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ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗

Update frequency:
biweekly
Average audio length:
37 minutes
English
United States
36 episodes
since July 13, 2025
episodic

LATEST EPISODE 🔗

To the Greeks, Xerxes was a malevolent despot who tried and failed to enslave them. At the other extreme, Xerxes portrayed himself as a righteous king whose rule was blessed by the great god Ahuramazda. In this episode, host Scott Emmons looks at Xerxes from both Greek and Persian angles in order t…

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After the Athenian victory at Marathon, it was only a matter of time before the Persians would return in greater force. In this episode, host Scott Emmons leads you through a decade of political developments in Athens, the Persian king Xerxes’ preparations for a massive invasion, and the formation …
The Battle of Marathon quickly morphed from history to legend. In this episode, host Scott Emmons describes how tales of the battle grew ever taller over time.   For visuals illustrating the legendary character of the battle (some not mentioned in the podcast), check out Episode 33 at epicgreekhist…
The battle of Marathon was the first great confrontation between mainland Greeks and Persian forces. The Athenian victory over a numerically superior force gave the citizens a heightened confidence that carried them through the next Persian invasion and fueled their cultural achievements of the 5th…
The Roman orator Cicero dubbed Herodotus the “father of history.” 19th-century skeptics called him the “father of lies.” Since antiquity, scholars have debated Herodotus’ reliability, his methods, and his sincerity. In this episode, host Scott Emmons examines the life and work of the author who, fo…
In 499 BCE, Aristagoras of Miletus led the Ionian Greek cities in a revolt against the Persian Empire. Athens sent a force of 20 ships to support her allies. As Herodotus puts it, “These ships were the beginning of evils for both the Greeks and the barbarians.” In this episode, host Scott Emmons gu…
Look! It's another podcaster sharing his thoughts about the new Odyssey movie! Opinions expressed here are solely those of a philhellenic film buff.  Support the show
After the death of Cyrus in 530 BCE, the Persian Empire continued to expand. His successor Cambyses II subdued Egypt and neighboring territories. Darius I, whose claim to the throne may have rested on a massive cover-up, reorganized the empire and introduced Persian coinage. His wars of conquest in…
No historical event loomed larger in the minds of the ancient Greeks than their successful defense against the vast military might of the Persian Empire. Who were these Persians, and how did they come to dominate the Near East? Over the next two episodes, host Scott Emmons traces the growth of Pers…
Cleomenes I of Sparta has been called the most powerful Greek of the 6th century BCE. His reign included a major military victory over Argos, repeated attempts to meddle in Athenian politics, and a legendary feud with his co-king Demaratus. In this episode, host Scott Emmons takes you through the l…
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