwisdompodcastSign-up for The PATH our free newsletter (short reflections on wisdom).
Soul Searching with Seneca is a part of the Walled Garden podcast network. The Walled Garden is a podcast and community by author, poet, and musician, Simon Drew, author and speaker, Sharon Lebell, and philosopher and author, Kai Whiting. To join The Walled Garden, go to thewalledgarden.com and use the promo code SENECA to get 30% off a Caretaker membership for life. Code available until July 2022. On The Walled Garden, you'll get access to over 100 unreleased episodes of Soul Searching with Seneca, and you'll have the option to attend weekly Soul Searching with Seneca meetups, as well as other exclusive events. To purchase Simon's book, The Poet & The Sage, go here: https://thewalledgarden.store/products/copy-of-the-poet-the-sage To listen to The Walled Garden Podcast, go here: https://thewalledgarden.com/the-walled-garden-podcast The book mentioned in this episode is called Dying Every Day by James Romm.
Today we talk to James Romm, a historian, and author of the book Sacred Band. James tells the story of the military corp, and how sexual politics influenced the different Greek city-states. There are multiple portrayals of homosexuality in Greece and Rome in modern media, and it has been painted to be a sort of “gay-topia”, but the truth is a bit more complicated. We talk to James about how the Greeks really felt about same-sex relationships, and how sexual relationships between soldiers really showed up as an advantage on the battlefield. Be sure to check out The Sacred Band by James Romm. Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety. Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride. Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com. Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana Alcala Have an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at lgbtq@strawhutmedia.com. *This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Sponsored by: First Republic Bank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today we talk to James Romm, a historian, and author of the book Sacred Band. James tells the story of the military corp, and how sexual politics influenced the different Greek city-states. There are multiple portrayals of homosexuality in Greece and Rome in modern media, and it has been painted to be a sort of “gay-topia”, but the truth is a bit more complicated. We talk to James about how the Greeks really felt about same-sex relationships, and how sexual relationships between soldiers really showed up as an advantage on the battlefield. Be sure to check out The Sacred Band by James Romm. Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety. Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride. Want more great shows from Straw Hut Media? Check out or website at strawhutmedia.com. Your producers are Levi Chambers, Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson and Edited by Silvana Alcala Have an interesting LGBTQ+ story to share? We might feature U! Email us at lgbtq@strawhutmedia.com. *This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media. Sponsored by: First Republic Bank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Prometheus tells Io of her ongoing story of suffering, but also hey! She's going to start quite the dynasty. Finally, Hermes arrives with news from Zeus.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: The Prometheus Bound (maybe) by Aeschylus: translations by Herbert Weir Smyth, James Romm, and George Theodoridis. All quotations from the Weir Smyth unless otherwise noted. Special thanks to Ash Strain for their help researching this episode! Follow Ash on Twitter: @ashstrain_.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Prometheus laments and laments, he meets the Titan Oceanus and, finally, the woman and survivor of Zeus, Io. The Prometheus Bound is an examination of tyranny and the rule of Zeus, king of the gods.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: The Prometheus Bound (maybe) by Aeschylus: translations by Herbert Weir Smyth, James Romm, and George Theodoridis. All quotations from the Weir Smyth unless otherwise noted. Special thanks to Ash Strain for their help researching this episode! Follow Ash on Twitter: @ashstrain_.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Prometheus gave humanity fire, but he paid the price. Prometheus is brought to his punishment and meets the chorus of Oceanids. The Prometheus Bound is an examination of tyranny and the rule of Zeus, king of the gods.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sources: The Prometheus Bound (maybe) by Aeschylus: translations by Herbert Weir Smyth, James Romm, and George Theodoridis. All quotations from the Weir Smyth unless otherwise noted. Special thanks to Ash Strain for their help researching this episode! Follow Ash on Twitter: @ashstrain_.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Joe speaks with Historian and Professor James Room, author of Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero, Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire, and The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Loves and the Fight to Save Greek Freedom. Joe and James discuss how reading ancient history can better prepare leaders for the challenges they will face in the 21st century. Also, Room recommends the best books for leaders who want to learn more about the lessons within ancient Greek and Roman literature.
