006– The Fathers of Lies

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Listen: 006 – The Fathers of Lies - Full episode &nbsp; Like the Persians, we make all our decisions when we’re drunk.&nbsp; Such as podcasting about Ancient Greek History in a molten-hot, spider-infested shed.&nbsp; Find out about the culture that gave us democracy, philosophy, science, theatre, history itself... but sadly not proper lavatorial plumbing.&nbsp; It’s a classic story of the foundations of our civilisation.&nbsp; So don’t think this isn’t for you, don’t get drunk and smash the willies from all the local statues – and definitely don’t start a land war in Asia.Battle of the Books - Round 6Herodotus – The HistoriesThucydides – History of the Peloponnesian WarWildcard: &nbsp;Xenophon – The Anabasis (‘The March Up Country’)Shortcuts300 and 300: Rise of An Empire re-tell parts of the story told first (and better) by Herodotus.&nbsp; World War 2 romance The English Patient also heavily features Herodotus’s Histories, and is a cracking story in itself.Not sure what’s more bizarre: the fact that there’s no straight adaptation of Xenophon’s amazing true story, or the existence of Warriors: a re-telling of his great journey... set amongst the gangs of 1970’s New York!Finally, as promised, a C19th painting of Gyges and the Lydian Queen: ‘Candaules, King of Lydia, Shews his Wife by Stealth to Gyges, One of his Ministers, as She Goes to Bed‘, William Etty, exhibited 1830 | TateAnd for the ladies, here’s Leonidas and his 300, heroically fighting off the Persians, and definitely not dressed for the part: Léonidas aux Thermopyles - Jacques-Louis David - Musée du Louvre Peintures INV 3690 ; L 3711 - Leonidas at Thermopylae - WikipediaBattle of the BoozeKaras Armenian Areni and Sereni Noir, aged in amphora , just like it was made in Xenophon’s day.&nbsp; Armenia has a good claim to be the first place on Earth where wine was made, and its wine-makers still rightly refer to Herodotus and Xenophon as evidence of their viticultural heritagePoll of ChampionsWe want your votes!&nbsp; Which book would you save?&nbsp; Vote here!FeedbackWe’d love to hear from you with thoughts, comments, questions and suggestions – click here! &nbsp;