Have Toga, Will Travel: Exploring Greece and Rome, Ancient and Modern

The emperor Hadrian didn’t just build a wall across Britain! During a career that involved a “world tour” to pretty much every province of the Roman Empire, he rubbed elbows with provincial aristocrats; showered gifts on the cities of the empire; climbed a couple of mountains and hunted at least one big cat; hung out for years in Greece; murdered the odd senator; and loved, lost, and deified his cherished friend Antinous. (Maybe he even wore a toga while he travelled!) Listen as Emily and Cam hit the highlights of his career.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageLinks to other episodes we made that touch on Hadrian:Hadrian’s Wall, Part I: The Romans in Britain and the Imperial Frontier (the first of four episodes on Hadrian’s Wall)Thermae Romae: A Japanese Film about Ancient Roman Bathing—and Time Travel!Cover image adapted from a photo of a gold coin minted between 134 and 138 CE, depicting Hadrian in profile and bearing the legend “Hadrianus Augustus P(ater) P(atriae)” (Hadrian Augustus, Father of his Country). American Numismatic Society, Wikimedia Commons.----------00:10 - Introduction02:22 - Not Quite Emperor02:28 - Hadrian’s early life03:26 - Ward of Trajan04:55 - Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan’s path to imperial power05:57 - Hadrian’s career under Trajan during the Dacian Wars, the Parthian War, and the Rebellion of the Jewish diaspora09:24 - Trajan is dead, long live Hadrian11:23 - New Frontiers11:24 - Hadrian’s lack of interest in expanding the Roman Empire11:37 - Earlier emperors and wars of conquest12:08 - Hadrian abandons Trajan’s conquests13:16 - Hadrian, Nigrinus, and the execution of four senators14:53 - Hadrian’s World Tours15:02 - An inward focus15:41 - Hadrian tours the provinces (of a really big empire!)17:45 - Hadrian the intellectual: a conversation with Apollo’s oracle at Delphi about Homer19:33 - Hadrian the adventurer: lighting, lions, and bears, oh my!21:14 - Inspecting the army and securing the frontiers23:01 - Hadrian and imperial patronage: local elites, imperial benefactions, and loyalty26:47 - Antinous: a short digression27:06 - Antinous’ background27:48 - Antinous’ death and speculations about its cause29:07 - Hadrian’s grief, the deification of Antinous, and Antinous at Tivoli32:28 - The Olympian: Hadrian in Greece32:48 - Hadrian’s early fascination with Greek culture34:28 - Hadrian’s first trip to Greece: Athenian citizen, Eponymous Archon, and friends with Epictetus and Plutarch37:55 - Hadrian Reborn: the Emperor and the Eleusinian Mysteries41:52 – Hadrian’s plan for the Panhellenion and the Sanctuary of Zeus43:17 - Hadrian among the gods: Hadrianus Olympios, Hadrianus Panhellenios46:32 - Rebellion in Judaea46:54 - The Bar Kokhba Rebellion47:47 - Untangling the roots of the rebellion: a messianic movement?48:50 - Imperial plans and Judaean politics51:05 - Succession Crisis51:22 - Imperial succession in the Roman World52:24 - Hadrian’s potential successors54:19 - Two adoptions, a death, and two murders57:39 - Legacy60:42 - Wrap-up

In “Trojan Women”, the Athenian playwright Euripides highlights an aspect of the Trojan War neglected by Christopher Nolan in “The Odyssey”: the true horror of Troy’s capture and destruction. In this episode, Emily and Cam break down Euripides’ play. Produced at Athens mere months after the Athenians captured Melos (where the Athenians killed all of the men and enslaved the city’s women and children), Euripides’ play offers a powerful and moving depiction of war’s impact on its victims by exploring the suffering and heroism of three Trojan women: Hecuba, Cassandra, and Andromache.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageLinks to previous episodes mentioned in this show:Our episode about Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey.Our episode about Sophocles’ Philoctetes.Watch Michael Cacoyannis’ film version of the Trojan Women on Daily Motion.Cover image adapted from a photo of George Romney’s “Lady Emma Hamilton as Cassandra”, taken by Jan Arkesteijn (Wikimedia Commons).----------00:10 - Introduction02:16 - Content Warning!02:53 - Euripides’ Trojan Women02:56 - Euripides and his work06:49 - The Play’s Context: the Peloponnesian War and the sack of Melos11:12 - Plot Synopsis11:14 - Poseidon and Athena hatch a scheme13:16 - Talthybius, Hecuba, and the Allotment of the Captives to Agamemnon, Neoptolemus, and Odysseus15:09 - Cassandra16:05 - Andromache17:16 - The agon: Menelaus, Helen, and Hecuba21:57 - The funeral of Astyanax and the death of Troy23:00 - War and Suffering: Hecuba and Talthybius23:26 - Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey and Euripides’ Trojan Women: a difference in perspective25:09 - The Pain of Hecuba, Cassandra, and Andromache (and a digression on Odysseus)29:35 - Hecuba: Leadership and Resilience33:11 - The Empathy of Talthybius39:23 - Agency and Humanity39:46 - The women as heroes39:54 - Cassadra’s vengeance40:42 - Andromache, Neoptolemus, and Astyanax41:57 - Hecuba43:04 - Helen and Talthybius45:04 - Fortune is Fickle45:51 - Greek literature and the instability of fortune48:00 - Agency again: fate and choice50:57 - The Victors and their Comeuppance51:20 - Nolan’s view on war and society52:12 - Euripides and the wrath of the gods54:54 - Digression: Michael Cacoyannis’ “Trojan Women”, featuring Irene Papas55:53 - Athens and the Trojan Women56:53 - Empathy for the victims of warfare57:32 - Euripides as Cassandra?59:11 – Final Thoughts and Wrap-up

