Fire in the Cradle of Democracy (The Persian Wars, Part 1)

The three decades from 508-478BC were possibly the most consequential in all of ancient history. In this episode and the next, we tell the story of the Greco-Persian Wars through the eyes of Themistocles, the Athenian mastermind who guided the Greeks to victory.

The Spartans: Proto-Fascist Losers? w/ Bret Devereaux

The Spartans were the ancient world's most deadly warriors. Or were they? Several recent scholars are challenged this notion.

Why Platonism & Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke

As our world becomes increasingly hi-tech, more and more people have been turning to ancient wisdom traditions in search of meaning. There are two schools of ancient philosophy in particular that have seen a meteoric revival in recent years: Platonism and Stoicism. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke joins us to explore why this is happening. *** Join the upcoming AGD Tour in Greece: greecepodcast.com/tour *** Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a

A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece)

A radical new theory is challenging the traditional narrative of how democracy was born. "It wasn't Greece!" argues political scientist David Stasavage.

Anacyclosis: Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History

Polybius' theory of anacyclosis is the most sophisticated theory of political (r)evolution to have emerged from ancient Greek and Roman political thought.

Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? (Rep. VIII)

Plato argued that the inevitable next step in political evolution after democracy is tyranny. Many political thinkers throughout history agreed with him. Were they right?

When a Philosopher Ruled the World w/ Donald Robertson

Was Marcus Aurelius really the enlightened ruler that history books and modern movies portray him as? And is his brand of Stoic philosophy applicable to the modern world?

Time Traveling to the Ancient World

Thirty three scholars, philosophers, and archaeologists answer the question: If you could time travel to the ancient world, who would you want to meet?

The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke (Rep. VII)

Philosophers today often dismiss Plato's Theory of Forms as an outdated and failed attempt to explain knowledge. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke offers a radically different take on Plato's theory.

Plato's Cave w/ Ben Morison (Republic VII)

Plato's cave may be the most famous allegory in all of western philosophy. In this episode, we are joined by philosopher Ben Morison to dive deep into the cave and unpack its various levels of meaning.

Why People Hate Plato (Republic VI)

Plato is at once the most loved and possibly the most hated philosopher of all time. This episode explores why.

The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful w/ Gabriel R. Lear (Rep. VI)

Book 6 of the Republic is the work’s core section where Plato lays out his metaphysics. Appealing to his signature Theory of Forms, Plato offers a transcendent vision of the Good as the ultimate source of human knowledge.

The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova

For thousands of years, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were the oldest epic stories that Europeans know of. But is it possible that Homer was, in turn, influenced by the stories of other civilizations to the east of Greece?

Philosopher Queens w/ Mary Townsend (Republic V)

The most controversial part of Plato's Republic is its fifth book, wherein Socrates argues for the political equality of men and women and the idea that philosopher kings and queens should rule.

Anatomy of the Soul w/ Jonathan Lear (Republic IV)

How does Plato's theory of a tripartite soul hold up from the perspective of modern psychology?

Hogwarts and Kallipolis (Republic IV)

What do Plato's Republic, Sigmund Freud, and the Harry Potter saga have in common? Find out in this deep-dive into book 4 of the Republic.

Alexander the Great: Inherited Glory w/ Adrian Goldsworthy

Alexander's father Philip II transformed Macedonia from a backwater kingdom into a major world power and built up the army that Alexander then inherited and used to conquer Persian.

Food for the Soul w/ Angie Hobbs (Republic III)

In the second half of book 3 of the Republic, Plato lays out the controversial theory of mimesis, which states that all art, man-made objects, and cultural products in our environment have profound effects on the health of our souls.

Who Guards the Guardians? w/ Angie Hobbs (Republic III)

Following Socrates' claim that the ideal republic should be ruled by a class of 'guardians,' the question arises: Who or what will keep these guardians in check?

The Justice Loophole w/ Rachel Barney (Republic II)

Our exploration of Plato's Republic continues with this discussion of book 2 with philosopher Rachel Barney. Is the fear of God necessary for morality? How can you educate people so that they value and practice justice?

All Men Would Be Tyrants (Plato’s Republic II)

If you gave people the power to do anything they wanted and never face any consequences for their actions, would they inevitably turn into monsters? Or are there reasons why we should be motivated to behave morally and justly even when all external constraints on our behavior are lifted?

The Hunt for Justice (Plato’s Republic I)

Our series on Plato’s Republic continues with this deep dive into book 1. What makes it good philosophy? What makes it fine literature? And what does book 1 accomplish in the context of the entire Republic?

Plato's Republic, or: How to Stop a Civil War

A foundational text in both ethics and political thought, the Republic was born out of Plato's traumatic experiences as a young man witnessing factional violence and civil war.

Rome's Most Lethal Weapon w/ Steele Brand

Rome conquered the world without a professional army, relying instead on its citizens to take up arms when necessary. How did Rome's part-time soldiers defeat all the great powers of ancient Mediterranean?

Penelope: Weaver of Fate w/ Olga Levaniouk

Penelope is one of the most compelling yet enigmatic characters from Greek mythology. Homerist Olga Levaniouk joins us to illuminate the complexities of her character and role in the Odyssey.

Thucydides: A Historian for Our Time? w/ Emily Greenwood

Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War is a study of the struggle between democracy and oligarchy, as well as a meditation on the dangers of populism and political polarization.

Oligarchy, Part 2: Nemesis w/ Matt Simonto

What institutions do oligarchic regimes use to maintain power? How do they fend off the threat of democratic revolution? What happened to the many oligarchies of the ancient Mediterranean?

Oligarchy, Part 1: Genesis w/ Matt Simonton

What defines an oligarchy? Is the United States one? How do ancient oligarchies compare with modern authoritarian regimes?

