The Ancients2 Des 2023

Origins of Sparta

Considered one of Athens' biggest rivals, and known for their bloodthirsty and brutal nature - there's a reason the Spartans have been immortalised in history. With longstanding mythological origins, little is known about the early days of Sparta. From rumoured descendants of Heracles, through to the mythical lawmaker Lycurgus, it can be hard to separate fact and fiction. So what do we actually know about the origins of Sparta? And is there any archaeological evidence to back these claims up?

In the first episode of our new Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes historian and author Dr Andrew Bayliss to the podcast, to take a deep dive into Sparta's murky beginnings. Looking at the myths used to define Spartan society, the available archaeological sources, and examining how myth and history has combined - is it possible to discern how Sparta was founded? And more importantly, by who?

You can buy Andrew's book here.

Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code ANCIENTS sign up now for your 14-day free trial HERE.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(645)

The Catiline Conspiracy

In 63 BC, Rome faced a conspiracy that threatened to tear the Roman Republic apart. At its centre stood two figures: Marcus Tullius Cicero, the grand old orator of Rome and Lucius Sergius Catilina, ac...

2 Aug 1h 4min

Alexander the Great's Mad Scientist

WARNING: graphic descriptions of violence and warfareMeet Diades, Alexander the Great’s overlooked military engineer, the man who made the impossible siege of Tyre happen.Tristan Hughes and Professor ...

30 Jul 1h 12min

Hollywood’s Odyssey: The Historians' Verdict

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film Odyssey brings Homer’s epic roaring back to life and Tristan Hughes and Dr. Emily Hauser are here to unpack every storm, monster and star-making turn. From the bri...

26 Jul 1h 10min

The First New Zealanders

What if the first New Zealanders crossed an ocean, landed in a brand-new world, and built a whole society in just a few generations?Tristan Hughes and Dr Richard Walter tell the story of East Polynesi...

23 Jul 56min

Odyssey | Sea of Monsters & Slaughter of the Suitors

When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, his homecoming turns into a ruthless reckoning. Tristan Hughes and Dr. Emily Hauser dive into the shocking climax of Homer’s Odyssey, where hospitality, vengea...

19 Jul 1h 8min

Caral: Oldest City in the Americas?

Long before the age of the Inca and Maya, a remarkable city once flourished on the coast of modern Peru. Founded more than five thousand years ago, the sacred city of Caral is home to monumental pyram...

16 Jul 57min

Odyssey | Cyclops, Circe and Calypso

What if the world’s most famous homecoming was really a nightmare of monsters, gods, and one very stubborn king trying to get back to Ithaca?In our new series Tristan Hughes and classicist Dr. Emily H...

12 Jul 1h 4min

Egypt's Book of the Dead

For over a thousand years, the Book of the Dead guided ancient Egyptians through the afterlife. Filled with powerful spells these remarkable texts were designed to help the dead overcome the dangers o...

9 Jul 50min