When modern authors and filmmakers like Christopher Nolan adapt ancient myths and characters, they are following an old and well-worn precedent. In this episode, Emily and Cam explore how the Athenian playwright Sophocles adapted a well-known story about Odysseus and used it in his play, Philoctetes, to explore questions about deception, persuasion, and intractable situations.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageLinks to our episodes dealing with the Odyssey:Our overview of Homer’s Odyssey.Our episode about Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey.Our episode about the “The Return”, Uberto Passolini’s splendid 2024 adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.Links to our other episodes touching on ancient drama (or adaptations thereof):Aeschylus’ Persians: The OG Greek Tragedy.Something for everyone! Plautus and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.Cover image: Lekythos depicting Philoctetes in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (56.171.58); adapted from a photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons.----------00:11 - Introduction02:50 - Sophocles’ Philoctetes02:55 - The performance: 409, at the end of the Peloponnesian War03:07 - Athenian Tragedy in the late 5th century: actors and the chorus05:37 - The competitive context07:26 - The Myth of Philoctetes07:39 - Son of Poias07:57 - Philoctetes, the Trojan War, and Lemnos09:37 - Philoctetes and the Bow of Herakles10:30 - Philoctetes: Plot Summary10:43 - The opening scene: a plot is hatched13:22 - The encounter with Philoctetes15:10 - The “merchant” enters the scene18:00 - Philoctetes’ seizure and Neoptolemus’ moral crisis18:57 - Odysseus’ surprise entry20:21 - Odysseus and Neoptolemus have a spat21:35 - The epiphany22:17 - Sophocles’ innovations22:54 - Lemnos: a deserted island23:25 - Neoptolemus replaces Diomedes24:36 - A digression on other plays about Philoctetes: Aeschylus and Euripides25:57 - Odysseus in Philoctetes26:10 - Odysseus as trickster27:14 - The Homeric precedent28:23 - Sophocles’ move: Odysseus, disguise, and a destabilization of trust: are the minor characters who they say they are?35:26 - Deception in Philoctetes35:35 - Is Odysseus the play’s “bad guy”?38:43 - The chorus has a different view!39:10 - Philoctetes isn’t a straightforward “good guy”!40:48 - Neoptolemus: is deception good when you do it to help someone else?43:57 - Sophocles doesn’t give us easy lessons44:43 - Intractable Problems45:04 - The impasse46:33 - The epiphany of Heracles and what it might mean48:47 - A happy ending for Philoctetes—and for Odysseus!50:15 - The value of deception: an open question (and Sophocles’ brilliance)51:21 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam take on Christopher Nolan’s film, “The Odyssey.” Everyone has an opinion on this movie, and Emily and Cam are no different. Sheep, and Cyclops, and Circe, oh my!Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageUseful Links:Listen to our overview of Homer’s Odyssey.Listen to our episode about the “The Return”, Uberto Passolini’s splendid 2024 adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.Cover image: adapted from “The Wine-Dark Sea,” a photo by Alan Hughes, Wikimedia Commons.----------00:11 - Introduction01:06 - The bottom line (good and bad)02:39 - The film as a reflecting pool (or theater set)03:52 - Synopsis06:45 - What we loved06:49 - Practical effects and a textured world (featuring the sheep!)10:10 - The film’s visual language: costumes, colors, props, palaces (historical accuracy is NOT the goal here)14:04 - A deep and talented bench of actors (with a shoutout to Himesh Patel and John Leguizamo)17:31 - Some choice storytelling moments20:02 - The adventure stories: Polyphemus’ cave; the sirens; the underworld; Circe27:23 - Athena and the other gods29:14 - Approaching Nolan's Odyssey29:21 - How we evaluate movies like this: give us a smart adaptation that does something interesting!30:32 - The story Nolan wants to tell: war damages both individuals and societies, causing trauma and social collapse33:52 - The main problem: too much telling, not enough showing36:25 - Odysseus breaks the world?36:38 - The setup: Zeus’ Law, the Trojan Horse, and the Sea Peoples37:09 - The horse: a gift for Athena, or a gift for Zeus?38:37 - Odysseus and his crew as the “Sea Peoples”: an unconvincing yarn44:14 - The Sea Peoples as a hollow threat?47:17 - Odysseus traumatized?47:36 - The nature of Odysseus’ suffering48:11 - Odysseus and his (lack of?) relationships with his crew49:29 - Odysseus and Sinon52:11 - Odysseus miraculously recovers (but doesn’t seem to learn anything?)53:58 - Violence in Nolan’s film54:39 - Christopher Nolan’s take on depicting violence and alienating audiences55:52 - The horrors witnessed by Odysseus at Troy57:29 - Odysseus takes on the suitors59:49 - Unsatisfying Endings60:08 - The problems with Penelope (and her treehouse bed!)63:02 - Rushed endings and dangling resolutions65:02 - Words of wisdom spoken at the bar66:18 - Final takeaways: our thoughts on why this film looks the way it does66:30 - The Adventure Stories (a.k.a. the Odyssey Trap)67:49 - Unsatisfying stakes?68:59 - Odysseus the hero71:16 - Wrap-up

Need a refresher on Homer’s Odyssey before you watch the upcoming movie by Christopher Nolan? Emily and Cam have got you covered! In this episode, they break down the poem’s plot and its major themes as they explore topics like Odysseus’ reliability as a narrator (spoiler alert: he has none whatsoever!) and Penelope’s own craftiness.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageUseful Links:Listen to our episode about the “The Return”, Uberto Passolini’s splendid 2024 adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.Cover image: “Archaic or late geometric period krater depicting Odysseus and a friend stabbing the giant Polyphemus in his only eye, clay, 670 BCE, Archaeological Museum of Argos.” Photo by Mary Harrsh, Wikimedia Commons.----------00:11 - Introduction01:40 - What is the Odyssey?01:46 - The Odyssey, the Iliad, and other epic poems02:23 - The Homer problem. Do we know who wrote the Odyssey, and when?06:54 - An overview of the Odyssey’s plot10:14 - The poem and its 24 “books”11:00 - The Telemachy: Narrative11:23 - Athena visits Ithaka12:08 - Athena’s plans for Odysseus’ son Telemachus13:55 - Telemachus sets sail on an adventure to visit Nestor, Menelaus, and Helen17:50 - The Telemachy: Themes18:01 - The vulnerability of Telemachus’ position19:39 - Hospitality: gracious hosts and happy guests21:43 - Sailing to Ithaka: Narrative22:06 - Odysseus escapes the Island of Calypso23:18 - Shipwrecked again! Odysseus and the Phaeacians29:28 - Odysseus tells the story of his adventures (the Cyclops, Circe, the underworld, the sirens, Scylla and Charybdis—and some other good bits)41:29 - The Phaeacians send Odysseus home42:11 - Sailing to Ithaka: Themes42:18 - More on hospitality: bad hosts and dodgy guests45:19 - Odysseus, the man of suffering46:30 - Odysseus, the unreliable narrator62:50 - A postscript on the poem’s mythical geography55:37 - Ithaka at last!: Narrative55:51 - Odysseus visits Eumaeus56:41 - Telemachus returns to Ithaka—and Odysseus hatches a plan58:42 - Odysseus among the suitors in disguise59:57 - Penelope, Odysseus, and Eurycleia62:23 - Penelope’s contest, Odysseus’ bow, and a massacre64:48 - Reunions: Odysseus and Penelope, Odysseus and Laertes65:53 - The final battle (and a deus ex machina)66:39 - Ithaka at last!: Themes66:43 - How much revenge is TOO much?72:33 - Penelope, that crafty girl79:41 - Final bits and bobs79:50 - The popularity of the Odyssey over time80:37 - Our hopes for Nolan’s film81:45 - Wrap-up

Have you ever wondered what a bath-house architect from ancient Rome would think if he found himself swept through a time warp into a modern Japanese Spa? Wonder no more! Emily and Cam discuss Thermae Romae, a 2012 Japanese Film that seeks to explore precisely this question by dramatizing the adventures of one Lucius Modestus, an engineer who becomes Emperor Hadrian’s personal bath-house designer.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageUseful Links:Watch Thermae Romae (with English Subtitles) on DailymotionWatch the Thermae Romae Novae anime series on NetflixCover art adapted from Joseph Theodor Hansen, "Tepidarium at the Forum Baths in Pompeii"----------00:11 - Introduction01:56 - Thermae Romae: the basics02:28 - How to watch Thermae Romae03:29 - A plot summary: Lucius Modestus travels through time, learns lots about Japanese bathing culture, and applies his knowledge to Roman bath-houses in the time of Hadrian06:59 - The original Thermae Romae manga series08:13 - The film’s success and the Thermae Romae Universe10:17 - A Fish-out-of-Water Comedy10:24 - The basic premise and some of the movie’s quirks13:35 - Modern Japanese and Ancient Roman bathing cultures, compared19:16 - Lucius bumbles his way through modern Japan and discovers the marvels of Japanese bathing26:05 - Poking fun of Japanese onsen culture (and a digression on the challenges of translation)29:46 - Thermae Romae and Roman Culture29:56 - A quirky interpretation of real Roman history: the reign of Hadrian, the death of Antinous, and the question of succession (and deification!)38:54 - Lucius’ (very Japanese) critique of Roman bathing culture42:09 - Does Lucius’ critique hold water? Imperial bath-houses, neighborhood bath-houses, and bath-house sociability47:04 - The old men from the onsen teach Lucius to care less about honor and more about community spirit49:36 - Some final thoughts about the movie51:25 - Wrap-up51:31 - What’s up next: the Odyssey—both Homer’s Odyssey, and Nolan’s Odyssey52:26 - A plug for “The Return” (and for our episode about it!)

