That's Ancient History

Ever wondered why William Shakspeare was so obsessed with classical mythology and ancient history? He wasn't alone! In this week's podcast episode Jean is joined by Elle Jones, classics and theatre enthusiast, to talk all about the classical influences abundant throughout early modern theatre; from Shakspeare to Christopher Marlow; from Greek mythology to Roman history; Elle knows it all! Check out Elle on instagram and Twitter @ellefjones Twitter: http://twitter.com/ellefjones Instagram: http://instagram.com/ellefjones And follow the podcast on twitter @thatsancient Twitter: http://twitter.com/thatsancient Books Mentioned: The Iliad by Homer: https://amzn.to/2z5T7ph Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe: https://amzn.to/2z4iQOL Dido, Queen of Carthage by Christopher Marlowe: https://amzn.to/2z66h5I Troilus and Cressida by William Shakspeare: https://amzn.to/2zNIIhl Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakspeare: https://amzn.to/2JWd0TU Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare: https://amzn.to/2QyxwfN Macbeth by William Shakspeare: https://amzn.to/2ODXuga Romeo and Juliet by William Shakspeare: https://amzn.to/2z5d3IJ 'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford: https://amzn.to/2Dh4Own Whoso List to Hunt, I Know Where Is An Hind (poem) by Thomas Wyatt The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster: https://amzn.to/2zJtrhS The Witch of Edmonton: https://amzn.to/2PkWaEe The Tale of Troy by Roger Lancelyn Green: https://amzn.to/2JV0mV7

Welcome back for season two of That's Ancient History! We are kicking things off with a very special first episode featuring an interview with award-winning author Pat Barker. Pat Barker's latest book, The Silence of the Girls, retells Homer's Iliad from the perspective of Briseis a Trojan Queen who has been captured during the Trojan War and given as a slave to the Greek hero Achilles. This podcast discussed the experience of women during wartime, enslavement, sexual violence, PTSD, retelling ancient myths and the timeless themes of Homer's poetry. Follow That's Ancient History on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thatsancient Books Mentioned: The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker: https://amzn.to/2PTIvAc War Music by Christopher Logue: https://amzn.to/2O7jFva The Iliad by Homer: https://amzn.to/2ApKUxa Country by Michael Hughes: https://amzn.to/2O2vtyG Antigone by Jean Anouilh: https://amzn.to/2Po6dI0

This very special podcast episode comes to you in collaboration with the Reading Women podcast. Jean is joined by Autumn and Kendra to discuss women in classics and mythology. They cover everything from sexism in antiquity to modern day scholarship, as well as perceptions of women in mythology including goddesses such as Athena. You'll find plenty of interesting discussion topics as well book recommendations in this latest episode. Plus it doesn't stop here. This is one part of the two-part crossover special, the second episode of which you can find over on the Reading Women podcast now! Reading Women Podcast: https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com Part 1 of our crossover: https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2018/08/29/ep-505-collab-with-thats-ancient-history Reading Women on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thereadingwomen Autumn on twitter: https://twitter.com/autumnprivett Kendra on twitter: https://twitter.com/kdwinchester Kendra on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeOsY9TGb2UitTOr-Qn5wJg Books Mentioned: Ovid's Metamorphoses: https://www.bookdepository.com/Metamorphoses-Ovid/9780140447897?ref=grid-view&qid=1535887146730&sr=1-3?a_aid=bookishthoughts Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker: https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Silence-of-the-Girls/9780241338094?a_aid=bookishthoughts The Odyssey by Homer (translated by Emily Wilson): https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Odyssey/9780393089059?a_aid=bookishthoughts The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood: https://www.bookdepository.com/Penelopiad-Myth-Penelope-Odysseus-Text-Myth-Series-Margaret-Atwood/9781920885953?ref=grid-view&qid=1535887108308&sr=1-1?a_aid=bookishthoughts The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter: https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Magic-Toyshop/9780860681908?a_aid=bookishthoughts Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan: https://www.bookdepository.com/Percy-Jackson-and-the-Lightning-Thief--Book-1-/9780141346809?a_aid=bookishthoughts

From the Colosseum to the Palace of Knossos, from Hadrian's Wall to the Parthenon, this episode of That's Ancient History travels the Ancient World as it survives today. Jean is joined by classics graduates Jill & Harriet (who you might recognise from previous episodes) to talk about their experiences visiting ancient sites. The sites discussed include the Athenian Acropolis and its many temples; Delphi the home of the oracle of Apollo; Hadrian's Wall and Vindolanda; the Roman Forum and Flavian Amphitheatre (aka the Colosseum); Pompeii and Herculaneum; the Palace of Knossos on the island Crete and even Petra in Jordan (with a few more in between). Jean, Harriet and Jill talk about their experiences visiting these places, how they compared with their expectations, their favourites and share with you the history behind these magnificent buildings. Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts Follow the podcast on twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thatsancient

