Best Hellenistic Age Podcasts (2024)

1
Interview: The "Flight of Seleucus" and Dynastic Propaganda, with Angus Jacobson 44:49

3d ago44:49

44:49

It's never easy coming up with your own origin story, and the ascendant Hellenistic dynasties tried their best to justify their legitimacy in an age of shifting alliances. PhD candidate Angus Jacobson joins the show to discuss the "Flight of Seleucus" story presented to us by Libanius of Antioch (314-392 A.D.), offering insights as to how the Succe…

1
What is Hellenism w/ Derek from The Hellenistic Age Podcast 1:06:29

1h ago1:06:29

1:06:29

I sat down for a chat with Derek from the Hellenistic Age Podcast (@HellenisticPod) so he could explain the basics of Hellenism and this new era that emerged in the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests. The Hellenistic Age Podcast https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/ Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | T…

1
127: War of the Regents 30:08

1h ago30:08

30:08

Within just two years of Alexander the Great's death, the conqueror's empire shattered into civil war as Perdiccas threatened the most powerful nobles in the empire to solidify his own power as regent. Together with Eumenes, Alkestas, and a host of loyalists generals, the Perdiccid faction faced down Antipater, Antigonus, Craterus, and Ptolemy. It …

1
Welcome to Çatalhöyük, Population ? Or, Does Size Matter, Neolithic Edition 53:35

11d ago53:35

53:35

Today we’re talking about research suggesting Çatalhöyük was way less populous than once thought, like, hundreds and not thousands of people. How many people does it take to get stuff done anyway, and what’s up with all the frescoes and cow heads? Come for the Neolithic, suffer through a deep dive with Patrick McGoohan, Mayberry, and Lake Wobegone!…

1
126! A Brave New World 42:56

2h ago42:56

42:56

History of Persia is back as we enter the Hellenistic Age. From a veterans' revolt in Bactria to the Lamian War in Greece, Perdiccas became the new regent of Alexander the Great's Empire in a chaotic time of shifting allegiances. The Hellenistic Age Podcast https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/ Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support thi…

1
The Case of the Missing Branch of the Nile That Everyone Sort of Knew Had to be There Right Next to the Pyramids, or, You Can See a Lot of Cool Stuff from Space or Maybe With a Really Tall Ladder 33:59

5d ago33:59

33:59

New research shows that a long vanished branch of the Nile came right up to the pyramids at Giza, which made it easier to make deliveries. You’d think someone would have noticed that a branch of the river vanished but what do we know. Maybe it was one of those slowly, then all at once situations.By thisweekintheancientneareast

351
098: Hellenistic Science - Mechanics, Engineering, and Technology 39:40

19d ago39:40

39:40

The developments in theoretical mathematics were also translated into practical (and sometimes impractical) applications during the Hellenistic period. New weapons of war like torsion catapults and enormous ships found their way on the battlefield, and this love for all things big extended to Rhodian architects who constructed their famous Colossus…

1
Episode S8 - Decumbo 35:17

16d ago35:17

35:17

Synopsis: Part 2 of a two-part Spotlight series on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Galerius: refugee, herdsman, soldier, Caesar, Augustus, Tetrarch, conqueror, schemer, would-be ruler of the (Dacian?) Empire, and persecutor of the Christians. A rollicking Third Century romp inspired by my current residence in his former tetrarchal capital of…

1
Must Listen Announcement!!!! (and the History of Gold minisode) 30:33

18d ago30:33

30:33

Very important announcements and updates about History of Persia and America: Secret Wars. Please visit our new fundraising page at HoPfulMedia.com.co ! Patrons look for a special update just for you posting imminently! New subscribers use code ALEXANDER to get 1 month free when you sign up before July 31, 2024 New annual subscribers use code GIZIS…

1
And Now Even Iron Age Jerusalem Gets Radiocarbonated! Or, Hezekiah Climbs the Hallstadt Plateau 52:45

1M ago52:45

52:45

A new collection of radiocarbon dates from Jerusalem has clarified the westward expansion of the city in the Iron Age and helped archaeologists overcome the Hallstadt Plateau. You know, that dull and listless part of the radiocarbon curve? So why are we arguing so much? It’s a regular three ring circus, but with a shoutout to the real king of Jerus…

1
Episode 2 Remastered 52:54

28d ago52:54

52:54

Last time, we got up to speed on what was going on in the Near East in the centuries before the Persians showed up. What we didn't cover, was who exactly are these "Persians," and what were they doing while their future empire was being taken over by the Assyrians. This time, we figure that out as we follow some steppe nomads called the Proto-Indo-…

