#40: Melancholy — Greeks Blamed Sadness on an Excess of Black Bile episode artwork

EPISODE · May 29, 2026 · 1 MIN

#40: Melancholy — Greeks Blamed Sadness on an Excess of Black Bile

from The Why of Words

Explore why sadness has *style*. This episode uncovers melancholy's ancient roots in medieval humoral theory, revealing that the word's connection to honey (mel) is only half the story—the true etymology reveals how the ancients understood despair through the lens of science.---More from Sticky Note Podcasts:Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)stickynotepodcasts.com

Explore why sadness has *style*. This episode uncovers melancholy's ancient roots in medieval humoral theory, revealing that the word's connection to honey (mel) is only half the story—the true etymology reveals how the ancients understood despair through the lens of science. --- More from Sticky Note Podcasts: Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips) stickynotepodcasts.com

NOW PLAYING

#40: Melancholy — Greeks Blamed Sadness on an Excess of Black Bile

0:00 1:55

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Why of Words?

This episode is 1 minute long.

When was this The Why of Words episode published?

This episode was published on May 29, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Explore why sadness has *style*. This episode uncovers melancholy's ancient roots in medieval humoral theory, revealing that the word's connection to honey (mel) is only half the story—the true etymology reveals how the ancients understood despair...

Can I download this The Why of Words episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!