The Theban Sacred Band was one of the greatest military corps of Ancient Greece, thriving from the city-state of Thebes for almost 50 years in the mid 4th century BC. In addition to their fighting prowess, however, there is another fascinating aspect to their history; this 300-man elite corps was made up of 150 pairs of male lovers, many of them buried side by side where they fell in battle. To hear more about this, Tristan spoke to James Romm, author, reviewer, and James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, New York. James gives us a glimpse of Theban democracy, power struggles between leading city-states, and the growth of eros, sexual love, in Greek public life. His book ‘The Sacred Band' is out now. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In today's episode, Eli and Alice review James Romm's new book, the Sacred Band, and we talk more generally about the Sacred Band of Thebes, an ancient Greek military unit made up of gay lovers. Featuring: Plato's Symposium, the power of gay love, and yet another instance of Queer As Fact coming up with an imaginary queer movie. Check out our website, where you can find out everything there is to know about Queer as Fact. If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us on Patreon, checking out our merch, and following us on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook.
Formed in 379 BC to combat the Spartan threat...Hailed by Plato as a force that could never be beaten...The last hope to preserve the freedom of Greece...Buried together on the spot they fell....300 male lovers reveal a dramatic ancient tale whose story will leave you gripped into the end. James Romm of Bard College, and author of the Sacred Band, discusses Sex, Soldiers and Thebes with Cambridge Professor, Paul Cartledge, and Columbia Professor, Helene Foley. Moderated by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. They delve into the history of Thebes, the evolution of male eros and the essential role of the Sacred Band in fighting for Greek democracy. About the Speakers: James Romm is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College and specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization. Dr. Romm is author of several books, including Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero, Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and most recently, “The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers fighting to save Greek Freedom”. Paul Anthony Cartledge is the A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Clare College. He has published extensively on Greek history over several decades, including The Cambridge Illustrated History of Ancient Greece, Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past as well as Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece (2020) Helene P. Foley is Professor of Classical Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University and a member of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at Columbia. She specialises in ancient Greek literature, women and gender in antiquity, and the reception of classical drama. Helene is author of many books, her most recent being Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American Stag.Anya Leonard, Founder and Director of Classical Wisdom, a platform dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to Modern Minds. For more information about Classical Wisdom and Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.comYou can buy the speakers' excellent books below: The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers fighting to save Greek Freedom: Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient GreeceReimagining Greek Tragedy on the American StagSign up to get Classical Wisdom's Free newsletter as well as a FREE E-book on the "Two Sides of Jesus", Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/free-e-book-two-sides-of-jesus/
Cal Flyn on Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape. James Romm talks about The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting To Save Greek Freedom. The post Cal Flyn, ISLANDS OF ABANDONMENT & James Romm, THE SACRED BAND appeared first on Writer's Voice.
James Romm is an author, reviewer, and the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, New York. In his new book, "The Sacred Band," Romm dives into the last decades of ancient Greek freedom leading up to Alexander the Great's destruction of Thebes and the saga of the greatest military corps of the age, the Theban Sacred Band, a unit composed of 150 pairs of male lovers.
In this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author James Romm about his book The Sacred Band. This is the almost untold story, of an elite fighting force comprised of 150 pairs of male lovers that defended Theban freedom from the Spartan machine in 379BC. While Spartan warriors often get idolized as the epitome of warriors, Romm tells us the story of the true Ancient Greek superpower, one that could only be overcome by Alexander the Great himself. Phenomenal read!
Murray and Mark talk to James Romm about his new book The Sacred Band: Three hundred Greek lovers fighting to save Greek freedom. The Sacred Band highlights a monumental era in history, one marked by war, ideological divide, the rise of eros in Greek public life, and the end of freedom. Romm reintroduces the tale of the Sacred Band—previously suppressed by the Greek historian Xenophon, who deeply mistrusted male eros—to the historical record. James Romm is an author, reviewer, and the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. Find us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast
The Sacred Band was an elite fighting force responsible for the rise of Thebes as the Greek superpower in the 4th century BC. According to ancient sources, it was also formed of 150 pairs of adult male lovers. I talk to historian and author James Romm about the origins and eventual defeat of the Sacred Band of Thebes.