We’re dropping a quick note in our feed to remind you that we’re on vacation and won’t be releasing a full episode on June 15, but also to tease a couple of upcoming episodes—including a couple on Homer’s Odyssey and Christopher Nolan’s film of the same name!Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comRead the first in our series of blog posts on Hadrian’s Wall here:Hiking Hadrian’s Wall, Part IIf you haven’t done so already, have a listen to our episode on The Return, a 2024 film adaptation of the Odyssey starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche:Homer’s Odyssey on Film: “The Return”

Emily and Cam wrap up their series on hiking Hadrian’s Wall Path with a discussion of the final 31 miles of the Wall. Follow along as they explore medieval monuments made of wallstone, find themselves treed by some cows, and are regaled with tales of cannibals (human and otherwise!).Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageRead the first post in our series of blog posts on Hadrian’s Wall here:Hiking Hadrian’s Wall, Part IIf you’re interested in hiking the Wall, you’ll find the following resources helpful:Walking Hadrian’s Wall Path, by Mark Richards (Cicerone Press)Hadrian’s Wall Path, by Anthony Burton (National Trails Official Guidebook)Harvey Maps, Map of Hadrian’s Wall PathFinally, you’ll find the rest of the episodes in this series at the following links:Hadrian’s Wall, Part I: The Romans in Britain and the Imperial FrontierHadrian’s Wall, Part II: Walking from Wallsend to CarrawburghHadrian’s Wall, Part III: Hiking the Crags (Sewingshields to Birdoswald)----------00:11 - Introduction00:24 - Episode overview01:11 - Housekeeping and Summer vacation02:41 - Birdoswald to Haytongate03:16 - The character of the trail and the last visible elements of the Wall05:44 - Honesty Boxes and the Haytongate Hut06:56 - Lanercost Priory07:22 - A priory built of wallstone: the history of Lanercost10:52 - Exploring Lanercost (and our encounter with Max)12:24 - Haytongate to Carlisle12:46 - An unpleasant encounter with cows14:37 - “Where’s the Wall,” or the perils of starting in the west15:55 - Crosby on Eden, haggis, and black pudding17:59 - The Wall at the River Eden: Uxelodunum and Milecastle 6618:27 - Carlisle18:56 - Carlisle Castle: Luguvalium becomes the old Norman keep21:31 - Richard III, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Jacobites: Carlisle Castle’s long history24:52 - Another encounter with Max27:00 - Carlisle Cathedral (and more plundered wallstone)28:47 - Carlisle’s Guildhall30:06 - Misadventures in Carlisle dining31:46 - Carlisle to Bowness on Solway32:14 - Burgh by Sands: Aballava, Africans in Roman Britain, and Edward I’s unpleasant bout with dysentery34:53 - The Tidal Flats: Dykesfield, Drumburgh, and the dangers of high tide!37:45 - Bowness on Solway and a gathering at Fort Maia: Billy No-Mates and a man obsessed with cannibals!43:02 - Logistics of the Hike43:07 - Where to begin? In the west at Bowness, or in the east at Newcastle?45:38 - Resources for planning: books and maps47:10 - Lodging, adventure companies, luggage, and the AD 122 bus50:53 - Food: full English breakfasts and pub fare53:16 - Tips for the trail: rain, sunburn, and blisters, oh my!56:56 - Final Thoughts58:02 - Wrap-up

Fabulous vistas and amazing artifacts await eager hikers along the central section of Hadrian’s Wall Path. Listen as Emily and Cam chat about them all in this installment of their series on the Wall. Get ready for Roman Army re-enactors, the world’s oldest surviving document written by a woman, and the tree that stole the show from Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman—but watch out for the cheesecake!Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageRead the first post in our series of blog posts on Hadrian’s Wall here:Hiking Hadrian’s Wall, Part I----------00:11 - Introduction01:19 - Dialects: Cumbrian and Geordie02:05 - What's a dialect, anyway?02:26 - The Cumbrian Dialect04:18 - The Geordie Dialect05:30 - Sewingshields Crag06:38 - Views of the North Ditch07:40 - Preserved lengths of Wall along the Great Whin Sill09:31 - The summit of Sewingshields, gale warnings, and Joe the Dog13:02 - Housesteads Roman Fort13:39 - History, layout, and garrison of Vercovicium14:51 - Exploring Housesteads16:52 - The Ermine Street Guard: a modern Roman Legion19:51 - Hotbank and Highshields20:27 - The Clayton Wall21:22 - Milecastle 37 and its impressive North Gate22:51 - Sycamore Gap23:27 - The Sycamore that starred in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves25:07 - The senseless destruction of the tree (and some original Roman masonry)26:33 - Twice Brewed and Vindolanda26:44 - The Twice Brewed Inn: beds and beer!27:33 - Vindolanda and its history: the forts of the Stanegate29:08 - Exploring Vindolanda (and practicing your Latin!)29:57 - Vindolanda's anoxic soil and archaeological treasures31:17 - The Vindolanda Tablets: Sulpicia Lepidina receives a birthday party invitation, and Maculus wants beer!35:31 - Peel Crags to Walltown Crags36:51 - The Peel Crags and Castle Nick (or Milecastle 39)38:10 - The literal high point of the trail: Windshields Crag38:52 - Views of the Vallum40:16 - An encounter with a real-life snooty professor41:52 - The Carvoran Roman Army Museum, and some cool archaeology45:26 - The Irthing River Valley46:18 - Thirwall Castle and plundered wallstone47:01 - The Roman bridge at Willowford47:41 - Milecastle 49 and the junction of the turf and stone Walls48:24 - The walk to Birdoswald: Centurion Stones and Apotropaic Stones49:20 - Birdoswald Roman Fort49:36 - The history of Banna and its residents50:19 - Exploring Birdoswald and points nearby51:26 - Cocidius: a “Romanized” Celtic war god52:41 - Birdoswald's afterlife: warbands, reivers and Henry Norman55:19 - A misadventure with English cheesecake56:05 - Wrap-up

Curious to know what it’s like to walk the length of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England and experience the monument the way the ancient Romans did (on foot!)? Join Emily and Cam as they describe what there is to see and do along the first 38 miles of Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail. You’ll hear about Roman soldiers from Mesopotamia, a Smell-o-Rama (yes, really!), the modern worship of the ancient god Mithras, and what Cam thinks about Real Ale (spoiler: he loves it!).Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageRead the first post in our series of blog posts on Hadrian’s Wall here:Hiking Hadrian’s Wall, Part I----------00:10 - Introduction00:44 - Hadrian’s Wall Path01:34 - Our experience on the Trail02:12 - The history of the Trail and the English footpath system03:32 - How we came to walk the Wall05:00 - The three main sections of the Wall06:20 - Arbeia (South Shields)06:49 - The fort and its garrison: the Tigris rivermen10:43 - Some fun on the Newcastle Metro11:53 - Wallsend and Segedunum12:02 - Latin everywhere!12:44 - Exploring Segedunum Roman Fort15:35 - The Wall Passport and Segedunum’s guest book16:53 - Newcastle and Newburn16:59 - Tyneside and its industries18:26 - The bridges of Newcastle19:49 - Newburn: Keelman’s Lodge and Big Lamp Brewery21:48 - Cam’s digression on Real Ale22:58 - Heddon on the Wall23:19 - Blackberry season!24:06 - The wall re-emerges25:36 - Living with livestock along the Wall27:19 - The Portgate and Dere Street28:25 - A digression on Sticky Toffee Pudding29:50 - Corbridge and Corstopitum30:25 - A strategic junction: Dere Street, the Stanegate, the Tyne31:50 - The Roman site and the museum33:43 - Getting to Corbridge from the Wall33:47 - Making friends along the trail37:00 - Heavenfield37:13 - St. Oswald’s Way37:39 - Bede and the Battle of Heavenfield38:38 - Planetrees39:06 - The Broad Wall meets the Narrow Wall39:45 - Why does the Narrow Wall exist?40:55 - The North Tyne, Chollerford, Chesters41:22 - The Roman bridge across the North Tyne42:26 - Chesters Fort: the site and its inhabitants45:54 - Greencarts, the AD122 bus, and why doing the Trail in 2 days is a bad idea48:15 - The Mithraeum at Carrawburgh49:34 - Mithras: the Romans reimagine an Iranian god50:07 - Mithraism and other mystery cults51:19 - The Mithraeum and its remains52:14 - An encounter with a modern devotee of Mithras54:55 - Wrap-up

