The Ancient World

Synopsis:  Joseph ben Matityahu fought the Romans as a Jewish General before becoming a trusted advisor to the Flavians.  The Josephus Problem (mathematics):  Given a group of n men arranged in a circle under the edict that every mth man will be executed going around the circle until only one remains, find the position L (n, m) in which you should stand in order to be the last survivor.http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B18_The_Josephus Problem.mp3

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated to the TAW Syria Fund Drive.  In the end, we raised over $5,000 to help preserve Syrian heritage sites and support Syrian refugees.  You guys definitely came through, and I really appreciate it.  Big TAW thanks go out to all the following donors (in no particular order): Patricia Matson (in Memory of Lloyd and Tina Elkins) Parker NewcombKevin McFadden                                                     Aimee PoppTerry Dillon                                                           Richie WalkerAntti Rasinen                                                         Georgi PetrovGnanadeep Kollipara                                              Johan TorneRita Mathis                                                            Julie JonesTravis Anderson                                                     Matthew SmithJoseph Cigliano                                                      Paul and Meg StrongMichele Dana                                                         Gary JonesSteven Diamond                                                    Julius (Jay) BennettBrenda Buxton                                                       Colby StearnsNed Mastro    &

Synopsis:  Nero crowns Tiridates King of Armenia.  A succession of brutal and corrupt procurators set Judea on the path to revolt. “Go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom (Gehenna), which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee… Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter.” - Jeremiah 19:2-6  http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B17_The_Valley.mp3

Synopsis:  The birth of Drusilla and Sohaemus’ son Gaius Julius Alexio.  The Empire confronts the revolt of Boudica, renewed warfare in Armenia, and the Great Fire of Rome.“Rome shall perish – write that wordIn the blood that she has spilt;Perish, hopeless and abhorr’d,Deep in ruin as in guilt.” – William Cowper, Boadicea: An Ode http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B16_Burn.mp3Map of Near East c. 64AD:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Near_East_64AD.jpg

Ever since I knew the series would be spending time in Syria, I wanted to find out something I could do to try to help the situation there.  Basically I wanted to find a group working in the area that I could point listeners to.  Of course the problems in Syria are massive and there are a lot of great organizations doing really amazing work.   Those of you on my Facebook page know I’ve been following the damage to ancient world heritage sites in Syria and Iraq – especially ones I feel particularly close to like Nineveh and Palmyra.  I’ve done whole episodes on Nineveh and the current series, Bloodline, will end up in Palmyra.  When I get there I’d be very, very happy if I could still talk about it as an actual place that people can go and see, rather than a place that used to exist.    After doing some research, I’ve found an organization that I think is a really good fit.  It’s called the Syrian Heritage Initiative, or SHI, and it’s fully dedicated to documenting, protecting and preserving Syria’s cultural heritage.  If you’ve been feeling helpless watching groups like IS capture and destroy ancient heritage sites then supporting the SHI is a great step.  You can find all their details on their website:  http://www.asor-syrianheritage.org/. For those who’d prefer to donate to a group providing critical support to Syrian refugees, another great option is the International Rescue Committee, or IRC.  If you want to help improve the lives of innocent Syrians caught up in a horrible civil war then supporting the IRC is a great step.  You can find all their details on their website:  www.rescue.org/crisis-syria.  And of course if you want to support both groups, even better!  I’ve put Donate buttons for both organizations up on The Ancient World website.  The buttons may not be visible on mobile phones or iPads, and you may have to view the website on a computer to see them.  Both organizations are 501c3, and are therefore eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable donations.  If you’d prefer to donate to either organization via regular mail or over the phone, you can find that information on their websites.  As you probably know, I spend most of my free time – OK who am I kidding, all of my free time – putting together this podcast series.  Which is really nobody’s fault but my own.  But if you appreciate the work I do and have ever thought about donating to me or the podcast, please donate to one of these organizations instead.  As best I can figure, the series has around ten thousand regular subscribers.  Together, I’m hoping we can do some real good. OK, now for the fun part.  I’ve decided to give away prizes to listeners who donate to either organization.  So please save the confirmation of your donation so you can redeem it for one or more of these prizes.  Please e-mail your confirmation and other information to: stches@ancientworldpodcast.com.  First off, anyone who donates $10 or more will be thanked on The Ancient World website.  If you’d like to be thanked, please give me your name (or the name you’d like me to use) when you e-mail me your donation confirmation.  A $25 donation will get you a set of JPEG files of all the maps, family trees and header photos I’ve created so far for Bloodline.  Moving up the scale, a $50 donation will get you a photobook containing my very favorite Ancient World photos I’ve taken on my travels.  I’ll also provide details on when and where each photo was taken and what makes the photo one of my favorites.  The photobooks will be 4x6”, softcover, and contain 10 photos.  Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, this prize will only be available within the continental United States.  Outside of the US, the alternate prize for a $50 donation will be JPEG files of 20 of my favorite photos, along with the deta

Synopsis:  Drusilla marries the Emesene Priest-King Gaius Julius Sohaemus.  Rome and Parthia go to war over Armenia.  “Our ancestors worshipped the Sun, and they were not that foolish. It makes sense to revere the Sun and the stars, for we are their children.” – Carl Saganhttp://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B15_God_of_the_Mountain.mp3Syria and adjacent regions:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Syria_55AD.jpgEmesene family tree: http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/10_Emesenes_55AD.pdf