The Sacred Band of Thebes, comprised entirely of gay male lovers, was Ancient Greece's original response to the gays in the military question. What was that like? How did it function? And what was its lasting legacy? That's what we're going to find out today, just in time for Pride Month. Here to help us do it is classicist James Romm, author of The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting to Save Greek Freedom. By the way, the New Yorker article referenced in the episode is "Ancient Greece's Army of Lovers" by Daniel Mendelsohn. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg and get a hand-drawn portrait. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.
The Sacred Band of Thebes, comprised entirely of gay male lovers, was Ancient Greece's original response to the gays in the military question. What was that like? How did it function? And what was its lasting legacy? That's what we're going to find out today, just in time for Pride Month. Here to help us do it is classicist James Romm, author of The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting to Save Greek Freedom. By the way, the New Yorker article referenced in the episode is "Ancient Greece's Army of Lovers" by Daniel Mendelsohn. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg and get a hand-drawn portrait. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Music and Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.deadideas.net.
What about Thebes? When thinking of the ancient Greek world, Athens and Sparta are the cities that jump to mind. Of Course the birth of Democracy and the Elite Warrior society capture the imagination right away. Perhaps after that, with the help of capitals and Hannibal's elephants, one might conjure Corinth or Carthage... but Poor little Thebes, so instrumental in history and mythology, often gets overlooked. In fact, when it comes to mythical origin legends, Thebes is rivaled only by Troy itself. It was in Thebes that Cadmus, one of the very first Greek Heroes, founded the citadel Cadmea and there sown the seeds of the Spartoi or "Sown Men", the origin of the Theban nobility.It was in Thebes young Dionysus was sewn into his father’s godly thigh after he had accidentally blown up poor the mother, Semele, into smithereens after jealous Hera tricked Zeus’s young lover into demanding the king of gods show his full - lightning bolt - glory. It was in Thebes that the seven gated wall was built by Amphion and his brother Zethus. It was in Thebes the tale of Laius, whose misdeeds culminated in the tragedy of Oedipus and the wars of the Seven against Thebes, took place. Outside the city walls, the path where Antigone dragged the dead body of her brother was a popular ancient tourist attraction. And of course it was in Thebes that Heracles, arguably the most famous of all the Greek heroes was born and raised. But it is not only for the incredibly rich and extensive myths that Thebes deserves our attention. Its historical relevance can not be understated; at one point Thebes was the most powerful city in ancient Greece. This peak culminated in 371 BC when the Thebans enjoyed a remarkable victory against Sparta - all due to the Sacred Band of Thebes. But who were these ancient warriors? What role did they play in Theban history... and maybe more importantly, what did the discovery of the burial site of the sacred band reveal about Thebes, its role in ancient politics as well as ancient Greek culture? This June 8th, you can find out. James Romm, chair of Classics at Bard College and author of "The Sacred Band", discusses Sex, Soldiers and Thebes with Cambridge Professor and author of “Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece”, Paul Cartledge, and Columbia Professor, Helene Foley. Join this fascinating conversation (including Q&A), hosted by Classical Wisdom, on Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 at noon EDT (That’s NY Time) to discover the history of Thebes, the evolution of male eros and the essential role of the Sacred Band in fighting for Greek democracy. Simply to go to https://classicalwisdom.com/sex-soldiers-thebes/ to learn how you can watch and participate in this live event for free.
