Epic Greek History
Embark on an epic journey through ancient Greece with history enthusiast Scott Emmons as your guide. From the Mycenaean warrior kings to the flowering of the Greek city-state, from the astonishing victories over the Persian invaders to the catastrophic power struggle between Athens and Sparta, each episode brings the past to life with vivid detail and compelling narrative. Along the way, there will be side trips to explore fascinating aspects of Greek culture, from art and literature to everyday life. Whether you're a history buff or new to the world of classical antiquity, this podcast is your gateway to the life and legacy of ancient Greece.
Publishes one full episode and one short episode per month.
See images for each episode at epicgreekhistory.substack.com
Episodes
14 episodes
Tales of the City-State: The Rise and Flourishing of the Greek Polis
The polis was the defining sociopolitical system of ancient Greece. It was the environment where Greek drama, architecture, philosophy, and other cultural developments reached their peak. In this episode, host Scott Emmons explores the beginnin...
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Episode 14
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1:01:28
Delphi: The Magic Eight Ball of Greece
In Greek myth, Delphi was the literal center of the world. In real-world religious practice, it lived up to its reputation. People came from all over the Greek world — and even outside it — to seek Apollo’s guidance in matters both personal and...
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Episode 13
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39:27
Straight Outta Greece: The Age of Expansion
Ancient Greece was defined by its culture, not by its borders. Starting in the 8th century BCE, Greeks planted settlements in southern Italy and Sicily — so many that the area came to be known as Magna Graecia, "Great Greece." Hellenic settleme...
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Episode 12
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45:12
(Bonus Episode) The First Truly Historical Greek War — Maybe
The Lelantine War between Khalkis and Eretria was the first major historical conflict that drew in combatants from around the Greek world. And yet, we know next to nothing about it. Ancient historians and other authors mention it in passing, bu...
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Episode 11
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20:31
Owned! People as Possessions in Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, freedom was something to be cherished — in part because its opposite was an ever-present part of Greek life. Slaves worked as farmhands, domestic servants, skilled craftsmen, miners, prostitutes, and more. While some lived al...
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Episode 10
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25:21
The Great Greek Reboot
The 8th century BCE brought big changes to Greece, including an increase in population and a dramatic upswing in economic activity. Many of the defining features of Greek civilization began to take shape. Monumental temples appeared. The Olympi...
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Episode 9
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52:34
It's Greek to Me: How to Pronounce Greek Like an Ancient Athenian (Or a Modern American)
Any student of Greek history will occasionally come across a Greek word or name that's hard to pronounce. In this episode, host Scott Emmons offers a few pointers — but only after exploring the more interesting question of how we know what clas...
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Episode 8
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21:44
The Period Formerly Known as the Dark Age of Greece
The Early Iron Age in Greece has traditionally been called a dark age, both because of the economic decline after the fall of the Mycenaean palaces and because the archaeological evidence is less abundant for this period. The picture is still f...
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Episode 7
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50:39
Homer: Immortal Rockstar of the Ancient World
If you were asked to name a book that was foundational to your nation’s literature and culture, what would it be? For the ancient Greeks, there would have been no question — Homer was the king. In this short episode, host Scott Emmons explores ...
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Episode 6
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21:47
Trojan Horse or Trojan Hoax? Was There a Real Trojan War?
The discoveries of Troy and Mycenaean Greece in the 19th century led to a shift in attitudes toward Ancient Greek legends. If archaeology showed that Troy had existed, was it possible that the Trojan War saga had its basis in historical fact? I...
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Episode 5
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48:07
(Short Episode) The Write Stuff: The Decipherment of Linear B
The decipherment of the Linear B tablets from Knossos and Pylos revolutionized our understanding of the Mycenaean world. But how did a small group of dedicated Greek scholars arrive at the solution? This episode recounts the painstaking process...
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Episode 4
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17:18
Greek Civilization Version 1.0: Minoans and Mycenaeans
Centuries before the Parthenon, Greek drama, and the Olympic Games, a highly developed Bronze Age culture evolved in Greece. This was the Mycenaean civilization, where warrior kings ruled from great palaces that dominated the surrounding territ...
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Episode 3
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47:06
Going for the Bronze: Heinrich Schliemann and the Rediscovery of Bronze Age Greece
Every now and then, the story of a discovery is as compelling as the thing discovered. One such story is the discovery of Bronze Age Troy and Mycenae by an eccentric German businessman turned archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann. At a time w...
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Episode 2
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35:16
Introduction: Greece Is the Word
Welcome to the first episode of Epic Greek History! In this introduction, amateur historian Scott Emmons lays out his vision for this podcast. Taking inspiration from two of his favorite history podcasts, he'll focus on the human experience in ...
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Episode 1
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16:57