1
Episode S7 - Ascendo 31:28

1M ago31:28

31:28

Synopsis: Part 1 of a two-part Spotlight series on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Galerius: refugee, herdsman, soldier, Caesar, Augustus, Tetrarch, conqueror, schemer, would-be ruler of the (Dacian?) Empire, and persecutor of the Christians. A rollicking Third Century romp inspired by my current residence in his former tetrarchal capital of…

1
For Fuller, Redder Bronze Age Lips, or, It's That Lipstick from Iran 40:53

1M ago40:53

40:53

This week we’re talking about the discovery in Iran of a carved stone tube containing glittery red lipstick. Was it for women or men? Was it for fancy people or regular folks? Was it garish or tasteful? Who are we to judge? One way or another, pop is the word of the day!By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
Episode 1 Remastered! 50:36

2M ago50:36

50:36

Remastered - Here we go, episode 1! Now, as much as I want to get to Persian history, we should probably know at least a little bit about the world before the Persians got there, so this is you lightspeed tour of the Near East, from about 1200 BCE to 616 BCE. Maps for everything are available on the website. Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone …

1
097: Hellenistic Science - Mathematics 26:44

2M ago26:44

26:44

The third century B.C. witnessed the greatest outburst of Greco-Roman mathematics in the entirety of antiquity. Euclid of Alexandria's "Elements" served as *the* textbook in the study of geometry for over two thousand years, while the archetypal mad scientist Archimedes of Syracuse allegedly was so fond of mathematical inquiries that it lead to his…

1
[Ex] Creation by Gore Vidal - Swords Sorcery & Socialism Crossover Part 2 1:06:31

2M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Trevor and Aurora from Swords, Sorcery, and Socialism found the perfect crossover episode with Creation by Gore Vidal: a historical fiction novel set in the 5th Century BCE that follows a fictional descendant of Zoroaster on his worldwide journey to understand the mysteries of the universe. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * C…

1
A Tale of Two Cities, Which Happen to be from the Hellenistic Period and are Located on the Euphrates River Only a Few Miles from Each Other, or, Dura Europos and its One Sister 47:13

2M ago47:13

47:13

Today we’re talking about the possibility that the famous site of Dura Europos – you know, the giant Hellenistic multicultural walled city with a synagogue, church and temples etc., had a twin, just six kilometers down the Euphrates River. A twin in Bucks County, Pennsylvania would be more surprising but you take what you can get.…

1
[Ex] Creation by Gore Vidal - Swords Sorcery & Socialism Crossover Part 1 1:22:47

2M ago1:22:47

1:22:47

Trevor and Aurora from Swords, Sorcery, and Socialism found the perfect crossover episode with Creation by Gore Vidal: a historical fiction novel set in the 5th Century BCE that follows a fictional descendant of Zoroaster on his worldwide journey to understand the mysteries of the universe. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * C…

1
That Sunny Little Temple at Tel Azekah, or, The Temple’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades 50:52

2M ago50:52

50:52

The Late Bronze Age temple at Tell Azekah in the Judean Shephelah has us wondering, why does it face the sun, why is it so small, how often was it used, and how could you possibly have a wedding there? Not that we’re looking for a place, mind you. With an obvious and well deserved shoutout to Timbuk 3!…

1
What if Cyrus III? Choose Your Own Alt History Live 1:53:01

3M ago1:53:01

1:53:01

This is audio from the live event with Sariel and Umberto from So You Think You Can Rule Persia last year. I wrote a wildly over complicated Choose Your Own Adventure script about alternate histories if Cyrus the Younger defeated Artaxerxes II. So You Think You Can Rule Persia Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Roset…

1
125.2 Ask Me Anything Again... Again 56:44

3M ago56:44

56:44

You, the listeners of this very podcast, are phenomenal, thoughtful, inquisitive people. So I have done my very best to answer your many, many questions about the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, and myself. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram History of the Celts r/AskHistorians post about supply lines Patreon RSS feed instruct…

1
125.1: Ask Me Anything Again 56:36

3M ago56:36

56:36

You, the listeners of this very podcast, are phenomenal, thoughtful, inquisitive people. So I have done my very best to answer your many, many questions about the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, and myself. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram r/AskHistorians post about supply lines Patreon RSS feed instructions Persian Music by…

1
The Love Call of the De-Extincted Mammoth, or, Ethics in Paleo-genomic Research (for Fun and Profit) 37:01

3M ago37:01

37:01

Today we’re talking about efforts to recreate woolly mammoths, apparently in order to 1) combat climate change, 2) cure cancer, and 3) re-wild the tundra. Our first reactions are, what? But our second reactions are a deep dive into the ethics of paleo-genomic research. Finally, there’s a shoutout to everyone’s favorite giant armadillo tank, Tarkus,…

