Historian and archeologist Greg Woolf joins me to talk about how ancient cities developed, why we often have the wrong impression about them, and much more.

#8 - What Ancient Cities Were Really Like (w/ Greg Woolf)

How did Alexander the Great die and what was his actual succession plan? Author and researcher David Grant joins us to discuss his investigation into what Alexander wanted for his massive empire after his death, as well as other related subjects.

#27 - The Mysterious Final Days of Alexander the Great (w/ David Grant)

Historian Roderick Beaton joins us to discuss the evolution of the Greek world during ancient times and its lasting legacy.

#30 - Greek Civilization through the Ages (w/ Roderick Beaton)

Egyptologist Dr. Campbell Price comes on the show to talk about the real purpose of mummification, common misconceptions about ancient Egypt, and much more.

#40 - Mummies & Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (w/ Campbell Price)

Widely regarded as one of history's greatest philosophers, Plato is our leading source on the legend of Atlantis and the life and death of Socrates. Who was Plato and what can we learn from him? We talk to one of the world's top experts.

#42 - Plato: The man behind Socrates, Atlantis, and much more (w/ Angie Hobbs)

Inca expert Christopher Heaney joins the show to talk about this fascinating historic civilization of Peru and the Andes Mountains. We also talk about the controversies and challenges of Inca and other artifacts being owned by foreign museums.

#44 - The Inca Empire, Machu Picchu, & Mummies (w/ Christopher Heaney)

What was the Lighthouse of Alexandria actually like? Why is it included in the list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? We talk to scientist and scholar Michael Denis Higgins about the famous lighthouse and how it evolved over the centuries.

#48 - Seven Wonders: Lighthouse of Alexandria (w/ Michael Denis Higgins)

Modern-day traveling bard Joe Goodkin joins to talk about Homer, Achilles, and the legendary war at the heart of Greek mythology. He also performs a few of his original songs inspired by the Iliad.

#51 - Songs of Achilles and the Trojan War (w/ Joe Goodkin)

What is meant by human "prehistory" and how do we understand the story of our species? Historian Stefanos Geroulanos makes the case that modern ideas about human prehistory often say more about us than they do about our ancestors from the distant past.

#53 - The Dangerous Obsession with Human Origins (w/ Stefanos Geroulanos)

Classical and Biblical archaeologist Jodi Magness joins to talk about the history of Jerusalem, a sacred city in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We talk about the city's origins, its development into a major religious site, the lost Ark of the Covenant, and much more.

#54 - History's Holiest City (w/ Jodi Magness)

What was the Late Bronze Age Collapse? What happened to the grand civilizations of the time, including Egypt and Greece? Archaeologist and best selling author Eric Cline joins to discuss.

#55 - Collapse of Civilizations and the Aftermath (w/ Eric Cline)

Most know of King Herod from the Bible. But who was he really and what was his kingdom of Judea like in the years leading up to the birth of Jesus? Historian Martin Goodman comes on to help answer these questions and more.

#56 - Herod the Great and the Kingdom of Judea (w/ Martin Goodman)

Bestselling thriller author J.F. Penn joins to talk about the mysterious lance that was allegedly used against Jesus during the crucifixion and its role in her latest novel.

#58 - The Spear of Destiny, mysterious relics, and storytelling (w/ J.F. Penn)

Historian Eckart Frahm joins to discuss the great Assyrian Empire, Babylon, the Epic of Gilgamesh, cuneiform, and more.

#59 - The World's First Empire (w/ Eckart Frahm)

I talk about my upcoming book (now available for preorder on Kickstarter).

#60 - The Heir of Achilles (my new thriller novel)

Historical fiction authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson (known together as A.D. Rhine) come on the show to talk about their epic retelling of the Trojan War, the overlooked storylines and characters of the Iliad, Bronze Age history, and much more.

#61 - Heroines of the Trojan War (w/ A.D. Rhine)

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was a force from the 5th century to the 15th century AD. Historian Anthony Kaldellis comes on to talk all things Byzantium.

#62 - One Thousand Years of Byzantium (w/ Anthony Kaldellis)

Listen to me read the first chapter of The Heir of Achilles, now available on Amazon.

#63 - The Heir of Achilles, Chapter 1 (Author Reading)

My reading of the second chapter of The Heir of Achilles, now available on Amazon.

#64 - The Heir of Achilles, Chapter 2 (Author Reading)

Listen to me read the third chapter of my new novel The Heir of Achilles, now available on Amazon.

#65 - The Heir of Achilles, Chapter 3 (Author Reading)

Author Christopher Cosmos joins to talk about his new novel about the childhood of Alexander III of Macedon and his closest companion Hephaestion, as well as related topics.

#66 - Early Years of Alexander the Great and Hephaestion (w/ Christopher Cosmos)

We've all heard of the various half-man, half-animal inventions of Greek mythology. Classics professor Jeremy McInerney joins to discuss the deeper, often overlooked meaning behind the stories of these fantastical creatures.

#67 - Centaurs, Minotaurs and Mythological Hybrids (w/ Jeremy McInerney)

Exploring the lesser known later years of Alexander's life and campaigns with historian Rachel Kousser.

#68 - Alexander the Great: Monsoons & Mutinies in Mysterious Lands (w/ Rachel Kousser)

Which historical events and figures inspired Plato's greatest works? Historian James Romm visits to reveal the lesser-known aspects of the great philosopher's life that had an outsized impact on his immortal ideas.

#69 - Plato, Tyranny, and the Origins of Western Thought (w/ James Romm)

After a rare Arthurian manuscript was discovered hidden in an old book in the Cambridge University Library, a team of academics and librarians worked together to decipher and preserve the rare finding. 

#70 - Lost tales of King Arthur & Merlin (w/ Irene Fabry-Tehranchi)

In this episode, we investigate the most controversial aspect of Alexander's life - his relationship to his companion Hephaestion.

Alexander the Great, Part III

British historian and author Andrew Chugg reveals the new evidence he has uncovered in his search for the lost tomb of Alexander the Great.

Ancient Heroes

#1 - Breakthroughs in the Search for Alexander's Lost Tomb

The relationship between the heroes Achilles and Patroclus is one of the controversial subjects in Greek mythology. I look at the sources, consider multiple perspectives, and offer my thoughts.

#2 - Achilles & Patroclus

What caused the mysterious collapse of so many civilizations in the 12th century BCE? Did the Trojan War really happen? Were Achilles and Helen real people? Eric Cline, one of the world's leading ancient historians and archaeologists, helps answer these questions and more in the latest episode of Ancient Heroes.

#3 - Mysteries of the Bronze Age & Trojan War (w/ Eric Cline)

How did the Kingdom of Macedon go from a Greek backwater to controlling one of the largest empires of the ancient world? Historian Adrian Goldsworthy joins me to discuss Alexander the Great and his influential father Philip II.

#6 - The Rise of Macedon (w/ Adrian Goldsworthy)

Exploring the history and mythology of the ancient world. Archaeologists and scholars join to discuss ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and other civilizations of the distant past.

Ancient Heroes Podcast

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