Join Emily and Cam as they discuss the Romans in Britain from the time of Caesar to the emperor Hadrian, and then talk about Hadrian’s monumental wall—what it was, how it was built, what it was for, and why some bits of it still survive today.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageRead the first post in our series of blog posts on Hadrian’s Wall here:Hiking Hadrian’s Wall, Part ILinks:David Keys, “Roman Invasion Beach Found in Kent”, The Independent (Friday October 3, 2008).----------00:11 - Introduction01:58 - The Romans in Britain, from Caesar to Hadrian02:22 - Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul and Britain, and their aftermath03:35 - Claudius “defeats” Caratacus and conquers southern England13:37 - Boudicca’s Rebellion18:54 - Vespasian and the governorship of Agricola22:05 - Hadrian visits the frontier23:31 - Building Hadrian’s Wall23:25 - The route: from Segedunum to Maia25:41 - The wall and its features: stone, turf, milecastles, turrets, and outworks28:57 - Why build part in stone and part in turf?29:28 - The legions and the process of building the wall32:25 - Changing plans: wall gauges, wall forts, and turf replaced by stone37:56 - The Purpose of Hadrian’s Wall38:25 - Some puzzling features of Rome’s northern frontier39:07 - A zone of transition: the Roman Empire and British social structures44:22 - The Romans, the Wall, and the transformation of Britain46:24 - The Wall after Hadrian46:42 - The Wall from Antoninus Pius to Septimius Severus49:04 - The Wall in the time of Bede51:17 - The 17th and 18th centuries: Hadrian’s Wall and the Military Road53:19 - John Clayton54:39 - The National Trust and UNESCO55:20 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam chat about whether Monty Python's Life of Brian is truly the greatest movie about ancient Rome (as Cam claimed in the last episode). They also explore what "truths" the movie might expose about life under Roman occupation, and contemplate the Pythons’ love for Aristophanes.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageCover photo adapted from an image by Grufo (Wikimedia Commons).----------00:11 - Introduction01:54 - Monty Python: A Primer02:25 - Five Brits and an American: Monty Python comes together (probably at a bar)04:00 - The Pythons venture into feature-length films06:56 - Production, Release, Reception06:58 - On location in Tunisia08:00 - The man they call Brian: the basic plot of the movie09:52 - George Harrison to the rescue!11:13 - Brian banned!12:08 - The peculiar case of Aberystwyth, Wales13:38 - Some cringey bits: viewer beware!13:53 - Blackface and ethnic slurs15:20 - Stan / Loretta: mildly transphobic, or surprisingly progressive?16:56 - Some ableist-seeming jokes19:02 - The Pythons do history hilariously20:45 - Women and agency22:59 - Businesspeople and professional pride24:36 - Gladiator games, Python-style28:10 - British and Roman imperialism, or what have the Romans ever done for us?32:54 - Ridiculous resistance groups (Splitters!)37:33 - Everyday acts of genuine resistance41:21 - Prophets, saviors, and messiahs—in Roman Judea and elsewhere45:08 - The Pythons as PhDs of Comedy45:42 - Learned spoofs of literature and film: The Iliad and Spartacus48:15 - Silly costumes, silly names, silly plots: the Pythons pay homage to Plautus and Aristophanes54:39 - Romanes eunt domus!56:55 - The art of nudity: the Pythons spoof Zeffirelli59:14 - Wrap-up

