What a Classic!

This week on What a Classic! , we are going back to the very beginnings of Ancient Rome. From the fall of Troy and Aeneas’ fateful journey, to the legendary tale of Romulus and Remus, we trace how myth and history intertwine in Rome’s foundation story. How much of this is legend, and how much is rooted in archaeology? Why did the Romans tie their origins so closely to Greece? And what can these my...

Tune in to this listener-requested episode on Classical Symbolism, where we explore key symbols from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Grouping symbols together into broad themes, this episode covers:  The Golden Fleece  Poseidon’s Trident  Zeus’ Eagle and Lightning Bolt  The Ankh and the Was Sceptre  Anubis  Imagery of love: Eros and Cupid  Medusa  Nike  The River Styx  Egyptian Funerary Masks  Per...

In this episode, we explore the Athenian legal system, focusing on how justice was administered and the role of citizens in upholding the law. We start by looking at the Scythians as a historical comparison, before examining the courts (dikasteria), the jury (dikastai), and the trial process itself.  Join us as we break down how large juries of ordinary citizens were used to decide verdicts, the s...

In this episode of The Classical Companion , we explore the inner workings of Athenian democracy, focusing on how power was structured and balanced to prevent monopolisation. We start with the Ekklesia (Assembly), the largest democratic body made up of all eligible citizens, before examining the Boule (Council of 500), the Strategoi (Military Generals), the practice of ostracism, and the Archons (...

Book 11 plunges into relentless battle as dawn brings the goddess of Strife to rouse both armies. Agamemnon leads a fierce Greek assault, killing Trojan warriors –  including Priam’s sons – until he is wounded and forced from the fight. Zeus seizes the moment, empowering Hector’s counterattack.  One by one, Greek champions –  Agamemnon, Diomedes, Odysseus, Machaon and Eurypylos – are struck down....

In this episode of The Classical Companion , we explore the road to Athenian democracy.  Join us as we break down Athens’ transition from monarchy to aristocracy, the role of early kings and archons, and the social tensions caused by debt and inequality. Discover how Draco’s harsh laws and Solon’s reforms helped reshape Athenian society, laying the foundations for broader citizen participation and...

In this episode of What a Classic! , we explore Book 10 of Homer’s Iliad. The battlefield sleeps, but the war does not. In this thrilling nighttime episode of the Iliad , Odysseus and Diomedes set out on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. What drives Agamemnon to risk everything in the dark? Why is Odysseus the perfect partner for Diomedes? And what happens when heroism depends more on cunning t...

In this first episode of The Classical Companion , we explore the fascinating world of Ancient Greece.   Join us as we break down the geography, city-states, and historical periods that shaped Greek civilisation, from the Bronze Age Minoans and Mycenaeans through the Dark Age to the Archaic and Classical periods.   Discover how Athens and Sparta emerged as major powers, the origins of democracy, a...

In this episode of What a Classic! , we explore Book 9 of Homer’s Iliad , where the Greek war effort hangs in the balance. With the Trojans pressing hard, Agamemnon sends an important delegation – Odysseus, Ajax, and Phoenix – to persuade the mighty Achilles to set aside his anger and return to fight. But Achilles, deeply wounded by pride and insult, refuses their pleas, choosing personal honour o...

In this electrifying episode of What a Classic! , we dive into Book 8 of the Iliad , where the gods’ power takes centre stage and the fate of the war hangs in the balance. Zeus, the king of the gods, issues a divine decree that shifts the tide, unleashing the Trojan forces in a fierce advance against the Greeks. With mortal warriors pushed to their limits and the battlefield erupting into chaos, w...

In this episode, we dive into Book 7 of The Iliad , where the tension between the Greeks and Trojans reaches a new height. Following the gods’ influence over the battle, the two armies are set to face off once again, but this time, a challenge is issued that brings a hero from each side to the forefront.  Hector, the Trojan prince, steps forward to challenge any Greek to single combat. This brave...

In this emotionally charged episode of What a Classic! , we journey through Book 6 of Homer’s Iliad , where we witness the personal moments that punctuate the ongoing war. As the battle rages on, we take a deeper look into the heroic but tragic lives of key warriors like Hector, who faces both the heat of combat and the tender bonds of family. In this episode, Hector speaks to his wife Andromache,...

