Epic Greek History
Embark on an epic journey through ancient Greece with history enthusiast Scott Emmons as your guide. From the Mycenaean warrior kings to the flowering of the Greek city-state, from the astonishing victories over the Persian invaders to the catastrophic power struggle between Athens and Sparta, each episode brings the past to life with vivid detail and compelling narrative. Along the way, there will be side trips to explore fascinating aspects of Greek culture, from art and literature to everyday life. Whether you're a history buff or new to the world of classical antiquity, this podcast is your gateway to the life and legacy of ancient Greece. Publishes one full episode and one short episode per month. See images for each episode at epicgreekhistory.substack.com
Episodes
The polis was the defining sociopolitical system of ancient Greece. It was the environment where Greek drama, architecture, philosophy, and other cultural developments reached their peak. In this episode, host Scott Emmons explores the beginnings of the polis, military developments that helped shape it, and the values that it espoused, even if it didn't always uphold them.
In Greek myth, Delphi was the literal center of the world. In real-world religious practice, it lived up to its reputation. People came from all over the Greek world — and even outside it — to seek Apollo’s guidance in matters both personal and political. In this episode, host Scott Emmons discusses the mythical origins of the Delphic oracle, the mystery of the Pythia’s inspiration, the riddling nature of oracular res...
Ancient Greece was defined by its culture, not by its borders. Starting in the 8th century BCE, Greeks planted settlements in southern Italy and Sicily — so many that the area came to be known as Magna Graecia, "Great Greece." Hellenic settlements soon spread to other parts of the Mediterranean and also to the northeast, even surrounding the Black Sea. This episode takes you on a whirlwind tour of Greek sett...
The Lelantine War between Khalkis and Eretria was the first major historical conflict that drew in combatants from around the Greek world. And yet, we know next to nothing about it. Ancient historians and other authors mention it in passing, but they don’t tell us exactly when it happened, how long it lasted, or even who won. While it’s possible to reconstruct a rough outline from ancient sources, some scholars mainta...
In ancient Greece, freedom was something to be cherished — in part because its opposite was an ever-present part of Greek life. Slaves worked as farmhands, domestic servants, skilled craftsmen, miners, prostitutes, and more. While some lived almost as independently as free wage workers and could even aspire to purchase their freedom, others were condemned to a life of hard labor under the harshest conditions. In this ...
The 8th century BCE brought big changes to Greece, including an increase in population and a dramatic upswing in economic activity. Many of the defining features of Greek civilization began to take shape. Monumental temples appeared. The Olympic Games began, inspiring a sense of a common Greek identity. Perhaps most importantly, the Greeks adapted a Phoenician alphabet and produced the writing system through which we ...
Any student of Greek history will occasionally come across a Greek word or name that's hard to pronounce. In this episode, host Scott Emmons offers a few pointers — but only after exploring the more interesting question of how we know what classical Greek sounded like. We know a lot more about it than you might think!
For a few accompanying visuals, check out Episode 8 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com
Reading sugge...
The Early Iron Age in Greece has traditionally been called a dark age, both because of the economic decline after the fall of the Mycenaean palaces and because the archaeological evidence is less abundant for this period. The picture is still far from clear, but archaeology continues to turn up more information. In this episode, host Scott Emmons draws on ancient legends, archaeological evidence, and the Homeric epics...
If you were asked to name a book that was foundational to your nation’s literature and culture, what would it be? For the ancient Greeks, there would have been no question — Homer was the king. In this short episode, host Scott Emmons explores Homer's enormous and long-lasting influence on both Greek and Roman culture.
For accompanying photos, check out Episode 6 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com
The discoveries of Troy and Mycenaean Greece in the 19th century led to a shift in attitudes toward Ancient Greek legends. If archaeology showed that Troy had existed, was it possible that the Trojan War saga had its basis in historical fact? In this episode, Scott Emmons sifts through clues from the Homeric epics, excavations at Troy, and ancient Hittite documents to explore a question that has fascinated both schola...
The decipherment of the Linear B tablets from Knossos and Pylos revolutionized our understanding of the Mycenaean world. But how did a small group of dedicated Greek scholars arrive at the solution? This episode recounts the painstaking process that ultimately led to the paradigm-shifting conclusion that Linear B was an early form of Greek.
For samples of the writing system and a link to an interactive site where you c...
Centuries before the Parthenon, Greek drama, and the Olympic Games, a highly developed Bronze Age culture evolved in Greece. This was the Mycenaean civilization, where warrior kings ruled from great palaces that dominated the surrounding territories. But the Mycenaeans drew heavily from the early Minoan culture on the island of Crete. In this episode you'll learn about the legendary excavation of the Minoan palac...
Welcome to the first episode of Epic Greek History! In this introduction, amateur historian Scott Emmons lays out his vision for this podcast. Taking inspiration from two of his favorite history podcasts, he'll focus on the human experience in a way that he hopes will bring ancient Greece to life. His guiding principle will be a short quote by historian Neville Morley: "History is a kind of story."
See t...
Every now and then, the story of a discovery is as compelling as the thing discovered. One such story is the discovery of Bronze Age Troy and Mycenae by an eccentric German businessman turned archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann. At a time when most scholars thought the Homeric epics were nothing more than myth and legend, Schliemann proved that they looked back on an age of great palaces and powerful warrior kings...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.