The Origins of Philosophy w/ André Laks

Philosophy first emerged in ancient Greece 2600 years ago. What drove a group of thinkers at that time to suddenly cast off old beliefs and embark on radically new avenues of inquiry and investigation?

A History of Inequality w/ Walter Scheidel

We live at a time of increasing economic inequality worldwide. What is driving this trend? And what could stop it? And what does the historical data we have tell us about inequality?

Greek Religion and Its Discontents w/ Barbara Graziosi

The oldest Roman epics we have were produced during the Roman Empire. But before becoming an empire, Rome was a powerful republic for hundreds of years. What happened to the Roman epics from the republican period?

Rome's Lost Epics w/ Rhiannon Evans

The oldest Roman epics we have were produced during the Roman Empire. But before becoming an empire, Rome was a powerful republic for hundreds of years. What happened to the Roman epics from the republican period?

How to Succeed in the Iron Age w/ Alicia Stallings

Hesiod's unusual epic called Works and Days is probably most famous for containing the stories of Prometheus and Pandora. But these tales are part of a greater mission of explaining how one can live justly and succeed in a harsh world.

How Democracies Fall Apart w/ Melissa Lane

Hundreds of city-states in the ancient world experimented with democracy. Most of them experienced some kind of civil strife at some point. What caused these breakdowns of social order, and are we headed towards a similar fate?

America's Greco-Roman Legacies w/ Caroline Winterer

When the Founding Fathers were drafting the US constitution, the world around them had been dominated by kingdoms and empires for almost two millennia.

A History of Epic w/ Gregory Nagy & Leonard Muellner

What can anthropology tell us about the origins of humanity's oldest epic stories? And what can these epics, in turn, tell us about our undying fascination with heroes?

Platonic Love w/ Zina Giannopoulou

'Platonic love' is one of the most fascinating (and misunderstood) concepts to have come down to us from the ancient Greeks. Classicist Zina Giannopoulou joins us to set the record straight about the origins of the concept and what Plato's radical theory of love was all about.

Dialogue and Dialectic w/ MM McCabe

Philosopher MM McCabe joins us to discuss the art of the philosophical dialogue, both as a literary form and as a practice between people in real-time conversation. What makes Plato's dialogues, for example, worth reading?

Homer's Meta-Odyssey w/ Richard Martin

Mythology expert Richard Martin joins us to discuss why the Odyssey has been considered great story-telling by audiences across millennia.

Did Aristotle Hold Science Back 2000 Years? w/ Peter Adamson

Peter Adamson joins us to discuss Aristotle's contributions to philosophy, and the role that his works have played in shaping the course of human knowledge.

Decoding Atlantis w/ Mark Adams

No other story from ancient Greece has fueled so many controversies and as the story of Atlantis. All of the written “evidence” from ancient times is contained in the work of a single author–the philosopher Plato. Bestselling author Mark Adams joins us to discuss the theories about Plato's tale.

The Comedy of Democracy w/ Edith Hall

World-renowned classicist Edith Hall joins us to discuss the relation between entertainment and politics in ancient Athens, particularly on the comic stage.

Caves and Classrooms w/ Raffaella Cribiore

Raffaella Cribiore, professor of Classics at New York University and award-winning author of “Gymnastics of the Mind: Greek Education in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt,” joins us to talk about what the archaeological evidence from Egypt can tell us about schools...

Hannibal Takes On Rome w/ Patrick Hunt

Hannibal was a general from the republic of Carthage in north Africa and one of the greatest military strategists of all time. Joining us to discuss the man behind the legend is archaeologist Patrick Hunt of Stanford University.

The World's Oldest Computer w/ Xenophon Moussas

Xenophon Moussas is professor of physics at the National and Kapodistrian University in Athens as well as a MMer of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project and he joins us to shed light on this marvel from the ancient world.

Plato Strikes Back w/ Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

Rebecca Newberger Goldstein joins us for a discussion about Plato, Socrates, and the legacy of Greek philosophy in the modern world.

The Persian Wars w/ Ian Morris

Ian Morris, archaeologist and professor of Classics at Stanford University, joins us for a discussion on the Persian invasions of Greece in 490-479 BC. How did the Greeks pull off a totally unexpected victory against the biggest invasion force that had ever been launched?

What Is Greek Tragedy? w/ Rush Rehm

Rush Rehm, professor of Classics and of Theater and Performing Studies at Stanford University, joins us for a discussion about one of the most pivotal and enigmatic developments in the ancient world: the invention of theater in Athens in the late 6th century BC.

Democracy and Demagogues in Ancient Athens w/ Josiah Ober

Historian Josiah Ober of Stanford University joins us for a discussion on ancient Athens, how the Athenian system compared to our own democracy, and what lessons, if any, we can take away from the Athenian experience.

Sappho: The Tenth Muse w/ Andromache Karanika

Sappho is one of the first song-writers we know of in history, partly because she was one of the first singers to write down her songs, in around 600BC.

Dying for Immortality in Homer's Iliad w/ Andrew Ford

What makes the Iliad so...epic? And what kind of vision of the world does Homer provide to his audiences?

Bronze Age Apocalypse 1177 BC w/ Eric H. Cline

Most of the civilizations of the late bronze age were mysteriously destroyed at around the same time in the 12th century BC. Archaeologists have been debating what caused this destruction for over a century...

Tomb Raiders, Codebreakers and the Discovery of Antiquity

How do we know so much about the ancient world? This episode explores four astonishing archaeological discoveries that extended our knowledge of history back into the mythical past...

Ancient Greece Declassified. Introduction

Ancient Greece Declassified: The podcast that transports you to the ancient world and back, with expert guides leading the way.