Ancient Heroes

Would a fighter from the ancient Mediterranean world stand a chance against today's greatest champion in a no holds barred contest? I dive into the history of mixed martial arts in ancient Greece and examine the key factors to consider in this timeless debate.

The Ark of the Covenant, which allegedly held the stone tablets of the 10 Commandments, was among the holiest (and most feared) objects of ancient history. We look at the story of the Ark and what may have happened to it on the week of the 40th anniversary of the release of the iconic Indiana Jones film "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

The Sacred Band was an elite fighting force responsible for the rise of Thebes as the Greek superpower in the 4th century BC. According to ancient sources, it was also formed of 150 pairs of adult male lovers. I talk to historian and author James Romm about the origins and eventual defeat of the Sacred Band of Thebes.

Heracles (aka Hercules) was known as the greatest of all the Greek heroes. I talk to the world's leading expert in Heracles mythology Emma Stafford about who the hero was and what he meant to the people of the ancient world.

I talk to author and intelligence professional Myke Cole about his provocative upcoming book "The Bronze Lie: Shattering the Myth of Spartan Warrior Supremacy".

A lot of people have asked me about my background and how I got into studying ancient history, podcasting, etc. so I dive into all of that in the latest episode of the show.

This past Sunday's episode of "The Daily" podcast by the New York Times focused on the role that the discipline of the Classics has played in furthering racism throughout history. Here's my initial reaction to some of the points made in the episode.

How does "300" hold up to historical scrutiny? I talk about the weird, interesting, and misleading aspects of the popular 2006 film.

Socrates is one of the best known and most influential ancient historical figures. But the truth of who Socrates was, what he did, and how he died remains elusive. I talk to scholar, translator, and author Robin Waterfield about the historical Socrates in Part II of our conversation.

How did the Olympic Games begin in Greece and what can they tell us about this ancient culture? I talk to scholar, translator, and author Robin Waterfield about the ancient Greek Olympics in Part I of our conversation.

What ancient civilizations have been overlooked, ignored, or lost through the ages? I talk to British author and historian Philip (Maty) Matyszak about these forgotten peoples, the myths of Hercules, and much more. Note: I apologize for the audio level inconsistency. I needed to boost things to make it easier to hear Maty.

The Kingdom of Pontus was one of the most significant powers of the Hellenistic Era and a major rival to Rome. American historian Duane Roller joins me to talk about the rise and fall of this fascinating and mysterious civilization.

Historian and archeologist Greg Woolf joins me to talk about how ancient cities developed, why we often have the wrong impression about them, and much more.

What mysteries lie below the ocean's surface? We talk to underwater archaeologist Peter Campbell about the ancient relics he is looking for in the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.

How did the Kingdom of Macedon go from a Greek backwater to controlling one of the largest empires of the ancient world? Historian Adrian Goldsworthy joins me to discuss Alexander the Great and his influential father Philip II.

Thebes was once the most powerful city-state in Greece, but it has largely been overshadowed in popular culture by Athens and Sparta. Historian Paul Cartledge and I discuss the rise and fall of Thebes, and what impact it made on the ancient world.

Maybe Homer's Trojan War didn't happen after all. In this episode, we talk to Mediterranean archaeologist Josho Brouwers about the so-called Greek "Age of Heroes" and what it was really like.

What caused the mysterious collapse of so many civilizations in the 12th century BCE? Did the Trojan War really happen? Were Achilles and Helen real people? Eric Cline, one of the world's leading ancient historians and archaeologists, helps answer these questions and more in the latest episode of Ancient Heroes.

The relationship between the heroes Achilles and Patroclus is one of the controversial subjects in Greek mythology. I look at the sources, consider multiple perspectives, and offer my thoughts.

British historian and author Andrew Chugg reveals the new evidence he has uncovered in his search for the lost tomb of Alexander the Great.