1
096: Hellenistic Science - Medicine and the Healing Arts 40:13

3M ago40:13

40:13

As the first episode in our series on science and technology, we begin by looking at the advancements in medicine during the Hellenistic Age. In Alexandria, Herophilus and Erasistratus became the first doctors to practice human dissections in any significant capacity until the Middle Ages, greatly improving our understanding of anatomy and physiolo…

1
The Case of the Roman Medical Instruments from Southwest Turkey, Or, The Doctor Will See What’s Left of You Now 37:35

4M ago37:35

37:35

A Roman medical office in southwestern Turkey has us talking medicine. Were the same instruments used for cataracts and hemorrhoids? What kind of insurance did gladiators have anyway? Our contestants are concerned about sanitary conditions, however. With an inevitable shoutout to Theodoric, Barber of York.…

1
124: All Hail the New Gods 45:27

4M ago45:27

45:27

A new Hellenistic Age is dawning in the History of Persia, and with it come new Hellenistic gods and beliefs. Everyone is at least vaguely familiar with Greek mythology, but before we go any further, we should all be on the same page. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great …

1
ASW 04: Triesta, a hot start to the Cold War II 1:01:52

4M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Trevor is joined by Roberto Toro and Brendan Foster (@foster_writing) of The History of Saqartvelo Georgia (@History_Georgia) and Tsar Power (@TsarPowerPod) podcasts to discuss the post war occupation of Trieste and how tensions with Yugoslavia almost started World War III less than a year after World War II. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagra…

1
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep in Antiquity, or Sleeping with the Television on in the Ancient Near East? 44:27

4M ago44:27

44:27

What was sleep like in antiquity and was it really that different from today? Aside from all the sheep next to you, the guy knapping flint at midnight, and having to climb a ladder and run across the rooftops in order to go to the bathroom, that is.By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
ASW 03: Trieste, a hot start to the Cold War I 1:03:33

4M ago1:03:33

1:03:33

Trevor is joined by Roberto Toro and Brendan Foster (@foster_writing) of The History of Saqartvelo Georgia (@History_Georgia) and Tsar Power (@TsarPowerPod) podcasts to discuss the post war occupation of Trieste and how tensions with Yugoslavia almost started World War III less than a year after World War II. Patreon | Twitter | Facebook | Instagra…

1
123: Fever Pitch 36:09

4M ago36:09

36:09

Nowruz Mubarak! To celebrate the year 1394/2413/3762, I killed The Accursed Alexander of Rome, and covered the aftermath. Patreon | Support Page | STORE Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia…

1
Remember That Time When Alexander the Great Became Ningirsu? Or, Naming Rights in Mesopotamia 43:22

4M ago43:22

43:22

A temple dedicated to Alexander the Great at the Mesopotamian site of Girsu has us asking questions. Was this the meta-crossover event of the century or just some guys in an office making some plaques for a foreign chump passing through? Our contestants disagree but give a special shoutout to Molly Pitcher, heroine of the New Jersey Turnpike!…

1
ASW: America's Very First War II 1:10:06

5M ago1:10:06

1:10:06

For part 2, Trevor is joined by Asha (@Herbo_Anarchist) of the “Swords, Sorcery, and Socialism” podcast (@SwordsNSocPod) to explain Secret Wars and discuss the first ever war fought by the United States’ armed forces after gaining independence: a border dispute between Georgia and the Muskogee (Creek) Confederacy from 1785-1790. Download Patreon | …

1
095: Ptolemaic Egypt - The Two Lands Restored 37:54

5M ago37:54

37:54

Twenty years of chaos in the Ptolemaic kingdom come to an end during the reign of Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-180). His marriage to the Seleucid princess Cleopatra I Syra confirmed the loss of Coele Syria to Antiochus III, yet she proved to be a good match and helped secure the future of the dynasty. Haronnophoris and the Great Revolt are finally put …

1
122: Alexander in Love 37:01

5M ago37:01

37:01

Alexander the Great had many relationships, both romantic and familial. From mother and father, Olympias and Philip, to a vast array of step-mothers and siblings to at least four romantic and sexual partners, the Macedonian royal family was as vast as it was confusing and controversial. Patreon | Support Page | STORE Twitter | Facebook | Instagram …

1
How to Decorate a Philistine Temple, or, Flower Power Tell es Safi Style 52:43

5M ago52:43

52:43

Plant remains from the Philistine temples at Tell es Safi (aka Gat) have us asking questions. Sure they’re lovely seasonal items but were they tastefully displayed? How about those strong parallels in Greece? And for the very first time the listener stops by with an unexpected tale of a visit to tunnels beneath Nineveh, newly liberated from ISIS!…

1
ASW: America's Very First War I 1:05:02

5M ago1:05:02

1:05:02

For the very first episode of America: Secret Wars, Trevor is joined by Asha (@HerboAnarchist) of the “Swords, Sorcery, and Socialism” podcast to explain Secret Wars and discuss the first ever war fought by the United States’ armed forces after gaining independence: a border dispute between Georgia and the Muskogee (Creek) Confederacy from 1785-179…

