The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss the construction, the history, and the significance of the main buildings on the Athenian Acropolis (the Parthenon, The Propylaia, The Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and a few others); together, these buildings mark the high point of the glorification of Athens, and the Acropolis thus became a confident assertion of Athens' cultural leadership of Greece, a bold endorsement of her self-image, and a dazzling instrument of political propaganda, with the result that many people later would consider the Athenian Acropolis to be the symbol of the legacy and the glories of Classical Greece Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/12/065-athenian-acropolis.html

11 Joulu 201752min

In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, craftsmanship, and strategic warfare who served as a kind of symbol for the city of Athens and civilization in general Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/12/064-protectress-of-athens.html

4 Joulu 201757min

In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Poseidon, the violent and unpredictable god who ruled over the sea Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/063-lord-of-sea.html

27 Marras 201743min

In this episode, we discuss the Attic calendar year with a focus on the agricultural festivals and ceremonies; starting in the fall at the time of sowing we work our way around the year, month-by-month, until it is time to sow once again; particular attention is given to the Thesmophoria and the Eleusinian Mysteries but a dozen or so other festivals are described, including the Pyanepsia, the Oschophoria, the Chalkeia, the Proerosia, the Apaturia, the Haloa, the Thargelia, the Skira, the Kronia, the Herakleia, and the Boedromia (excluded are the Rural Dionysia, the Lenaia, the City Dionysia, and the Anthesteria) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/062-agricultural-festivals.html   Intro by Travis Dow of Podcastnik Website: http://www.podcastnik.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/podcastnik

20 Marras 20171h

In this episode, we discuss the primordial goddess Gaia (the personification of Mother Earth) and her relationship with Demeter, the goddess of agriculture; the myths and iconography of Demeter and her daughter Persephone / Kore (including the daughter's abduction by Hades); Persephone's dual role as Queen of the Underworld and an agriculture goddess, like her mother; and the various ways in which these two were worshipped together, particularly in the Peloponnese and Magna Graecia (but not including their Attic cults)  Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/11/061-two-goddesses.html   Intro by Steve Guerra of the History of the Papacy Podcast Website: https://www.atozhistorypage.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfThePapacyPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/atozhistory

13 Marras 201745min

In this episode, we discuss the mysterious, shadowy figure of Hades (Lord of the Underworld); the Greek perception of the afterlife and those who dwell in it; necromancy (the summoning of the dead to answer questions); where and how one can make a katabasis (decent) into the Underworld; and Homer's description of the abode of Hades in Book Eleven of the Odyssey and then comparing and contrasting that with the description found in Virgil's Aeneid Book Six, all while taking a tour of the Underworld, its major features, and its inhabitants Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/060-underworld.html   Intro by Chad Davies of The Scientific Odyssey Podcast Website: http://thescientificodyssey.typepad.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thescientificodyssey Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaddavies

30 Loka 20171h 1min

In this episode, we discuss the myths, iconography, and cultic worship of Zeus, the mighty patriarch who ruled over Mount Olympus; included are his Indo-European origins as the supreme sky god; his role as the god who maintains order and justice by presided over normative civic, social, and family relationships; his connection with Themis (Divine Law), Nemesis (Revenge), and the three Moirai (the Fates); his worship as a rain-making, agricultural deity, both on mountain peaks (Attica and Crete) and the Underworld (symbolizing the regenerative life cycle); his worship in Arcadia and its relationship to werewolf transformation and human sacrifice; his oracles at Dodone and Siwa (where he was syncretized with Libyan god Ammon); his Pan-Hellenic sanctuary at Olympia; his connection with Nike (Victory) and his worship as a savior or bringer of freedom against foreign foes (Persia and Carthage); and the "philosophical Zeus" that arose when many people began to question polytheistic religions during the Hellenistic Period Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/059-olympian-zeus.html   Intro by Lee Accomando of the Viking Age Podcast Website: http://vikingagepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vikingagepod Twitter: https://twitter.com/VikingAgePod

23 Loka 201754min

In this episode, we discuss the innovation during the 5th century BC in the realm of temple building (outside of Attica); included are the Temple of Aphaia at Aegina, the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Hera II at Poseidonia (Paestum), the Temple of Victory at Himera, the Temple of Apollo at Syracuse, the Valley of the Temples at Akragas, the Temple of Hera at Selinus, the unfinished temple at Segesta, and the Temple of Apollo at Bassae Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/10/058-classical-temples.html   Intro by Ben Jacobs of the Wittenberg to Westphalia: Wars of the Reformation Podcast Website: http://wittenbergtowestphaliapodcast.weebly.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wittenbergtowestphalia Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2wpodcast

16 Loka 201746min