The topic this week is How to Keep Your Cool, and my guest is James Romm, a Professor of Classics at Bard and the author of the book, How to Keep your Cool: An Ancient Guide to Anger Management. This is James' second appearance on The Good Life, he was a guest on episode #9 where he talked about Seneca. In this episode James talks about Seneca's famous essay, On Anger. Seneca is a Stoic, and his advice on how to control our anger draws heavily on Stoic philosophy. Seneca thinks anger is always harmful, so his advice is to avoid it altogether, and he offers a number of tips on how to do that. However, if we do slip into anger, he offers advice on how to cool ourselves down. What You'll Learn:Why anger is always harmful to usWhy Seneca compares anger to “jumping off a cliff”How to avoid anger altogetherHow to stop anger once it shows upHow to help others control their angerThe moral argument for non-violenceHow a close study of anger and it's causes will make us a better personBooks & ResourcesHow to Keep Your Cool: An Ancient Guide to Anger Management by James RommThe Good Life – Episode #7 – Seneca with James RommThe Good Life – Episode #8 – Stoicism with Donald Robertsonhttp://www.jamesromm.com/Connect with James RommTwitter: @jamesrommConnect with Sean MurrayEmail: seanm@realtimeperformance.comTwitter: @seanpmurray111LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanpmurray/Website: www.seanpmurray.netNewsletter: https://www.realtimeperformance.com/newsletter/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today’s episode features another section from James Romm’s How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life. How To Die is a modern translation and collection of Seneca’s musings on the shortness of life. James Romm is an author and professor of classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. His specialty is in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the London Review of Books, the Daily Beast, and more.This episode is also brought to you by Ladder, a painless way to get the life insurance coverage you need for those you care about most. Ladder makes the process of getting life insurance quick and easy. To apply, you only need a phone or laptop and a few minutes of time. Ladder’s algorithms work quickly and you’ll find out almost immediately if you’re approved. Go to ladderlife.com/stoic to see if you’re instantly approved today.This episode is also brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. LinkedIn Jobs is the best platform for finding the right candidate to join your business this fall. It’s the largest marketplace for job seekers in the world, and it has great search features so that you can find candidates with any hard or soft skills that you need. And now, you can post a job for free. Just visit linkedin.com/STOIC to post a job for free. ***If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into it and make it even better.Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: http://DailyStoic.com/signupFollow @DailyStoic:Twitter: https://twitter.com/dailystoicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic/Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailystoicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dailystoicFollow James Romm:Homepage: http://www.jamesromm.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamesromm
Today’s episode features a section from James Romm’s How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life. How To Die is a modern translation and collection of Seneca’s musings on the shortness of life. James Romm is an author and professor of classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. His specialty is in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the London Review of Books, the Daily Beast, and more.This episode is brought to you by LMNT, the maker of electrolyte drink mixes that help you stay active at home, work, the gym, or anywhere else. Electrolytes are a key part of a happy, healthy body. Right now you can receive a free LMNT Sample Pack for only $5 for shipping. To claim this exclusive deal you must go to drinkLMNT.com/dailystoic. This deal is only valid for the month of January. Get your FREE Sample Pack now. If you don’t love it, they will refund your $5 no questions asked.***If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into it and make it even better.Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: http://DailyStoic.com/signupFollow @DailyStoic:Twitter: https://twitter.com/dailystoicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic/Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailystoicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dailystoicFollow James Romm:Homepage: http://www.jamesromm.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamesromm
Ryan speaks with James Romm, an author and professor of Classics, about Seneca, one of the three key figures of Stoicism who later in life became an advisor to the emperor Nero. They discuss Seneca’s career as a writer and philosopher and the contemporary lessons we can draw from his life.James Romm is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, the London Review of Books, and in other venues. Professor Romm has written a number of books about classical antiquity, with subjects ranging from Herodotus and Tacitus to Seneca and Alexander the Great.Get Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero: https://geni.us/VocBYPGet Daily Stoic's Seneca bust: https://store.dailystoic.com/products/seneca-bustThis episode is brought to you by GoMacro. Go Macro is a family-owned maker of some of the finest protein bars around. They're vegan, non-GMO, and they come in a bunch of delicious flavors. Visit http://gomacro.com and use promo code STOIC for 30% off your order plus free shipping.***If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into it and make it even better.Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: http://DailyStoic.com/signupFollow @DailyStoic:Twitter: https://twitter.com/dailystoicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic/Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailystoicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dailystoicFollow James Romm: Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesRommHomepage: http://www.jamesromm.com/