1
A Great, Big, Announcement (and the coins of Alexander the Great) 30:54

5M ago30:54

30:54

A massive announcement episode to explain my new podcast: America - Secret Wars, some news about the History of Persia, and Alexander the Great's coinage. Listen to America: Secret Wars Apple | Spotify | RSS Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcirc…

1
111 The Spartan Hegemony 2:18:00

5M ago2:18:00

2:18:00

In this episode, we discuss Spartan imperial policy at home and abroad in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War at Sparta from 404-396 BC, including their war with Elis, the imperial ambitions of Lysander and the ascension of Agesilaos, Kinadon's foiled socio-political revolution, and Sparta's invasion of Persia to "free" the Eastern Greeks Show N…

1
Dog Days of Domestication, or, Humans and Canines from Prehistory to the Present 47:40

5M ago47:40

47:40

Today we’re talking about what it means when dogs wags their tails, and then working backward about 15,000 years to the question of their domestication. Sure dogs help, herd and guard us humans, but in the process did they help us learn to love? If Scooby and Shaggy are any indication, then the answer is clear. With a special shoutout to Tucker, ac…

1
121: The Conquests to Come 27:58

6M ago27:58

27:58

In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great was preparing for future campaigns. Some sources say that Alexander wanted to defeat Carthage. Others say Alexander planned to attack Rome, but the most likely candidate was actually Alexander's planned Arabian campaign. Patreon | Support Page | STORE Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta S…

1
120: King the Conqueror 35:53

6M ago35:53

35:53

In 324 BCE, Alexander the Great took his first real break from war since he became king. At Susa, he orchestrated the mass marriage of his highest officers with Iranian noblewomen and honored the war heroes of his recent campaigns. Alexander faced another mutiny at Opis before heading to Ecbatana, where his closest companion, Hephaestion, died sudd…

1
Hello Assyriological Computer, Or, Artificial Intelligence and the Ancient Near East? 38:21

6M ago38:21

38:21

The growing ability of Artificial Intelligence to transliterate and translate Mesopotamian texts has us asking questions. Will AI be a force for good, putting texts into the hands of the people or will it throw folks out of work and let charlatans push out nonsense? You're asking us? Anyway, as a bonus, our contestants offer touching memories of th…

1
119: Pirates of the Arabian 33:51

6M ago33:51

33:51

While Alexander the Great crossed Gedrosia, Nearchus sailed from the Indus to explore the Arabian Sea and chart the coast of the Macedonian Empire. They faced obstacles, became pirates, and fought seas monsters before even reaching the Persian Gulf. Patreon | Support Page | STORE Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Ston…

1
118: Dead Men's Rest 43:40

6M ago43:40

43:40

After the Battle of the Hydaspes, Alexander the Great began moving south through the Indus River Valley, battling the Mallians before nearly dying during the siege of their capital city. When he recovered, the Macedonians began to move west for their homeward journey, leaving only Nearchus' fleet and a few small garrisons behind. Patreon | Support …

1
Listening to Ancient Greek Sanctuaries, Or, The Past Was a Noisy Country 44:42

6M ago44:42

44:42

Psychoacoustic search at the Sanctuary of Zeus on Mount Lycaion shows that the builders constructed an entire site around sound. You could hear everything from the cheap seats, but was the experience really social rather than acoustic? With special shoutouts to The Who, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Boston area favorite, Human Sexual Response!…

1
094: The Senate vs Scipio Africanus 49:14

6M ago49:14

49:14

Rome hoped that the Peace of Apamea would instill some sort of order over the eastern Mediterranean, allowing them to return to Italy after decades of warfare. Yet the vacuum of power left behind in a post-Seleucid Asia Minor would lead to fierce competition, with those like Eumenes II of Pergamon and Pharnaces I of Pontus waging war against their …

1
117: At World's End 40:38

7M ago40:38

40:38

After subduing Bactria, Alexander the Great invaded India. The crossing through the Hindu Kush was heavily contested by various mountain peoples. The Macedonians conquered each opponent before facing of with King Porus in the Battle of the Hydaspes River. Patreon | Support Page | STORE Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosett…

1
The Neolithic Canoes of Capri, Or, Have Obsidian, Will Travel? 29:25

7M ago29:25

29:25

Like most people, the find of an obsidian core on the seafloor off Capri has us asking, how did a chunk of the Neolithic period’s favorite shiny stone get to the bottom of the Mediterranean and, was a sunken canoe involved? After answering “who knows,” our (non-sailing) contestants are left to ponder the bravery of those who sailed in the Neolithic…