The Classics Podcast

Along with Achilles, Hector, Helen and Cassandra, one of the most famous names associated with Troy is Heinrich Schilemann, German businessman and 'discoverer' of Troy.  In this entertaining story, Rebecca Lewis-Oakes reimagines how Schilemann's discovery came about, with a little help from the gods...follow Rebecca here and on Twitter . Troy was narrated by Anastacia Holding, Classical Assoc...

Inspired by a line in Book 12 of Homer's Iliad , Susanna Phillippo's story about grief and storytelling was commended in the Open Category and it was vividly brought to life in this narration by Professor James Robson. Susanna is herself a Senior Lecturer in Classics at Newcastle University and you can read her profile here . EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories...

A new story for a new theme - in the final section of our EPIC Compendium, we're showcasing stories of war, inspired by the Open category theme 'Troy'. We begin with an epistolary story from Ellie Field, narrated by Professor Douglas Cairns , Chair of the Classical Association Council and a Fellow of the British Academy. Can you spot the tribute to Stephen Fry in Ellie's story?  EPIC: Modern...

Roman and Remmie, two business magnates - but only one can survive. Sophie Hislop's gripping story was inspired by the Senior category theme 'Heroes' and it was narrated by Katrina Kelly, CA Engagement and Branches Coordinator.  EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrants in the 2022  Classical Association Creative Writing Competition , ins...

Not for the squeamish, this is a bloody tale of revenge, deception and justice with some very famous characters involved, as Isabella Dennis makes us think - what really makes a hero a hero? Heroes and Murderers was narrated by Gráinne Cassidy, CA Education Coordinator. EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrants in the 2022  Classical Associati...

When you think of justice in the ancient world, you might think of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, or of the Furies themselves - Tisiphone and Alecto. In today's episode, Cheryl Byrne brings these characters to life, building to a dramatic crescendo. Fury was narrated by Clare Harvey, member of the Classical Association Teaching Board.  EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of sh...

In this brilliant short story, James Robson takes us into the mind of Meredith Gorgo - and introduces us to a young journalist on a mission. Stone Cold was awarded Third Place in the Senior Category and it was written by Sophie Davies. James is a Professor of Classical Studies at the Open University and the Grants Officer of the Classical Association. EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a com...

Revenge is sweet in this dramatic story by Maya Pyshkin, inspired by the theme 'Heroes' and written for the Senior category. It was narrated by Dr Ian Goh , a Senior Lecturer in Classics at Swansea University and a council member of the Classical Association. You can follow Ian here - https://twitter.com/iklg2. Bonus: Ian's dog was keen to get involved in the storytelling too!  EPIC: Mod...

TW//sexual violence.  Please be advised that the following story contains themes and addresses topics relating to abduction and sexual assault that some listeners might find upsetting.  We Are Very Little Things, by Madeleine Whitmore, was awarded second place in the Senior category and was highly commended by the judges. It was narrated by Katrina Kelly, host of The Classics Podcast. Follow Katri...

Dr Alex McAuley , a Senior Lecturer in Hellenistic History and the Classical Association Honorary Secretary, narrates Milly Kotecha's riveting retelling of the myth of Orestes and Pylades, two characters who feature prominently in Greek tragedies such as Euripides' Electra and Orestes and Aechylus' Eumenides . EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entra...

With a new theme, Justice, we have moved over to the Roman world and an infamous moment in political history. Annie Whyman's story Thus Αlways was written in response to the prompt 'Heroes', in the Senior category, and it was narrated by Clare Harvey, member of the Classical Association Teaching Board.  EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrant...

This brilliant collection of short poems by Ash Bond was ingeniously written in response to the theme 'Troy' and forms the last instalment in our Myth series. It was narrated by Dr Mai Musié . Mai is an Ancient Historian and Public Engagement Specialist and she was the recipient of the 2019 CA Prize. You can follow Mai here and Ash here . EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of s...

Marnie McPartland's unique take on the theme 'Heroes' makes us view the Gods in a whole new light... Relics was narrated by Jessica Dixon, Head of Classics at Woldingham School and the Latin representative on the Classical Association Teaching Board. You can fellow Jess on Twitter at @jessbisc EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrants in the 2022&n...

