Garner's Greek Mythology

The tale of The Golden Bough startled people in 1890 when mythologist Sir James George Fraser claimed human sacrifice was practiced in the heart of the Roman Empire. In this episode, we take our time machine back to 15 AD to see for ourselves! Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

What happened to the Greeks after death? What did other people in 500 BC believe? In this episode, we look at the afterworld of Greeks, Jews, Egyptians, Persians, Buddhists and Chinese. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

The great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius kept a private diary during his endless military campaigns against the empire’s invaders. A new translation of this important text is now out and prominently features the Greek gods.  Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

The hero of the Odyssey and the Trojan War has to navigate treacherous waters and deities on his 10-year journey home. We join Odysseus for part of it. Meet Circe , the Sirens, and the sea monsters that slow his passage. If the trip had been ranked on a travel website, it would have gotten a negative rating. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

A shaman suddenly appears in ancient Greece to proclaim that Pythagoras , the founder of philosophy, is divine. Behind the scenes, Apollo lurks. Listen as the Greeks are shocked at what unfolds! Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

EP 67  — Strange & Obscure Tales Four tales in one episode, all little known. Each focuses on the relationship between gods and men. One may well reveal the origin of werewolves. Come play with Zeus , Demeter , Artemis and Hermes. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

This episode looks at the infamous Judgment of Paris, which sounds like a French court decision, but was actually a beauty contest between Greek goddesses! Join Hera, Athene and Aphrodite for the lead-up to the Trojan War and all the chaos that followed. And we re-introduce the goddess Eris, a nasty purveyor of war and destruction. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions t...

This episode looks in depth at the unexpected themes of Greek pottery and how gods and heroes are depicted. We also examine the strange effigies of the god Hermes. You’ll meet a Hermes unlike any you’ve encountered.  This episode is also unusual in that it is not suitable for underage listeners.  Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Email any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

Engaging one night with an old Ouija board, podcaster Patrick Garner conjures up the ancient goddess Artemis . Over the course of many hours, the goddess remembers Athena , Poseidon , Hecate , her brother Apollo and other divinities. The episode is largely narrated by a new voice, Lily, an urbane English woman who has long been enthralled by mythology. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Em...

Nyx . the goddess of night, appeared before the Olympic gods, even before the Titans. Her progeny were almost all beings of terror and dread, and included Doom, Death, Sleep, Dreams, Blame, Misery, The Fates, Retribution, Old Age and Strife . Yet as terrifying as her family was, civilization may have resulted from their enforcement of the natural order. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show E...

 When Zeus Came Knocking A visit by Zeus and Hermes to an old couple’s home in ancient Greece sparked a tradition that goes on even today. All ancient Greeks knew that hospitality to strangers could bring fortune. Inhospitality could lead to divine punishment. Violation of this tradition led to the Trojan war. Its unusual name — philoxenia — was one known to all Greeks.  Listen as we encounter Her...

What happens when Eros , the mischievous son of the goddess Aphrodite , sees Psyche , the most beautiful woman in the world? Star-crossed love, of course!  Travel in our time machine back to ancient Greece and follow the timeless story of these two lovers. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas , available on Amazon.com and Audib...

EP 60: Thebes, The City That Gods & Heroes Forsook  Of all the Greek city-states,Thebes was the one most soaked in blood and ancient curses. There, the hero Heracles had killed his wife and children. There, the god Dionysus punished the city’s king. There too the infamous Oedipus played out his grim fate. These events defined the city’s past.  Then in 335 BC, Alexander the Great surrounded The...

In this latest episode, we revisit the towering goddess Artemis , who reveled in the hunt, yet also protected girls, women and young animals. Of all the divinities, she was the most paradoxical. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novels about the gods, The Winnowing and Homo Divinitas , available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Support t...

In this latest episode, we listen to a portion of the greatest speeches of all time, Pericles’ famous funeral oration. Inspired by the goddess Athene, it was given by this Athenian statesman at the end of the first year of the war between Athens and Sparta.  As citizens assemble to bury their sons and fathers — warriors lost in defense of the city — Pericles recites all that is great and good abou...

For almost 60 episodes, I’ve talked about the glory of the Greeks during the golden years of ancient Greece. I’ve also talked about when worship of the gods ended. In this new episode we go back to the beginning, to the so-called Dark Ages of Greece, to the time when the gods first revealed themselves to humans.  If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about th...

EP 56:  Do this to live a good life The Greek world centered around Delphi for two reasons. One — the world’s most famous oracle resided there. Two — the secrets to a good life were carved into the marble sides of Apollo’s temple. One had only to walk the temple grounds to gain the priceless insights. In this episode we look at some the 147 maxims, including Know Thyself and Everything in Moderati...

In the politics of Athens' new democracy, one goddess reined supreme: Peitho . She was the unheralded goddess of persuasion. Her influence brought down the philosopher Socrates. She could make any man silver-tongued, and all of her favorites became powerful orators. Join us as we meet this powerful — and divine — female. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible n...

There’s nothing like divine intervention to ensure success. Of course, things can go badly when it ends. Follow Alexander’s 10-year military career that earned him the moniker “Alexander the Great.” If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas , now available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show Ema...

Orpheus , Apollo’s son, became famous for his extraordinary music and poetry. As talented as he was, he was unable to find love. But one golden afternoon he saw Eurydice , a beautiful nymph. The two fell in love. But their love was fated to be short. When Eurydice died, Orpheus descended to Hades’ underworld to bring her back. There he succeeded — and failed. If you love this podcast, you'll...

The goddess Persephone was queen of the Underworld. To the amazement of the other divinities, she became the wisest of them all. On rare occasions she would invite humans to visit her in that dark place. In this episode we recount her visit with Parmenides, the pre-Socratic philosopher who influenced modern thought. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about...

One goddess alone ruled in the ancient underworld. She was Persephone, although the Greeks dared call her only The Goddess. She had been dragged unwillingly into that gloom by Hades, but she quickly adapted to her circumstances. Mysteriously, she, among all the gods, became the treasury of dark knowledge, the sole portal into universal truths. Today’s Wiccans, neopagans and witches look to her as...

2,500 years ago Delos was the most sacred island in Greece. As the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, it was destined to become both the holiest of sanctuaries and a wealthy trading center.   Its downside was that it was also the region’s largest slave market. Amidst all the temples and sanctimony, traders became immensely rich by selling slaves captured by roving pirates. That wealth became, in th...

How many of us know about the Goddess Tyche? Today this powerful divinity is largely forgotten. But 2,500 years ago, she was believed to determine the day-to-day fortunes of every Greek. If your ship was tossed against rocks as you steered through a storm, it wasn’t your fate as much as your fortune. Tyche was at play. If you stumbled across a hidden treasure, you could thank the goddess. She alon...

In this episode Garner takes the listener on a pleasant hike in the countryside. But the city dweller stumbles upon a strange scene that may involve Athene, Artemis or Aphrodite.  Upon returning to the city our hiker encounters the same woman in a coffee shop. Yet within minutes she vanishes. Intrigued and stunned by the encounters, our hiker returns to the countryside and once again witnesses a s...