In the final installment of a four-part series on the Greeks and the Persians, Emily and Cam discuss both the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of Plataea, and finish off with some remarks about the Serpent Column—a living monument to the accomplishment of the Greeks.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageLinksOur Blog Post on the Serpent Column.The first episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part I: The Rise of the Persian Empire).The second episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part II: Darius, Great King, King of Kings).The third episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part III: Xerxes and the Road to Thermopylae).----------00:12 - Introduction00:58 - Xerxes on the Acropolis01:18 - The aftermath of Thermopylae and Artemision: Xerxes in Central Greece04:22 - The Athenians face a dilemma07:03 - The Pythia, the wall of wood, and the evacuation of Athens12:46 - The Persians in Athens14:52 - Blessed Salamis15:26 - Dissension among the Greeks19:21 - Xerxes, his commanders, and Artemisia the wise advisor24:29 - Themistokles’ Gambit32:21 - The Battle of Salamis36:17 - Xerxes puts Mardonius in charge and heads for home39:15 - The Campaign and Battle of Plataea39:19 - Mardonius, Alexander, and an offer to the Athenians41:11 - Spring 479: Mardonius’ capture of Athens, and its aftermath43:23 - All roads lead to Plataea48:21 - The Battle of Plataea56:09 - Epilogue: the Serpent Column, from Delphi to Istanbul61:07 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam dive into Xerxes’ decision to invade Greece, and tell the story of his expedition as far as the Battle of Thermopylae. (Featuring a very brief digression on "300".)Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageLinksThe first episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part I: The Rise of the Persian Empire).The second episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part II: Darius, Great King, King of Kings).Our episode on Aeschylus’ Persians (Aeschylus’ “Persians”: The OG Greek Tragedy).Our episode on heroes in the ancient Greek world (Holding Out for a Hero—in Ancient Greece).----------00:12 - Introduction01:18 - The Last Years of Darius02:38 - Xerxes, King02:59 - Xerxes and the Many Sons of Darius04:57 - Xerxes Quells Rebellions in Egypt and Babylon05:39 - Xerxes’ Project: The Invasion of Greece06:08 - Herodotus’ Understanding of Xerxes’ Motivations08:47 - A Persian Perspective?10:31 - Planning Xerxes’ Campaign11:00 - The Mt Athos Canal and Supply Depots in the Northern Aegean12:39 - Ships and Cables14:07 - Mustering the Army14:28 - Xerxes Travels from Susa to Sardis16:59 - Early Greek Responses to Xerxes’ Plans17:15 - Initial Rumors18:02 - Xerxes Demands Earth and Water20:00 - The Range of Greek Responses: Submission, Accommodation, Resistance25:35 - Greek Spies in Sardis26:04 - Strategy and the Problems of Interstate Rivalries27:28 - The Coming Storm27:54 - Xerxes Crosses the Hellespont: the Pontoon Bridges29:51 - Xerxes Counts his Forces (and why we should doubt Herodotus’ numbers)34:27 - The March to Therma and the Kingdom of Macedonia37:14 - The Greeks at Tempe and the Submission of the North39:46 - Thermopylae and Artemision: Greek Plans and Preparations40:10 - The Geography of Thermopylae and Artemision (with a digression on “300”)43:04 - The Greek Forces48:33 - Thermopylae and Artemision: The Battles48:58 - Spartan Hairstyles and Xerxes’ Frustrations51:56 - The First Day of Fighting: Stalemate43:30 - The Second Day of Fighting: Xerxes, Ephialtes, and the March of the Immortals57:23 - The Third Day of Fighting: The Last Stand65:12 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam continue their discussion of the conflict between the Persians and the ancient Greek world. In this episode, they chat about Cyrus’ son Cambyses, about the rise to power of Darius, and about Darius’ relationships with Greeks on the western frontier of his empire.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageEpisode LinksThe first episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part I: The Rise of the Persian Empire).Part I of our series on the Athens Marathon, which includes a discussion of the Battle of Marathon and the legend of Pheidippides.Wikipedia’s article on Darius’ Bisitun Inscription, which includes photos.Image credits:Cover / instagram image adapted from a photo by Lee van Dorp (Wikimedia Commons), which shows a closeup of Darius as he is depicted on the Bisitun Inscription.Social sharing image adapted from a photo by Korosh091 (Wikimedia Commons), which shows the Bisitun Inscription's main relief.----------00:13 - Introduction01:31 - Sources for the reigns of Cambyses and Darius01:49 - Herodotus’ Persian stories02:41 - Inscriptions and papyri documenting Persian kings03:01 - Cambyses, son of Cyrus: portraits of his Reign03:27 - Herodotus’ take on Cambyses: a mad and murderous king11:59 - A more sympathetic take: the Apis inscriptions, the Udjahorresnet inscription, and what they tell us about Cambyses16:35 - The Death of Cambyses and the rise of Darius17:01 - Herodotus’ tale of the usurper Smerdis and the (Persian) Magnificent Seven21:06 - Darius’ Bisitun Inscription and the “Official” story of his rise to power28:02 - Darius and the Greeks28:41 - Darius’ Scythian Expedition and the Greeks of Ionia and Aeolia32:01 - The Ionian Revolt and its causes: Aristagoras and Naxos, plus the problem of tyranny, tribute, and triremes39:39 - The Athenians and the sack of Sardis43:00 - The Marathon Campaign: Darius seeks revenge44:58 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam talk about the ancient Persians and the growth of their empire in the first episode of a series on the conflict between the Persians and the ancient Greek world.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageCover photo adapted from an image by Jakub Hałun (Persian Warriors, Pergamon University, Berlin)----------00:12 - Introduction01:07 - Who were the Persians?01:11 - The ancient Persians, the ancient Iranians, and the Indo-European dispersion02:52 - The Old Persian language (and a digression on Persian names)08:35 - Zoroastrianism and the religion of the ancient Persians13:59 - The Rise of the Persian Empire14:23 - The Middle East in the 6th Century BCE: Persia and its neighbors16:29 - Herodotus and the legend of Cyrus the Great20:06 - Cyrus the Great and his conquests24:04 - Cyrus’ successors: Cambyses and Darius24:48 - The Persian Empire in 500 BCE25:12 - The Structure of the Persian Empire25:25 - Cooperative local elites and the obligations of empire26:35 - Satraps, provinces, and the Iranian diaspora28:45 - The Ideology of the Persian Empire29:04 - Cyrus as champion of local gods in Babylon and Judah30:49 - Darius as champion of Ahura Mazda32:47 - The Mechanics of Empire in the Age of Darius32:52 - Imperial ideology and imperial violence34:00 - Local elites and imperial entanglements: the story of Syloson of Samos38:04 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam break down “The Persians”—the oldest surviving Greek tragedy, which offers a surprisingly sympathetic take on the enemies of Athens.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageCover photo adapted from an image of the Salamis Soldiers' monument, by Ziegler175:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SalamisPaloukiaSchlacht2.jpg----------00:10 - Introduction01:43 - Aeschylus and his historical context01:56 - The subject of the play (and its peculiarity)03:06 - The Battle of Salamis and the Persian Wars05:10 - Aeschylus’ Career06:22 - The Persians in performance06:30 - The Dionysia of 472 BCE and Aeschylus’ tetralogy08:35 - Pericles as producer (choregos)09:09 - A synopsis of the play11:12 - The structure of Greek Tragedies (or, how do we know that the Persians only needs two actors apart from the chorus?)14:03 - Interpreting the play: sympathy for the Persians?15:06 - The survival of the play: evidence of its popularity?16:04 - Triumphalism vs. a recognition of common experience17:06 - Differences between Greek and Persians in the play: archers vs. spearmen, autocracy vs. autonomy, proskynesis and lamentation20:36 - Aeschylus argues for common experiences: the Persians as Homeric heroes, the horrors and the costs of battle, and Aeschylus’ rejection of the “effeminate Persians” trope26:37 - The play’s main theme: empire and hubris27:00 - Xerxes and his bad decisions27:56 - The gods’ desire to punish Xerxes28:53 - The hubris of Xerxes, or the hubris of the Empire? (Featuring Emily’s rant about hubris in ancient and modern thought)34:27 - Aeschylus, the gods, and Athenian imperialism36:55 - The social function of tragedy: thinking through big problems37:28 - What staging the Persians can tell us about the play39:12 - Wrap-up

At Play in the Theater of DionysusThe Theater of Dionysus as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides knew it was very different than the theater whose remains you see today in Athens. Listen to Emily and Cam walk you through the development of the space, and through the creation of the genre associated most strongly with it: Greek tragedy.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageFor images of the Theater and Sanctuary of Dionysus, visit our blog:https://havetogawilltravel.com/blog/the-sanctuary-and-theater-of-dionysus----------00:10 - Introduction01:37 - Visiting the Theater and Sanctuary01:42 - Where to find the Theater and Sanctuary02:16 - Don’t confuse it with the Odeion of Herodes Atticus!03:26 - An overview of the physical remains04:01 - The Origins of the Sanctuary, the Theater, and the Festival04:02 - The Sanctuary, the Festival, and the Temples of Dionysus04:58 - The Theater through Time: The Fifth Century, the Lycurgan Theater, the Hellenistic Theater, and the Roman Theater07:59 - The Festivals of Dionysus: The Origins of the City Dionysia and celebrations for Dionysus in Ikaria and other demes11:44 - The Origins of Scripted Drama in Athens11:50 - The Dithyramb12:41 - The legend of Thespis, the first actor13:15 - The importance of the chorus in Greek drama14:10 - Masking and actors playing multiple characters14:30 - The Development of the Three-Actor Model in the Age of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides19:09 - The City Dionysia19:42 - The Schedule: The Procession and its Ithyphallic Floats; the Dithyrambic Competitions; the Dramatic Competitions22:50 - Dionysus, the most important spectator23:48 - The Organization of the Dramatic Competitions: Tragedies, Satyr Plays, Choruses, and Choregoi!30:09 - The Performance Space and its Evolution30:20 - The Fifth-Century Theater: the Orchestra, the Skēnē, and the Paradoi33:30 - Technical Innovations: the ekkyklēma and the mechanē36:36 - The Deus Ex Machina in ancient Drama37:34 - Changes over time in the layout of the theater and in the role of the Chorus41:01 - Final Thoughts on the Importance of Tragedy44:15 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam talk about their recent trip to Athens and Rome in an episode that features some talk about marathons, tsipouro, and cats.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageFor images of the Museum of the Forma Urbis, visit our blog post:https://havetogawilltravel.com/blog/the-museum-of-the-forma-urbisLinks to some of the places we mention in this episode:Athena’s CookParadosiako SerronNoctua BrewingEsthioΒαυβώ (Vafvo)Hotel Santa MariaSan Clemente Archaeological ZoneMuseum of the Forma Urbis----------00:10 - Introduction01:25 - Our second walk through the Athens Marathon01:38 - Faliro: tourist sites, getting there, and the Marathon Expo05:06 - Carb loading before the Marathon06:32 - The trip to Marathon and the wait in the Stadium09:27 - The race itself (drinking tsipouro in the footsteps of Spiridon Louis!)15:19 - Our stay in Athens15:41 - How we travel17:11 - Old neighborhoods (Plaka and Monastiraki) and ancient sites (the Acropolis and the Theatre of Dionysus)19:01 - A field trip to Ilion (the Athens suburb, not Troy!) to eat at Paradosiako Serron21:06 - Modern Athens: Pangrati23:23 - Modern Athens: Koukaki and its restaurants (including Esthio) and our view of the Acropolis29:36 - Modern Athens: Neos Kosmos and Βαυβώ33:41 - Our Stay in Rome33:53 - Rome’s “feel” compared to Athens: geography and tourism35:39 - Trastevere and the Hotel Santa Maria37:12 - Culture shock: coffee and language issues40:01 - The Archaeological Zone at San Clemente43:45 - Castel Sant’Angelo44:42 - The Museum of the Forma Urbis46:34 - Wandering the city (and the Temple of Vibia Sabina and Hadrian)49:30 - Hangin’ on the Janiculum50:26 - Wrap-up