In this action-packed episode of What a Classic! , we dive into Book 5 of Homer’s Iliad , where the gods and mortals collide in a series of explosive battles. Diomedes, one of the greatest Greek warriors, steps into the fray, guided by the divine favour of Athena. With his unmatched courage, he takes on not only the Trojans but even the gods themselves—wounding Aphrodite and Ares in the heat of ba...

In this episode of What a Classic! , we dive into the intense and dramatic events of Book 4 of Homer’s Iliad . Just as a glimmer of peace seemed possible between the Greeks and Trojans, the gods have other plans. A fragile truce is shattered by a single, deadly arrow—one that sets the stage for a brutal renewal of hostilities.  We’ll explore how divine intervention reignites the battle, with Hera’...

In this episode of "What a Classic!", war comes back to the fore once again as we dive into the drama of Book 3 of The Iliad .   After shying from death itself and shrinking back into the ranks when confronted by Menelaus, Paris receives a dressing-down from Hector, accused of being a ' seducer of women'! To salvage his honour, Paris proposes a duel to the death for Helen and her...

In this episode of "What a Classic!", things get even more complicated for the Achaean army in Book Two of the Iliad. Agamemnon, fresh off his quarrel with Achilles, receives a deceptive dream from Zeus promising victory. Fuelled by false hope, Agamemnon decides to test his troops' loyalty by suggesting they abandon the war and sail home.  Chaos erupts as the Achaeans, weary after ni...

In this episode, we dive into the opening chapter of Homer’s The Iliad , where the stage is set for an epic conflict. The Achaeans are battling the Trojans, but a bitter quarrel between two of the greatest Greek warriors, Achilles and Agamemnon, threatens to unravel their efforts. The conflict begins over a prize of war, the captive woman Briseis, which Agamemnon takes from Achilles, sparking Achi...

In this spotlight episode, we are pausing before the action of the Iliad to focus on the legendary figure of Homer, the author of this monumental epic.   Who was Homer?  What do we know about his life and works?   How has his works shaped our understanding of the Classical world?  Join us as we explore the time period in which he wrote, the cultural context that shaped his stories, and the role of...

In this episode, we uncover the first nine years of the Trojan War—before the glory of the Iliad . While the epic battles and heroism of Achilles and Hector steal the spotlight in the story we know, the years leading up to that moment were filled with hardship and suffering. The Trojans, trapped behind their fortified walls, struggled to hold their ground, while the Greeks faced their own set of c...

In this episode, we dive into the dramatic events that ignited the Trojan War—a story filled with betrayal, sacrifice, and the will of the gods. It all starts when Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, disappears from Sparta. Furious and heartbroken, her husband, Menelaus, calls upon his brother Agamemnon, and together they summon the might of the Greek kings to demand her return. The stak...

The stage is set, the players are in place, and the seeds of the Trojan War are about to be sown.   In this episode, we dive deep into the myths that set the groundwork for one of history’s most legendary conflicts.   From the Curse of Atreus and the bloody cycle of vengeance in Mycenae, to the fateful decisions of Paris and how it sets the scene for the eventual fall of Troy, the gods and mortals...

In this episode, we dive deep into the myth of Circe, the infamous witch from Odysseus’ tale who turned men into pigs, but who is so much more than just a villain.   From her punishment of Glaucus, her banishment to her magical island, to her unexpected relationship with Odysseus, Circe’s story is one of power, betrayal, and transformation. We’ll uncover her journey from a goddess exiled in isolat...

Love, betrayal, revenge. A powerful woman scorned, or a victim of her circumstances?   In this episode of What a Classic! , we dive into one of the most iconic—and controversial—figures in Greek mythology: Medea. From her fateful meeting with Jason to the ultimate act of vengeance that would change her life forever, this myth is packed with drama and moral dilemmas. But the real question is: Can h...

Jason and the Argonauts sailed through stormy seas, faced mythical monsters, and braved impossible odds to claim the Golden Fleece . But when Jason returns home, he discovers that victory isn’t always sweet—and glory comes at a steep price. In this epic tale, we’re diving into Jason’s legendary quest, from the eerie island of Lemnos to the treacherous shores of Colchis . Along the way, Jason and h...

What does it take to be a hero? Is it strength, sacrifice, or something deeper? In this episode, we dive into the epic tale of Heracles—the mythic Greek hero who slayed monsters, battled gods, and completed the impossible Twelve Labours. But did his legendary feats bring him redemption, or just more suffering?     From facing the terrifying Hydra to conquering the Underworld itself, Heracles' jour...