In this week's episode Jean is joined by Grace Page whose current research focuses on gender roles in Aeschylus' tragic trilogy of plays, The Oresteia. Grace hones in on Clytemnestra's role in the Greek tragedies and how Aeschylus uses the art of persuasion, speech and deception to characterize her and play with gender roles. Clytemnestra was the Queen of Argos, wife of the Greek hero Agamemnon and mother of Orestes, Electra and Iphigenia in Greek myth. She is a controversial character that audiences can sympathize with but also detest. Time to make up your own mind! Find Grace @gracenatpage on Twitter & @gracenataliepage on Instagram. Books mentioned: The Oresteia by Aeschylus: https://amzn.to/2M1TKaW Revenge and Gender in Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Literature edited by Fiona McHardy: https://amzn.to/2OBaNzb Revenge in Athenian Culture by Fiona McHardy: https://amzn.to/2Kimszr Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

In 'Ask a Classicist' host Jean Menzies invites a guest with no background in classics to quiz her on everything they've ever wondered about antiquity. In this episode she is joined by author Jen Campbell as they discuss Disney's Hercules, the similarities between myth and fairy tales and how the ancients dined. Find Jen @jenvcampbell on Twitter. Books Mentioned: The Constellation Myths of Eratosthenes & Hyginus: https://amzn.to/2zRYRWi The Tale of Tales by Giambattista Bastile: https://amzn.to/2LnJpTr Grimm's Fairy Tales translated by Jack Zipes: https://amzn.to/2LgAjL6 Titus Andronicus by Shakespeare: https://amzn.to/2Lp0egG Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

In this podcast Jean is joined by fellow ancient history and fantasy/sci-fi fan to talk about the paralels between mythology, ancient history and their favourite books. Jill delves deep into the legends of J.R.R Tolkein's Lord of the Rings and Middle Earth, highlighting some major comparisons with Greek mythology. George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series turns out to resemble the Roman empire. The hosts demonstrate how J. K. Rowling threaded classics throughout Harry Potter's characters and spells. And the mythological inspiration behind The Hunger Games turns out to involve a Minotaur. Discover all of this and more in detail in this week's episode. Works mentioned: Lord of the Rings: https://amzn.to/2Li2Yzu The Silmarillian: https://amzn.to/2LoKVVh Beren and Luthien: https://amzn.to/2zQEhGa A Game of Thrones: https://amzn.to/2LkUbNy The Harry Potter Series: https://amzn.to/2uEU7h5 The Hunger Games: https://amzn.to/2Lkn7F4 Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

In this episode of That's Ancient History host Jean Menzies goes in-depth exploring the ancient myth of Procne and Philomela, Athenian princesses, and sisters. The podcast will introduce you to the myth, some of its major variations over time and what it perhaps meant to the ancient people who told it - along with some bonus Shakespearean reception. Works Mentioned: Tereus by Sophocles (fragmentary play) Ovid's Metamorphosis: https://amzn.to/2uF06ST Apollodorus' Library of Greek Mythology: https://amzn.to/2Ngl2Y4 Aristophanes' Birds: https://amzn.to/2urQADm Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare: https://amzn.to/2uF0alB Inventing the Barbarian by Edith Hall: https://amzn.to/2uCTjct A Tale of Two Sisters: Studies in Sophocles’ Tereus’ (article) by Lyndsay Coo Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

In this episode of That's Ancient History Jean talks to fellow PhD student Stan Christoforou about his research on combat trauma in 5th century BC Greece. His research involves dealing with modern psychology and to what extent it can be used to inform our understanding of antiquity, as well as looking at ancient mythological Greek heroes and the burden of war upon their lives. Stan is also currently collecting information for Classics After the Classroom, a project intended to promote classics in state schools so don't forget to check out @ClassicsATC on twitter to learn more. Books mentioned in this episode: Achilles in Vietnam by Jonathan Shay: https://amzn.to/2uEk809 Euripides' Ajax: https://amzn.to/2urQg7C Euripides' Heracles: https://amzn.to/2LaFOez Aeschylus' Oresteia: https://amzn.to/2zHTyZz Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

In this episode Jean is joined by Madeline Miller, author of the award-winning Song of Achilles to discuss her latest book Circe as well as the process of retelling ancient myths in modern fiction. The topics discussed include the origins of Madeline Miller's passion for ancient history and mythology, the decisions that need to be made when writing a myth retelling and what themes from Circe's story resonate with the 21st audience. Books Mentioned: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: https://amzn.to/2NiBpni Circe by Madeline Miller: https://amzn.to/2urPwzm Homer's Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson: https://amzn.to/2zJEGKh Ovid's Metamorphosis: https://amzn.to/2uFAV2y Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare: https://amzn.to/2uG4ukH Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare: https://amzn.to/2LjOxrt Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

In the first episode of season one Jean is joined by fellow classics graduate Harriet, who now works in charities, to chat about how they both discovered ancient history and mythology and developed a passion for the topics. Both were educated at comprehensive state schools in Scotland and had no formal education in classics prior to university so relied on pop culture, television documentaries and encouraging family members to introduce them to antiquity. Hopefully, their experiences will help you discover a passion for the topic too! Books & Shows Mentioned: Asterix the Gaul: https://amzn.to/2uHxfOa Plebs Time Team The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood: https://amzn.to/2uHxQiS Homer's Odyssey: https://amzn.to/2JuageD Suetonius' Lives of the Caesars: https://amzn.to/2JqJhkc The Secret History by Donna Tartt: https://amzn.to/2uGUK9M Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts

That's Ancient History Introduction by Jean Menzies