Classical Wisdom Speaks

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental disorders. Considered pathology, it is the most diagnosed and medicated of all psychological disorders... but what if it isn't always or only a medical condition? From Greek tragedies and Buddhism to actual practices from famous doctors like Galen, there are a myriad of important lessons about anxiety that can be gleaned from the past. Indee...

Discover how the best physician is also a philosopher…  From the gladiators’ arena to the imperial court, the life and career of the ancient doctor Galen is among the most extraordinary in the ancient world. A Greek, a Roman, a doctor, and a thinker, Galen was also one of the most prolific of all ancient writers, having written ten per cent of all ancient texts from before 350CE. Today, Anya is jo...

It’s philosophy’s ultimate dinner party… and you’re invited. On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by Professor Alex Priou to discuss Plato’s most joyful and playful work, The Symposium. Discover how taking an unconventional approach to Plato can illuminate both this ancient text and how we live today. ALEX PRIOU is Associate Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Aust...

Discover the ancient nomadic tribe that helped inspire the myth of the Amazons… and their legacy in the world today. On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by Professor Christopher Beckwith, an expert on the mysterious and compelling Scythians. Join them as they discuss the secrets of this influential yet overlooked people, their vanished empire, how Herodotus is a very reliable source...

They say all philosophy is but a series of footnotes to Plato. Yet the remarkable story of the great philosopher’s life has remained untold—until now. On today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya is joined by independent scholar and translator Robin Waterfield to discuss his latest book ‘Plato of Athens’, the first ever full-length biography of Plato. Separate fact from fiction and discover if Plato r...

Take a deep dive into three of ancient Greece's most fascinating women - both historical and mythological.  What can we discover about Sappho, Medea and Antigone by studying the original texts? Join Diane Rayor, an extremely talented and engaged translator as she takes you 'behind the scenes' of some of the most powerful works from the ancient world. DIANE J. RAYOR is Professor Emer...

In a world brimming with information and rapidly shifting beliefs, the lessons from Socrates resonate more than ever. How do we seek knowledge in an age of uncertainty? How can we engage in meaningful dialogue that encourages critical thinking? What can his ideas teach us about social justice, politics, education and our own minds? Enjoy this interdisciplinary discussion, looking at the relevance...

The ancients had plenty of thoughts about animals... but are their insights helpful to us now? How did they treat animals? What did they think of them? And should we eat meat? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Mark Usher, the Lyman-Roberts Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a member of the Department of Geography and Geosciences at the University of Vermont. With his...

Everyone knows Athens and Sparta...and yet, THEBES is not the common household name it should be. From its captivating mythology to its fantastic history, we’ll look at the archeology, the military, the legends and the truth of this essential city state. Featuring Paul Cartledge of Cambridge University, James Romm of Bard College, Stephen Dando-Collins of Turner Publishing, Stephanie Larson of Buc...

Should Ivanka Trump and Hunter Biden marry? Well, Plato might think that was a good idea...  Today’’s Classical Wisdom speaks podcast is with Melissa Lane, the Class of 1943 Professor of Politics and a faculty member of the Program in Classical Philosophy at Princeton University. She is author of many books, including most recently, “Of Rule and Office: Plato's Ideas of the Political.” We dis...

In the boom time in Roman Britain, 3rd century AD, one Roman Emperor made his mark on the chaotic island before he was canceled in his own time... and afterwards. But was the treatment of Magnus Maximus unfair? Was he just a usurper? Or absolutely pivotal in the history and mythology of Britain? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Maxwell Craven, historian, archaeologist, and author of...

What do the ancient Greek goddesses reveal about ancient Greek culture? Why did people craft such immoral and often unlikeable gods? And what should we really think about Hera? Today's Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with  NATALIE HAYNES, author of several books, including Pandora’s Jar, Stone Blind and A Thousand Ships , which was a national bestseller and shortlisted for the 2020 Women’s...