On today's show, I talk with James Romm, Professor of Classics at Bard College and the author of the books Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero, and How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life. Seneca was an influential Stoic philosopher who left us with a number of masterful works on how to live and, interestingly, he also wrote a lot about how to die. You might be asking yourself, for a show about the Good Life, why so much talk of death? Well, as you'll learn from James in this episode, many philosophers through the years, Seneca included, believed that, if we want to get the most out of life, it's important to confront the ultimate end point we all face, and that is death. It can be helpful to start from the end and work backwards to cultivate a life that gets the most out of every day and doesn't leave us with regrets.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:Why Seneca viewed death as the ultimate testHow Seneca's advice to “die every day” is actually life affirmingHow life can be long if we know how to use itWhy many people believe Seneca was a hypocriteWhy Seneca is still relevant and widely read todayHELP US OUT!Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review! It takes less than 30 seconds and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it!BOOKS AND RESOURCESDying Every Day: Seneca in the Court of Nero by James RommHow to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life by James RommHow to Keep Your Cool: An Ancient Guide to Anger Management by James RommCapital One. This is Banking Reimagined.CONNECT WITH JAMES ROMMWebsite: http://www.jamesromm.com/Twitter: @jamesrommGET IN TOUCH WITH SEAN MURRAYSean's Twitter AccountSean's LinkedIn AccountEmail: Sean@TheInvestorsPodcast.comWebsite: RealTime Performance, Inc.Weekly Newsletter: RealTime Performance NewsletterRead the full transcript and show notes on: https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/the-good-life/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
The bloody, gruesome finale to Euripides' last play: Bacchae. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sponsor! Thrive Causementics: for 15% off your first purchase go to thrivecausmetics.com/MYTHSBABY and enter code MYTHSBABY . Simple Health: you can try for free with my code by going to simplehealth.com/MYTHSBABY or entering code MYTHSBABY at checkout. Sources: Bacchae, translated by Emily Wilson from The Greek Plays new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Bacchae and Other Plays translated by James Morwood, and Bakkhai translated by Anne Carson. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
The bloody, gruesome finale to Euripides' last play: Bacchae.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sponsor! Thrive Causementics: for 15% off your first purchase go to thrivecausmetics.com/MYTHSBABY and enter code MYTHSBABY . Simple Health: you can try for free with my code by going to simplehealth.com/MYTHSBABY or entering code MYTHSBABY at checkout.Sources: Bacchae, translated by Emily Wilson from The Greek Plays new translations edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, Bacchae and Other Plays translated by James Morwood, and Bakkhai translated by Anne Carson.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Dionysus, he's quite the god. Then, a detailed and dramatic telling of Euripides' Bacchae, one of the most violent plays of Greek tragedy.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.Sponsors! Truman's: for 50% off your Truman’s Starter Kit visit trumans.com and enter promo code MYTHSBABY at checkout. Everlywell: for 15% off an Everlywell at-home lab test, visit everlywell.com/mythsbaby and enter the code MYTHSBABY. Care/Of: for 25% off your first Care/Of order, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter MYTHSBABY.Sources: Euripides' Bakkhai by Anne Carson, Bacchae and Other Plays translated by James Morwood, Bacchae, translated by Emily Wilson, from the The Greek Plays edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, and Greek Myths by Robert Graves.Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold
Dionysus, he's quite the god. Then, a detailed and dramatic telling of Euripides' Bacchae, one of the most violent plays of Greek tragedy. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Sponsors! Truman's: for 50% off your Truman’s Starter Kit visit trumans.com and enter promo code MYTHSBABY at checkout. Everlywell: for 15% off an Everlywell at-home lab test, visit everlywell.com/mythsbaby and enter the code MYTHSBABY. Care/Of: for 25% off your first Care/Of order, go to TakeCareOf.com and enter MYTHSBABY. Sources: Euripides' Bakkhai by Anne Carson, Bacchae and Other Plays translated by James Morwood, Bacchae, translated by Emily Wilson, from the The Greek Plays edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm, and Greek Myths by Robert Graves. Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Stoicism in an Age of Anger - James Romm The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series, I'm Paul Vogelzang and this is episode #348. Today's show is brought to you by Storyworth.com As part of our Smithsonian Associates series, we are joined today by author and stoicism scholar, James Romm. James Romm will be appearing at the Smithsonian Associates, May 10, 2019, and his presentation is entitled, Seneca and Stoicism: An Ancient Philosophy's Modern Relevance. For tickets and more details about James Romm at the Smithsonian Associates program, please go here: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/244876?utm_source=RAad&utm_medium=OAtsa&utm_content=mwX&utm_campaign=MayWe Today's show is brought to you by https://Storyworth.com, but please go to: https://storyworth.com/better for $20 off your subscription. More details can be found at https://notold-better.com
