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EPISODE · Aug 17, 2026 · 57 MIN

On the Ruin of Britain-Gildas

from Heroides

"On the Ruin of Britain-Gildas" offers a poignant reflection on the decline of Britain during a tumultuous period, capturing the essence of a society grappling with its fate. Gildas, a sixth-century cleric, provides a critical examination of moral decay and the consequences of leadership failures, themes that resonate deeply in today's world. The work serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of virtue and responsibility in governance, urging listeners to reflect on the lessons of history. Its enduring relevance lies in the universal struggle against complacency and the quest for renewal, making it a compelling listen for anyone interested in the complexities of human society and the cyclical nature of history.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 17, 2026

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On the Ruin of Britain-Gildas

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Sappho: A New Rendering by Sappho (c. 630 BCE - c. 570 BCE) and Publius (Ovid) Ovidius Naso (c. 43 BC - 18 AD) LibriVox Sappho lived in the Greek-speaking Aeolian islands off the coast of Turkey. She is one of the very few female poets from antiquity. Although her work was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome, only small fragments survive today. This book includes translations of these fragments, as well as a poem from Ovid's Heroides, "Sappho to Phaon," a fictional letter from Sappho to her assumed lover. (Summary by Libby Gohn) Heroides by Publius Ovidius Naso Loyal Books The Heroides, also known as the Heroines, the Letters of the Heroines or simply as Epistles are a very famous collection of poems by Ovid, not only for their interesting subject – letters by famous mythological characters addressed to their beloved ones – but also because it’s considered by some the first example of the Epistle as a literary genre – a statement made by Ovid himself in his Ars Amatoria. The book as we have it nowadays consists of 21 letters, divided in two parts. The first is composed of fifteen letters presented as if written by a female mythological character to her lover; the second part, also known as Double Heroides, brings three pairs of letters, being the first in each pair supposedly written by a hero, and the second one, the heroine’s response to the first letter. Along the Metamorphoses and the Ars Amatoria, the Heroides were one of the most influential works of Ovid, not only in the Antiquity, but also throughout the Middle Ages and up to Modern times. Sappho: A New Rendering by Sappho Loyal Books Sappho lived in the Greek-speaking Aeolian islands off the coast of Turkey. She is one of the very few female poets from antiquity. Although her work was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome, only small fragments survive today. This book includes translations of these fragments, as well as a poem from Ovid's Heroides, "Sappho to Phaon," a fictional letter from Sappho to her assumed lover. Sappho: A New Rendering Publius (Ovid) Ovidius Naso; Sappho Sappho lived in the Greek-speaking Aeolian islands off the coast of Turkey. She is one of the very few female poets from antiquity. Although her work was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome, only small fragments survive today. This book includes translations of these fragments, as well as a poem from Ovid's Heroides, "Sappho to Phaon," a fictional letter from Sappho to her assumed lover. (Summary by Libby Gohn)

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This episode was published on August 17, 2026.

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