Emily and Cam tackle “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”—an uproarious adaptation of Plautus’ Roman comedy.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageSome plays of Plautus referenced in this episode:PseudolusMostellariaMiles GloriosusMenaechmiCover Image:Mosaic of Masks. Second or third century CE. Found on the Aventine, possibly on the site of the ancient Thermae Decianae; now held in the Capitoline Museums. Photo by Carole Raddato, Wikimedia Commons.----------00:11 - Introduction00:38 - A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Sonheim’s Musical and the 1966 film03:19 - Our approach to reviewing adaptations of ancient literature05:20 - Plautus and Roman Comedy05:29 - What we know about Plautus himself (his dates, his name, his background)09:41 - Plautus' style: Roman comedy, exotic settings, stock plots, and stock characters17:56 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Plautus on Screen18:51 - The setting: “A less fashionable suburb of Rome”19:44 - The characters (Pseudolus, Hysterium, Marcus Lycus, Hero, Philia, Miles Gloriosus, and others)23:33 - The plot, in all of its messiness27:15 - The movie’s sources: Plautus’ Pseudolus, Mostellaria, Miles Gloriosus, and other plays33:01 - Metatheatre in Plautus and in A Funny Thing36:25 - The movie’s departures from Plautus: More is more! (Expansive sets, elaborate scenes, and exaggerated physical comedy)43:36 - Cam and Emily discuss their reactions (and we learn the dirty secrets of Emily’s history with this film!)49:01 – Wrap-up

Emily and Cam break down the character arc of Eleven in Stranger Things and argue that she is on a “heroic journey” like that of Herakles.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.com/If you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageFor more information about Herakles and about “heroes” in Ancient Greece, listen to our previous episode:https://havetogawilltravel.com/episode/holding-out-for-a-hero-in-ancient-greeceKey literature mentioned in this episode:Joseph Campbell, The Hero with A Thousand FacesDavid Adams Leeming, Mythology: The Voyage of the HeroMaureen Murdock, The Heroine’s JourneyValerie Estelle Frankel, From Girl to Goddess—————00:11 - Introduction01:28 - Reprise: The Hero’s Journey01:47 - Campbell’s “Everyman” model04:06 - Leeming’s “Chosen One” model06:04 - Herakles and Eleven as Leeming-style, “Chosen One” Heroes08:24 - Gender and the Hero’s Journey: Maureen Murdock and Valerie Estelle Frankel11:29 - Eleven’s Heroic Journey so far: Eleven as Herakles with a Gendered Twist11:59 - Stranger Things: An Overview13:10 - Season One: Eleven as a character in the model of Obi Wan?16:54 - Season Two: Eleven emerges as a Hero on a Leeming-style journey, with elements of Murdock’s and Frankel’s models25:11 - Season Three: the (metaphorical) death of the hero, Eleven28:21 - Season Four: Eleven descends to the underworld, and is reborn?33:28 - Recap: Leeming’s model and the stages of Eleven’s Heroic Journey37:30 - Predictions for Season Five: How will Eleven’s Heroic Journey end?38:14 - The three basic possibilities: (1) Eleven as superhero; (2) Eleven as Campbell-style “Everyman” hero; (3) Eleven as a “Chosen One” hero41:52 - What Herakles’ journey tells us about Eleven and about Stranger Things43:26 - Wrap-up

What’s a “hero”, and what kinds of stories do we tell about them? Emily and Cam explore how heroes were imagined in ancient Greece as they lay the groundwork for next episode’s discussion of Eleven’s heroic journey in Stranger Things.Visit our homepage to subscribe, to find us on social media, and to contact us by email:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageLinks:NYPL’s list of “Heroines in Fairytales, Folklore, Fables and Legends for Young Readers”Cover Image:Pylades, Orestes, and Elektra perform rites at the tomb of Agamemnon. Painted in the late fourth century BCE on an amphora made in one of the Greek cities of southern Italy (which is now held at the MFA in Boston). Photo by Emily.----------00:11 - Introduction01:15 - What is a hero?01:33 - Some modern definitions of hero02:52 - The roots of the word “hero” in ancient Greek (and maybe earlier)04:12 - The various meanings of “hero” in ancient Greece: leaders, godlike heroes, and mortals given divine honors13:09 – The flexibility of the hero concept in ancient Greece, and some examples: Achilles, Sarpedon, Theagenes of Thasos, and Kleomedes of Astypalaia20:15 – Death and the hero in ancient Greece, and some strange cases: Asklepios and Herakles26:51 - The stories we tell about heroes27:39 – Two models of the “hero’s journey”: Joseph Campbell, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”, and David Adams Leeming, “Mythology”30:57 - A digression on problematic treatments of gender in hero studies33:40 - Odysseus as the Cambell-style “everyman” hero36:00 - Herakles as the Leeming-style “Chosen One”42:26 – Coda: Alexander the Great and Herakles44:17 - Wrap-up and teaser for our next episode on Stranger Things’ “Eleven”