Few people have studied the life and writings of Seneca as deeply as James Romm has. Romm is the author of a great biography of Seneca, Dying Every Day, a translation of Seneca’s various thoughts on death, How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life, and his newest work, How To Keep Your Cool: An Ancient Guide to Anger Management, presenting one of Seneca’s most timely essays, On Anger.Each of us should take a minute to think back, even in just the past week, to the times we’ve been angry or short-tempered and think, "Has this ever served me well?" The answer very very rarely yes. Anger, as Seneca says, always makes things worse: “No plague has cost the human race more dear.” But it’s a hard emotion to combat. It’s natural, often almost instinctual. In our interview with Romm, we wanted some real practical tips about managing our anger, so we asked what he thought was Seneca’s best piece of advice:My own favorite is summed up in the quote: "Do you want to be less angry? Be less aware." Anger often starts from noticing too many subtleties of the way others interact with us. In many cases, we'd do better not to notice the slights and microaggressions that can drive us nuts if we let them. One can will oneself to ignore such things—a practice many long-married couples will instantly recognize!Today, when you feel that anger start to boil up—someone cuts you off in traffic, your computer glitches when you just can’t afford it to, the waitress messes up your order despite very careful instructions—stop, step back, and ask yourself, what if I didn’t pay any attention to that? What if I hadn’t noticed? Would I still be bothered? Would I need to be this angry? It brings to mind what Marcus said, “You don’t have to turn this into something. It doesn’t have to upset you.”Because you don’t have to be aware of it.
In his essay “On Anger” (De Ira), the Roman Stoic thinker Seneca argues that anger is the most destructive passion, and offers a timeless guide to avoiding and managing this dangerous emotion. In this podcast, Raj Persaud talks to the editor and translator of Seneca’s work, James Romm, about the relevance of this philosophy, which has arguably never been more relevant than it is today.
When Red Hook High School Student Abby Romm was 15, she decided that she wanted to spend a year abroad. She had learned of the Rotary Youth Exchange program and applied, listing Spain as her first choice, since she had already studied Spanish; but she was happy to learn she would be going to Italy, a country she had visited 8 years earlier and loved. Somewhere in the process, she told her parents, who hesitated at first but then approved and now agree with Abby that it was one of the best things she could do. Her father, Bard College Professor Dr. James Romm, briefly joins the RadioRotary interview with Ms. Ram and reports that now Abby is a citizen of the world as a result of the Youth Exchange experience. Listen to the show for her account of her exciting exchange year. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support
This action packed episode covers Alexander's travels and tribulations in Egypt, the nature of godhood, and closes with the final confrontation with Darius at Gaugamela. Episode Notes; hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2019/09/30/009-the-age-of-alexander-son-of-a-god-king-of-the-world/ Twitter: twitter.com//HellenisticPod iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-h…d1377920930?mt=2 Sources Used : “The Anabasis of Alexander” - Arrian “Life of Alexander” - Plutarch “Library of History” – Diodorus Siculus “The History of Alexander” – Quintus Curtius Rufus Collins, A. Alexander's Visit to Siwah: A New Analysis. Phoenix, vol. 68, no.1, pp. 62-77 Devine, A. M. “Grand Tactics at Gaugamela.” Phoenix, vol. 29, no. 4, 1975, pp. 374–385. Shaw, Ian. “The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt”. New York: Oxford University Press. 2000. Print Stoneman, Richard. ‘Alexander the Man (and God?)'. The Landmark Arrian. Ed. James Romm. New York: Anchor Books. 2010. Strauss, Barry. “Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership”. New York: Simon & Schuster 2012. Print
A conversation with classics professor James Romm about mortality, Stoicism, the ambivalent freedom offered by suicide, and his new book of Seneca translations, How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life (Princeton).
James Romm is an author, reviewer, and the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College in Annandale, NY. After getting his B.A. in […] The post #77 – JAMES ROMM appeared first on Alexander.
In this month's episode:- Who killed Alexander the Great? James Romm discusses new evidence about the mysterious death of the revered Macedonian ruler in 323 BC;- John Guy reappraises the relationship between Thomas Becket and Henry II;- and Patrick Bishop recalls his time with the British Task Force sent to reclaim the Falkland islands in 1982. We welcome your comments and suggestions about any topic discussed in this episode; go to http://historytoday.com/podcast for more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.