We return to the Underworld as James Renshaw reads A Ballad of Melancholy, Matilda Jenkins' gripping retelling of the myth of Orpheus, which was commended in our Senior category. EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrants in the 2022  Classical Association Creative Writing Competition , inspired by Stephen Fry's trilogy  Mythos ,  Her...

The World Myth by Amelie Bea Sumner was inspired by stories from Africa, Asia and Ancient Greece and it was awarded third place in the Junior category. Barbara Bell, author of Minimus and former director of the Primary Latin Project , here tells the tale of Alvaro and Alexene. Read more about Barbara, who won the Classical Association Prize in 2005, and her work here .  EPIC: Modern Writers,...

A trip to the Games at ancient Olympia...who will be victorious? Join Gráinne Cassidy, CA Education Coordinator, as she narrates Heroes and Heroines , an imaginative story by Senior category entrant Chloe Defriez.  EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrants in the 2022  Classical Association Creative Writing Competition , inspired by Steph...

How to avoid the Sirens, and six scary bullies? Louis Nicol, who wrote Looking for Ulysses aged 8 and 3/4, was commended in the Junior Category for this gripping story! It was narrated by Arlene Holmes-Henderson, who is an Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History and the CA Outreach Officer. A former school teacher, she often tweets about exciting things happening to do with Classics -...

Caelan Landers' eerie and dramatic reimagining of a pivotal moment in this archetypal tragic character's life was inspired by our 'Heroes' theme in the 'Senior' category. Oedipus Again was narrated by James Renshaw, the Classical Association's Ancient History lead and the host of the Ancient World Breakfast Club. Follow James @jajrenshaw . EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of...

Emily Nicholson's engaging story starts our new theme - myths retold - and was commended in our Junior category. It was narrated by Professor Sharon Marshall, who was the head judge of the Junior category and who you can follow here : @lemonamarshall. Enjoy!  EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilation of short stories written by entrants in the 2022 Classical Association Creative...

TV historian Prof. Michael Scott narrates this final episode of our 'Elements' theme, which takes us to another river, this time in Troy, where death and destruction rage furiously. The River was written by Holly Smith and was awarded third place in the 'Open' category.  Michael is a Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick and was the winner of the 2021 Classica...

This powerful yet poignant story takes us from mountainside to the underworld. The Mountain is Angry was written by Zoe Walters in our Senior category and it was narrated by Jasmine Elmer . Jasmine is the host of the podcast Legit Classics and the CA's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Follow her here . Apologies for the occasional booming in audio quality in this episode.  EPIC: Mod...

Today's story, written by Anne Elicaño-Shields, is a tale of love, loss, family and war, set in the 'lonely silence of deep space'. Travel to a new planet in this narration by Gráinne Cassidy, the Classical Association's Education Coordinator. Anne was writing in response to the theme 'Troy' in our 'Open' category - follow her on Twitter here.  EPIC: Modern Writers, Ancient Stories is a compilatio...

Today's story takes us to the skies as junior entrant Eva McTurk was commended for her story, Manatimer and the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, inspired by the theme 'Myth'. It was narrated by Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson, an Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University and the Classical Association Outreach Officer. Follow Arlene @drarlenehh .  EPIC: Modern Writers, Anci...

We're now leaving the Underworld to travel to the loftiest heights... all aboard the Trojan as we head into outer space!  The Star's Heart was written by Pete Ford in response to the theme 'Troy' in our Open Category. It was narrated by Chloe Cobbald and Clare Roberts, the Managing Editor of the Classical Review . Our apologies for the background hum in this episode (we think Hera the AI migh...

We're staying in the Underworld with Matilda Parker-Groom's mythology-inspired short story: Aeschylus and the Black Jewels of Hades . Matilda was the Runner-Up in the 'Junior' (aged 11 and under) category and her story is narrated by Caroline Lawrence , bestselling author of The Roman Mysteries and 2009 Classical Association Prize Winner.    Caroline's recent work includes The Time Trave...