The Athenian Acropolis, Then and NowThe Athenian Acropolis had a long life both before and after the construction of the Parthenon in the fifth century BCE. Join Emily and Cam as they explore the long history of Athens’ most iconic landmark.Visit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi pageCover Image:Illustration from Atene Attica Descritta da suoi Principii sino all’acquisto fatto dall’Armi Venete nel 1687, by Francesco Fanelli. (Venice, Antonio Bortoli, 1695 edition.)Links:Our short blog post featuring pictures of Bronze Age remnants on the Acropolis.Parthenon, by Costa-Gavras. A short video depicting the Parthenon and its evolution through time (featuring Byron’s poem about Elgin).The Acropolis of Athens, 3500 BC – 2010 AD, by Ancient Athens 3D. Another short video, this one depicting the evolution of the Acropolis as a whole.A concept drawing of Schinkel’s vision for the new royal palace on the Acropolis.A ground plan of Schinkel’s vision for the new royal palace on the Acropolis.----------00:11 - Introduction02:24 - The Acropolis in the Bronze Age02:29 - An overview of the Bronze Age in Greece03:15 - The Bronze Age citadel on the Acropolis04:43 - Traces of the Bronze Age on the Acropolis today06:36 - The Acropolis in the Archaic Period06:37 - The Bronze Age Collapse07:29 - Ancient interpretations of Bronze Age monuments08:48 - The great temples of the Archaic period: what can we know?11:45 - The Pre-Parthenon13:34 - The Hellenistic and Roman Acropolis13:43 - Post-classical Athens as a cultural center14:40 - Alexander the Great, the Hellenistic rulers of Pergamon, and the Romans15:57 - Pausanias visits the Acropolis in the 2nd century CE17:11 - The Byzantine period and the coming of Christianity17:17 - The Parthenon: from temple, to church, to the Cathedral of Theotokos Atheniotissa18:28 - Medieval architectural modifications to the Parthenon20:09 - The ancient metopes of the Parthenon defaced21:51 - The Parthenon as a site of Christian pilgrimage22:28 - The Fourth Crusade and its impact in Athens22:41 - The crusaders sack Constantinople and conquer Greece23:24 - The Acropolis in the era of the Franks25:12 - The Acropolis under Ottoman Rule25:19 - Mehmet II and the conquest of Greece25:44 - The Parthenon becomes a mosque26:23 - The Venetian siege of Athens and the explosion heard round the world29:34 - Lord Elgin removes many of the Parthenon’s sculptures37:38 - The Acropolis after the Greek War of Independence38:14 - The new king of the Hellenes and plans for the Acropolis39:24 - The “restoration” of the fifth-century BCE Acropolis42:12 - Modern work on the Acropolis42:32 - The ethics of archaeological site preservation and presentation45:03 - Wrap-up: the enduring significance of the Acropolis

In this episode, Emily and Cam talk about what it’s like to visit the Athenian Acropolis today; how that experience compares to what visitors would have seen in the fifth century BCE; when and why the remains of the structures there today were created (especially the Parthenon and the Erechtheion); and what those structures meant to ancient Athenians.Episode Links:Our short blog post featuring pictures of Nashville’s replica of the Athena Parthenos statue.Visit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:11 - Introduction02:05 - Visiting the Acropolis: the modern experience02:32 - The geography of Attica03:41 - Our first impressions of the Acropolis (and how Goethe did it better)05:45 - What visiting the Acropolis is like: sacred and profane space; the temple of Athena Nikē (and aspects of the gods); the Propylaia; the Parthenon; the Erectheion; the Dörpfeld Foundations14:23 - What visiting the Acropolis was like in the fifth century BCE14:30 - The ramp16:28 - Athena Promachos17:01 - Colorful temples17:38 - Dedications everywhere (and why dedications mattered)20:20 - How and when the structures on the Acropolis came to be20:25 - The basic context: Darius, Xerxes, and the Persian invasions of Greece22:20 - The Oath of Plataia: the Greeks swear not to rebuild their temples23:59 - What changed? War in the Aegean, the Peace of Kallias, and the Athenian Empire29:01 - The Parthenon29:26 - The basics of the Parthenon and Greek architectural orders32:38 - The Parthenon’s pediment sculptures: the west pediment group and the east pediment group37:31 - The metopes: the Amazonomachy (west), the Trojan War (north), the Gigantomachy (east), Lapiths vs. Centaurs (south)40:37 - The Ionic frieze and various interpretations of its imagery43:53 - Pheidias’ statue of Athena and its decoration46:04 - The meaning of the Parthenon’s sculpture: the Athenians, their empire, and their imperial mission49:41 - The Erechtheion49:49 - The fundamental weirdness of the Erechtheion52:08 - Why is it so strange? The persistence of ancient ritual.52:54 - The most sacred image of Athena: the Xoanon54:08 - Is the building we call the Erechtheion the building the ancient Athenians (and Pausanias) called the Erechtheion? Or is it the temple of Athena Polias?56:48 - Emily delivers a fine rant about the perils of “received wisdom” in Classics1:01:08 - Cam footnotes Emily’s rant with a digression on horror vacui1:02:02 - Wrap-up

In this episode—the final episode in a three-part series on gladiators—Emily and Cam focus on Spartacus, the most famous gladiator of all. They first discuss the causes of Spartacus’ rebellion against the Romans, and then explore how Spartacus has been represented in modern literature and film.Cover image: Vincenzo Vela, Spartacus (1848); photograph by Rama (Wikimedia commons)Links:“I am Spartacus”: an iconic scene from Kirk Douglas’ 1960 filmPepsi’s “Spartacus” commercial“The Son of Spartacus”: an unofficial 1962 sequel to the Kirk Douglas movie, starring Steve ReevesVisit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:10 - Introduction01:11 - The sources: what can we know about Spartacus?01:27 - Plutarch, Appian, and their interest in Spartacus02:17 - Sallust: the original source02:58 - Spartacus: a basic biography03:05 - Spartacus' origin in Thrace, among the Maidi03:16 - Spartacus' brief career as a Roman auxiliary and as a latro03:49 - Spartacus enslaved and sold to the ludus of Lentulus Batiatus04:44 - The gladiators escape from Batiatus’ ludus, seek refuge on Mount Vesuvius, and defeat several forces sent to suppress them07:07 - As the rebellion gathers steam, Spartacus and his supporters drive north, and defeat three Roman armies along the way10:04 - After Spartacus’ army turns south again, winning yet another major battle, the Romans entrust Crassus with the responsibility of ending the rebellion11:49 - The Romans outmaneuver Spartacus and defeat the rebels15:31 - Why did Spartacus and his supporters rebel?15:51 - Enslaved people and small-scale resistance17:28 - What made large-scale rebellions so difficult18:40 - Poor living conditions as a motivation for rebellion: gladiators, enslaved herdsmen, enslaved agricultural workers21:16 - Poor prospects for winning manumission as a further motivation for rebellion23:03 - Many of the rebels had been enslaved only recently and longed to reclaim their freedom24:52 - What were Spartacus and his supporters attempting to accomplish?25:15 - To escape from Italy, or not? The sources and the problem of reconstructing Spartacus’ plans27:01 - Modern approaches: (1) The sources had it right; (2) Spartacus had a larger agenda—whether to destroy the hegemony of Rome in Italy, or to end slavery28:15 - A critique of these approaches, and an alternative: staying together was the best guarantee of freedom31:16 - The ongoing resonance of Spartacus in modern literature, film, and television32:29 - The discovery of Spartacus by French and Italian thinkers in the 18th and 19th centuries33:35 - The Marxist and communist take on Spartacus35:40 - 20th century novels: Koestler’s “The Gladiators” and Fast’s “Spartacus”38:20 - Spartacus goes to Hollywood: Kirk Douglas’ 1960 film and Spartacus as social revolutionary49:08 - A Spartacus for the 20th century: Andy Whitfield as Spartacus51:05 - Wrap-up

In this episode—the second of three on gladiators and related topics—Emily and Cam talk about what happened in the Colosseum and in other Roman arenas. First, they discuss the kinds of things that people would expect to see when they went to the games, including beast shows, public executions, and gladiator matches. Then, they focus on the gladiators themselves: who were they, and what were their lives like?Links:The Zliten mosaic (with pictures)Gladiator Graffiti near the Porta Nocera in Pompeii (scroll down toward bottom, to the section on tomb 14EN)Image of the tombstone of Urbicus the SecutorVisit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:10 - Introduction01:57 - The Games02:14 - Funeral games and the origins and development of gladiator combat06:17 - The games in the age of the Colosseum08:44 - Beast shows and hunters (venatores)11:22 - Public punishments and spectacular executions15:00 - Gladiator combat: gladiator graffiti from Pompeii and the excitement of the matched pair19:52 - Mock battles, naval and otherwise, with a digression on Certamen players and the phrase “we who are about to die salute you”23:13 - Keeping score: gladiator win-loss records, referees, and the possibility of survival26:22 - An underdog story: the victories of Marcus Attilius at Nola28:37 - Gladiators as celebrities (and sex symbols)31:48 - The Gladiators: who were they, and what were their lives like?32:14 - Who fought as gladiators?33:14 - Gladiator “schools” (ludi) and managers (lanistae)37:02 - Gladiator cemeteries and what they tell us about living conditions (diet, injuries, life expectancy)43:22 - Evidence from tombstones: why did free people fight as gladiators?50:08 - Evidence from tombstones: the lives of enslaved gladiators 56:01 - Final Thoughts