Synopsis:  The divorce of Felix and Drusilla.  James and Paul struggle for the soul of early Christianity.  “And then it was that the sicarii, as they were called, who were robbers, grew numerous.  They made use of small swords, not much different in length from the Persian acinacae, but somewhat crooked, and like the Roman sicae, as they were called; and from these weapons these robbers got their denomination; and with these weapons they slew a great many; for they mingled themselves among the multitude at their festivals, when they were come up in crowds from all parts to the city to worship God, as we said before, and easily slew those that they had a mind to slay.” – Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Chapter 8http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B14_The_Just.mp3

Synopsis:  The early life of Drusilla of Mauretania, and her marriage to Marcus Antonius Felix, Roman Procurator of Judea  “This Judas, having gotten together a multitude of men of a profligate character about Sepphoris in Galilee, made an assault upon the palace there, and seized upon all the weapons that were laid up in it, and with them armed every one of those that were with him, and carried away what money was left there; and he became terrible to all men, by tearing and rending those that came near him.” – Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Book XVII, Chapter 10http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B13_Zealot.mp3Nero Family Tree:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/9_Nero_48AD.pdfRegions of Judea:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Judea_53AD_1.jpg Select Cities of Judea:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Judea_53AD_2.jpg  

http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/A_Brief_Intermission.mp3  

Synopsis:  The death of Tiberius, elevation of Caligula, and final years of King Ptolemy I. “Ptolemy, whom (Caligula) invited from his kingdom, and received with great honors, he suddenly put to death, for no other reason, but because he observed that upon entering the theatre, at a public exhibition, he attracted the eyes of all the spectators, by the splendor of his purple robe.” – Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, XXXV “Meanwhile Gaius sent for Ptolemy, the son of Juba, and on ascertaining that he was wealthy put him to death.” – Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book 59http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B12_Antonii.mp3Heirs of Mark Antony:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/7_Antonii_36AD_1.pdfhttp://s407341505.onlinehome.us/8_Antonii_36AD_2.pdf

Synopsis:  The end of Tacfarinas, and the bloody co-rule of Tiberius and Sejanus.  “Then, as the campaign had demonstrated Ptolemy’s good-will, an old-fashioned distinction was revived, and a member of the Senate was dispatched to present him with the traditional bounty of the Fathers, an ivory scepter with the embroidered robe, and to greet him by the style of king, ally and friend.” – Tacitus, The Annals, Book IV“There followed from now onward a sheer and grinding despotism: for, with Augusta still alive, there had remained a refuge; since deference to his mother was ingrained in Tiberius, nor did Sejanus venture to claim precedence over the authority of a parent.  But now, as though freed from the curb, they broke out unrestrained.” – Tacitus, The Annals, Book Vhttp://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B11_Caedis.mp3 Updated Julio-Claudian Family Tree: http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/6_Octavian_Clan_31AD.pdf

Synopsis:  The ongoing rebellion of Tacfarinas, and the death of Juba. “For Tacfarinas, in spite of many repulses, having first recruited his forces in the heart of Africa, had reached such a pitch of insolence as to send an embassy to Tiberius, demanding nothing less than a territorial settlement for himself and his army, and threatening in the alternative a war from which there was no extrication.” – Tacitus, The Annals, Book III http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B10_Insurgo.mp3

Synopsis:  Germanicus travels to Syria to assume his Eastern Imperium. “‘The prime duty of friends is not to follow their dead with passive laments, but to remember his wishes and carry out his commands.  Strangers themselves will bewail Germanicus:  youwill avenge him – if you loved me, and not my fortune.  Show to the Roman people the granddaughter of their deified Augustus, who was also my wife; number her six children: pity will side with the accusers, and, if the murderers allege some infamous warrant, they will find no credence in men – or no forgiveness!’  His friends touched the dying hand, and swore to forgo life sooner than revenge.” – Tacitus, The Annals, Book IIhttp://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B9_Germanicus.mp3Updated Near Eastern Family Tree:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/5_Near_East_19AD.pdfUpdated Map of the Near East:http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Near_East_18AD.jpg

Synopsis:  The death of Octavian, elevation of Tiberius, and early military careers of Germanicus and Ptolemy. “Even during the years when he lived at Rhodes, in ostensible retirement and actual exile, (Tiberius) had studied nothing save anger, hypocrisy, and secret lasciviousness.” - Tacitus, The Annals, Book I  “Yet the temper of the soldiers remained savage, and a sudden desire came over them to advance against the enemy: it would be expiation of their madness; nor could the ghosts of their companions be appeased till their own impious breasts had been marked with honorable wounds.  Falling in with the enthusiasm of his troops, (Germanicus) laid a bridge over the Rhine, and threw across twelve thousand legionaries.” – Tacitus, The Annals, Book I  http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B8_Scelus.mp3

Synopsis:  The death of Gaius Caesar, and Juba’s return to Mauretania.  Tropaion (Greek):  A battlefield monument, erected at the “turning point” where the enemy’s phalanx broke.  http://s407341505.onlinehome.us/Episode_B7_Tropaion.mp3