The famed actor and comedian, Stephen Fry, discusses the ancient languages, etymology, and the joy of discovering the Classics through ancient Greek. We question whether Odysseus... or any of the other great names were really heroes and how these stories give us insight on AI and social media, among other things. Have a listen and let me know why YOU think myths are important... If you want to enj...

Flavius Claudius Julianus turned the world upside down.  Also known as Julian the Apostate as well as Julian the Philosopher, he ruled Rome as sole emperor for just a year and a half, from 361 to 363. Nonetheless, his impact was substantial. Despite the fact that he was the nephew of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of Rome, Julian fought to return Rome to the old gods who had le...

Is there evidence to the tales of Aeneas and the Trojan refugees migrating to Italian shores? Classical Wisdom presents Petros Koutoupis, as he explores this narrative and attempts to shed light on the archaeology of the region during the Late Bronze Age. Petros Koutoupis is an author and independent historical researcher, focusing predominantly on the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age periods of the...

Throughout the ages people have imagined “apocalypses”... but how they determined the end of the world shaped their philosophies... as is still the case. From natural disaster and moral revenge to our modern situation of increasing AI and anthropogenic concerns, contemplating the ‘end of days’ can help us cope with the world as it is... or prepare us for difficult times ahead. In an actually not m...

How aware are we when we make choices? From playing rock paper scissors and gambling to complex ethical decisions like the trolley problem and self-driving cars, game theory and choice theory are hugely important and impactful in our modern era... but so too did they play an essential role in the ancient world. Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks Podcast is with Josiah Ober, the Mitsotakis Professor i...

In 45 B.C., the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero embarked on an almost impossible task... He wrote a philosophical dialogue trying to understand the gods, their nature, how they interact with the world of human beings... and indeed, if they care about humans at all!  On the Nature of the Gods (De Natura Deorum) tries to answer these eternal questions through the ancient philosophical approac...

What is the future -as well as the past - of literary fiction? It is time for a Renaissance? Destined for the dustbin of history, to be discarded along with so many quaint anachronisms, or is the genre itself bound for a long overdue renaissance? Author and self-confessed “hopeless optimist,” Joel Bowman joins us for an in-depth discussion about these subjects in the context of his newest novel –...

Though it was the largest religion in the ancient world by both the number of adherents and geographical scope, Zoroastrianism is still vastly understudied in religion, history, and especially classics. What is Zoroastrianism? How has this Iranian religion impacted the Classical World? And why is one of the world's oldest organized faiths so often over looked?   Pablo Vazquez, a noted scholar...

How does the relationship between Odysseus and Telemachus play out? What does the son think about the murder of the suitors? And why exactly has this story of the Trojan Cycle captivated its listeners and readers throughout the millennia... to this very day?  Today’s Podcast is with TAD CRAWFORD, founder and publisher of Allworth Press as well as author of A Floating Life: A Novel, The Secret Life...

The saying “History is myth and myth is history” is something we have been discussing a lot of late at Classical Wisdom. Where does the story of Aeneas lie? Today’s Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with  Anthony Adolph, a professional genealogist, broadcaster and writer of numerous books on ancestry and general history, including his most recent, In Search of Aeneas: Classical Myth or Bronze Age...

Marcus Aurelius is generally regarded as one of the "Five Good Emperors" and is often praised for his Stoic philosophy, particularly as expressed in his "Meditations." However, like any historical figure, he is not without criticisms both in his own time and in ours... But are these insignificant issues? Or do they undermine his position as a philosopher and disciple of Stoicis...

Plagiarism versus Forgery... Economic versus Individualistic Incentives... Virtuous copying versus pride in originality... In an era where the discussion of Plagiarism has become all the rage, it's important to look back over the history of Plagiarism, of institutions, of authority and of knowledge itself. Dr. James Hankins, professor of History at Harvard University and Peter Scott Adamson,...

What are Big and Little Caesars? Both in ancient and modern times? And are there certain political and social environments that are fertile for these sorts of Caesars in their rise to power? And should we know more about this topic before the next election series? This Classical Wisdom Speaks podcast is with Sir William Robert Ferdinand Mount, British writer, novelist, and columnist for The Sunday...