In the first of three episodes about gladiators in ancient Rome, Emily and Cam explore the world’s most iconic remnant of ancient gladiator games: the Roman Colosseum. They talk about the appearance of the building, then and now; the origins of the building as part of the emperor Vespasian’s effort to legitimize his power; and the cycles of destruction and renewal that produced the ruin that survives in Rome today.Visit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:10 - Introduction00:23 - The Colosseum: an iconic remnant of ancient Rome and its gladiator games00:57 - First impressions of the Colosseum in Rome from the exterior03:31 - The Colosseum’s interior: the exhibit spaces in the upper ambulatory and the arena05:38 - The Colosseum as it was in ancient Rome05:59 - The Colosseum, or the Flavian Amphitheatre?06:58 - What’s an amphitheatre? A southern Italian innovation, influenced by Greek theaters09:04 - The spread of amphitheatres in ancient Italy and elsewhere10:05 - The Roman Colosseum in its heyday: its appearance, its structure, and its amenities16:08 – Why was the Colosseum built? Vespasian and the legitimacy of the Flavian dynasty16:39 - Augustus and the legitimacy of imperial power19:05 - The fall of Augustus’ dynasty and the rise of Vespasian20:39 - Vespasian and the ideological importance of the Flavian Amphitheatre22:47 - A digression on Nero and his murder of his mother, Agrippina26:06 - The survival of the Colosseum after antiquity: cycles of destruction and renewal26:46 - Fires and earthquakes and flooding, oh my!27:35 Fit for plunder: the Colosseum as a source of building materials28:37 - Social, political, and economic transformations: the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the decline of the Colosseum30:17 - New Life in the 11th century: the palaces of the Frangipani and Annibaldi31:15 - A loss of memory: did anyone remember what the Colosseum was for?32:28 - Flavio Biondo and the “rediscovery” of the Colosseum33:05 - The Catholic Church, the Italian government, and restoration33:54 - Final Thoughts and a meditation by the Venerable Bede

“The Return” sticks the landing. Join Emily and Cam as they talk about how the movie adapts and builds on its source material, the Odyssey, to deliver a gripping modern interpretation of Homer’s timeless story.The ReturnReleased December 6, 2024Starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette BinocheDirected by Uberto PasoliniVisit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.comIf you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:34 - Introduction: Pasolini’s movie, “The Return”00:47 - What makes a good movie adaptation of an ancient Greek epic like Homer’s Odyssey?02:22 - A Summary of Homer’s Odyssey02:52 - The Telemachy04:02 - From Calypso’s island to the island of the Phaeacians04:39 - Odysseus’ narration of his adventures05:51 - Odysseus’ return to Ithaka06:56 - Our review of The Return07:06 - The film’s focus and nods to earlier parts of the Odyssey08:50 - Familiar beats: Odysseus in disguise; Eumaeus, Argos, and Eurycleia; Penelope’s loom; the confrontation in the great hall13:19 - Odysseus: a man traumatized by loss and violence17:19 - Penelope: strong, clever, and determined21:38 - Antinoos: a fresh take on a one-note villain24:26 - Odysseus’ bow and the harsh reality of violence and revenge30:44 - Resolution: Odysseus and Penlope together again, Telemachus seeks to find himself33:08 - Final thoughts33:17 - Referencing Cacoyannis: the location, the cinematography, and the soundscape34:22 - Overall impressions

In Part Two of a two-part series on the Athens Marathon, Emily and Cam talk about what it’s like to participate in the Athens Marathon today. They discuss the first marathon race at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens; the development of the marathon as a marquee sporting event; and the route of the contemporary Athens marathon.Links:Part I of our photo essay on the Athens Marathon;Part II of our phot essay on the Athens Marathon;A report in the Greek Times about the 73-year-old Cretan runner, Idomeneas Avramakis.Visit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.com/If you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:12 - Introduction01:04 - The First Modern Marathon01:11 - The early Olympic movement: de Coubertin, Bréal, and the push for a long-distance race03:52 - Picking a route: the major routes from Marathon to Athens, in the ancient world and now (with a digression on the Athenian army in 490 BC and the walk of NGL Hammond)08:28 - The first marathon: the achievements of Spyridon Louis and Stamata Revithi12:40 - Going the distance: 26 miles, 385 yards13:07 - The impromptu conditions of early marathons14:01 - Refinements at the 1906 intercalated games in Athens14:49 - Setting the official distance at the 1921 IAAF Conference and the story of the 1908 London Olympics17:34 - The “Authentic” Athens Marathon17:45 - The history of the Athens Marathon from 1955 to the present18:37 - Following in the footsteps of Pheidippes, or footsteps of Grigoris Lambrakis?19:49 - The first 8km: the Marathon plain, the ancient Tomb of the Athenians, and the enthusiasm of the spectators21:30 - The next 10km: the road to Rafina, the statue of the Runners, and the lost statue of Pheidippides23:56 - From 18km to 31km: “The Hill”, and the barefoot runner Idomeneas Avromakis26:27 - The final 10km: the Attic Basin, the statue of the Runner, and the finish in the Panathenaic Stadium of Herodes Atticus32:22 - Final Thoughts32:36 The road from Marathon: an ancient and historic route32:58 - The ancient sanctuary of Tyche and a prayer for better days ahead

In Part One of a two-part series on the Athens Marathon, Emily and Cam dive into ancient Greek legend and history as they explore the origins of the modern marathon race. They discuss the well-known story of the messenger (Pheidippides?) who is said to have run from Marathon to Athens with news of the Athenian victory over the Persians at Marathon in 490 BCE; the context of the Battle of Marathon itself; and the accomplishments of the Athenians, who were forced to race against the clock in order to return to their city and defend it from another Persian attack.Links:Part I of our photo essay on the Athens Marathon;Part II of our phot essay on the Athens Marathon;Visit our homepage to subscribe and to find us on social media:https://havetogawilltravel.com/If you liked this episode, buy us a coffee:Our Ko-Fi page----------00:11- Introduction00:59 - Why do an episode about the Athens Marathon?02:48 - The Origin Story: The Battle of Marathon and the Run of Pheidippides05:11 - Is the Pheidippides story true?05:34 - The ancient traditions about Pheidipiddes’ run: Lucian, Plutarch, and Herakleides08:48 - Herodotus on Pheidippides: the run from Athens to Sparta and back, and an epiphany along the way12:34 - If the Pheidippides story isn’t true, why does it exist?13:09 - The Battle of Marathon offered fertile grounds for the development of legends.13:59 - A battle against enormous odds: ancient Athens and the Persian Empire compared16:24 - The Battle of Marathon as an existential struggle: Darius, Hippias, and the threat to Athenian democracy20:30 - Marathon as an Athenian achievement (with a little help from the Plataians)21:56 - Aeschylus’ tombstone: the impact of the Battle of Marathon on the ancient Athenian imagination24:33 - In search of the real Marathon story: the desperate march back to Athens26:21 - The Battle of Marathon and its physical and mental toll28:34 - The long march back: the race to save Athens31:29 – Final thoughts: Ancient history and the modern marathon