Historian, published author, PhD in ancient philosophy from Princeton, and host of the "Ancient Greece Declassified" podcast. My mission is to "declassify th…
51:01810K views · 4mo ago · 51:01
Could the Odyssey preserve echoes of long-lost voyages beyond the Mediterranean—perhaps even across the Atlantic? A speculative discussion informed by Homeric scholarship, archaeology, and ancient literature. IMAGE SOURCES / CREDITS (listed in order of appearance)
1:15:1625K views · 9mo ago · 1:15:16
Guest: Doug Metzger
Aeschylus' "Oresteia" is one of the most extraordinary works of literature to have come from Ancient Greece. It's a story about murder, revenge, and the birth of justice itself. We are joined by Doug Metzger, host of the "Literature and History" podcast@literatureandhistorypodcast to explore how the ancient Athenian tragedian Aeschylus turned a bloody family feud into a vision of civilization, and offered the Athenians a new foundation myth for their democracy.
Topics: Agamemnon in the Iliad and Odyssey · Life of Aeschylus · The 1st Play: “Agamemnon” · Sacrifice of Iphigenia · Agamemnon’s Arrival · The 2nd Play: “Libation Bearers”
📚 Books mentioned: Buy the book · Buy the book
1:20:08577K views · 1y ago · 1:20:08
Guest: Plato's REPUBLIC
Plato’s Republic isn’t just a cornerstone of Western thought—it’s a mirror reflecting the challenges of our own time. In this episode of "Ancient Greece Declassified," we are joined by scholar Gina White to deliver a one-stop, accessible guide to this timeless work—exploring its big ideas, enduring impact, and eerie relevance to today’s world.
Topics: A bird's-eye view of the entire work · Historical & literary context · Book 1: What is justice? · Book 2: The immoralist challenge · Book 3: Building the ideal city · Book 4: Justice defined
1:00:457.9K views · 1y ago · 1:00:45
Guest: Historian Eric W. Robinson
How did Sparta—a mere city-state with an agrarian economy and barely any economic growth to speak of—rise to become the supreme power in ancient Greece? We investigate in conversation with renowned historian Eric W. Robinson, author of the forthcoming book "Spartan Legend."
Topics: The Rise of Sparta: A Historical Overview · The Role of Reforms in Spartan Society · Democratic Aspects of Sparta's Constitution · Athenian Admiration of Sparta · How Good Were Spartan Armies? · Robinson's Theory of a Spartan "Mystique"
📚 Book mentioned: Spartan Legend
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1:02:185.8K views · 1y ago · 1:02:18
I chat with fellow podcaster Doug Metzger (@literatureandhistorypodcast) about how I became fascinated with the ancient world and share some of the adventures I had on the way to getting a PhD in Classical Philosophy. Contents
Topics: Why I started the Ancient Greece Declassified podcast · Discovering Stoicism · What people get wrong about Stoicism · Debunking two big myths about the ancient world · How I got sucked into the Classics · The genius of Plato's "Symposium"
59:2812K views · 1y ago · 59:28
Guest: Doug Metzger
Unveiling the wild world of ancient Greek and Roman novels with Doug Metzger, host of the "Literature and History Podcast," which you can find at
Topics: When did novels arise? · The four genres of ancient novels · The typical plot (Chariton's "Callirhoe") · "Daphnis and Chloe" · Euripides' Romances and the rise of the happy ending · The shift to New Comedy
53:0136K views · 1y ago · 53:01
Guests: Plato Unveiled, Robin Waterfield
Even after thousands of years of supposed progress in philosophy, there are still some who maintain that the entire history of western philosophy consists of mere footnotes to Plato. But who was Plato the man? If there is anyone who can answer that question, it's our guest in this episode. Robin Waterfield is a renowned scholar of antiquity who has written the first ever full biography of the ancient philosopher in English.
Topics: The genius of Plato · Plato's early life · Relationship with Socrates · Plato's early doctrines · Philosophical method · Other teachers besides Socrates
1:03:538.9K views · 1y ago · 1:03:53
What did ancient music sound like? In this episode, you will hear three songs that are over 2000 years old! Incidentally, our best evidence for ancient music comes from Greece and from Greek drama in particular. Ancient Greek tragedies and comedies were musical productions, and we can use them to reconstruct what music sounded like in the 400's BC. Interestingly, the ancient Greek theater was also the birthplace of the superstar vocalist.
📚 Book mentioned: Monody in Euripides
8:59898 views · 2y ago · 8:59
59:5235K views · 2y ago · 59:52
Guest: Bret Devereaux
The longstanding image of ancient Sparta as a warrior society has been overturned in the latest scholarship on ancient Greece. More specifically, some recent scholars are now debunking traditional narratives about hoplite warfare, how the phalanx operated, and how the Spartan citizens treated the Helots (the enslaved population of Laconia/Lacedaimon). What has caused this shift in the scholarship?
1:24:0718K views · 3y ago · 1:24:07
Guest: Platonism VS Stoicism
Cognitive Scientist John Vervaeke (@johnvervaeke) joins us in this episode of "Ancient Greece Declassified" to discuss the unexpected resurgence of Stoicism and Platonism in today's society. For info on our upcoming tour in Greece visit
52:074.3K views · 3y ago · 52:07
Guests: David Stasavage, Beyond Greece
A radical new theory is challenging the traditional narrative of how democracy was born. In this episode of "Ancient Greece Declassified" we speak with political scientists David Stasavage, author of the recent book "The Decline and Rise of Democracy." Stasavage believes that democracy was not first invented by the Greeks but was actually widespread across the pre-modern world. And in today's episode he explains why.
📚 Book mentioned: The Decline and Rise of Democracy
7:441.8K views · 4y ago · 7:44
Fans of the "Ancient Greece Declassified" podcast gathered in Greece in August 2022 for an epic, guided tour of some of the country's most amazing historical sites. Here are some of the highlights and testimonials from that adventure.
1:11:297K views · 4y ago · 1:11:29
Was Marcus Aurelius really the enlightened ruler that history books and modern movies portray him as? And is his brand of #stoicism applicable to the modern world? Or make a one-time donation
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