That's Ancient History
34 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 88 ratingsThat's Ancient History: the podcast for all things classical, old & new. Exploring antiquity from its history to its place in today's world. Host and producer Dr Jean Menzies.
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Episodes
S.6 E.2 Reimagining the Oedipus Cycle with Meagan Cleveland
March 25, 2024 08:00 - 37 minutes - 68.8 MBRiddles of the Sphinx is out now: https://amzn.to/43ikAkB Check out Meagan... Website: https://www.meagancleveland.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleredreading/ X: https://twitter.com/MeaganClevelan8 Follow the podcast on X: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Listen to this Podcast on... Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-591915376/classics-is-for-everyone Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bfJsiS4eV9MN4A3pYMXNt Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/...
S. 6 E. 1 Classics is for Everyone with Erica Stevenson
February 26, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 39.6 MBFollow That's Ancient History on X: twitter.com/thatsancient In the first episode of season six Dr Jean Menzies chats classics and accessibility with creator and producer of the MoanIn project (Modern Ancients) Erica Stevenson. Find Erica & MoanInc: Website: https://www.moaninc.co.uk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/moaninc X: https://twitter.com/moaninc Find Jean: Website: https://www.jeanmenzies.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jeansthoughts X: https://twitter.com/jeansthoughts The...
S.5 E.4 Writing Greek Myths for Children with Jen Campbell & Jean Menzies
January 24, 2022 07:00 - 30 minutes - 57.3 MBJen Campbell Interviews Jean Menzies (That's Ancient History host) about her debut children's book Greek Myths, published by DK and illustrated by Katie Ponder. Jean's book Greek Myths: https://amzn.to/3IlJHqN Also in the series is Norse Myths by Matt Ralphs: https://amzn.to/3FMVKfg And you can currently preorder Egyptian Myths by Jean Menzies: https://amzn.to/33S0pz8 Check out Jen's latest book, The Girl Who Ate Her Brothers and other Gruesome Tales: https://amzn.to/3rCQwNU As well as h...
S.5 E.3 Ask a Classicist with my boyfriend: Hobbies, Courting, and Social Life in Antiquity
November 22, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 63.7 MBJust a Couple of Meeples Board Game Review: https://www.instagram.com/justacoupleofmeeples/ That's Ancient History on twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Books Mentioned: Aphrodite's Tortoise: https://amzn.to/30NVhux The Old Kingdom Series: The Old Kingdom
S.5 E.2 Medusa & Modern Women with Jessie Burton
November 01, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutes - 30.3 MBIn this episode of That's Ancient History Jean talks to author Jessie Burton about her new book Medusa: https://amzn.to/3Guqp2B More from Jessie Burton: https://www.jessieburton.co.uk Follow That's Ancient History on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient
S.5 E.1 Answering the Most Googled Questions About Ancient Greece with Jill Scott
October 18, 2021 06:00 - 28 minutes - 52.9 MBSupport the podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient And check out our website: https://www.jeanmenzies.com/podcast Check out host Jean's book on greek myths: https://amzn.to/3oVrqKv And discover more about antiquity in video format on her YouTube channel: https://www.jeanmenzies.com/ancient-history-videos And tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeansthoughts In this week's episode Jean Menzies and regular guest Jill Scott welco...
S. 4. E. 4 Myth Digest: The Gorgon Medusa
April 06, 2020 06:00 - 18 minutes - 34.5 MBSupport the podcast on... Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jeansthoughts Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bookishthoughts Follow the podcast on twitter: http://twitter.com/thatsancient Listen to my interview with Anwen Hayward: https://soundcloud.com/user-591915376/medusa?in=user-591915376/sets/season-3 Listen to all of the myth digests: https://soundcloud.com/user-591915376/sets/myth-digests
S.4 E.3 Coming of Age in Greek Mythology with Grace Page
March 23, 2020 07:00 - 22 minutes - 41.1 MBFollow the podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Support the podcast with a £3 donation on ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jeansthoughts Follow Grace on twitter: https://twitter.com/grace_page_ Follow Grace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracenataliepage/
S.4 E.2 Intersectionality in Classics with Aimee Hinds
March 09, 2020 07:00 - 31 minutes - 57.9 MBFollow the podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Support the podcast on Ko-fi with a £3 donation: https://ko-fi.com/jeansthoughts Aimee Hinds on twitter: https://twitter.com/aimee_hinds Aimee's piece for Eidolon: https://eidolon.pub/rape-or-romance-1b3d584585b8 Books Recommended by Aimee: Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie: https://www.bookdepository.com/Home-Fire/9781408886793?a_aid=bookishthoughts XO Orpheus edited by Kate Bernheimer: https://www.bookdepository.com/xo-Orpheus/97...
S.4 E.1 Ask a Classicist with Emma Oulton: Myth vs. Reality in Ancient Greece
February 24, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 56.1 MBCheck Emma out on... Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drinkingbymyshelf Twitter: https://twitter.com/drinkbymyshelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkbymyshelf/ Follow the podcast on twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Support the podcast on Ko-fi with a £3 donation: https://ko-fi.com/jeansthoughts As always thank you so much for listening and your continued support. Do feel free to get in touch on twitter if you have any questions or requests for future episodes. All of the...
S.3 E.6 The Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire with Harriet Scott
July 29, 2019 06:00 - 24 minutes - 45.8 MBReligion was a central part of the Roman Empire and in today's episode host Jean Menzies is joined by now regular guest Harriet Scott to explore the history of Christianity under the Roman Empire: from the persecution of ordinary Christians all the way to the adoption of Christianity as the state religion. My, how things can change in a few centuries! Harriet on twitter: http://twitter.com/hattiescott17 Jean on twitter: http://twitter.com/jeansthoughts Follow the podcast on twitter: http:/...
S.3 E.5 Ancient True Crime: Cleopatra VIII with Harriet Scott
July 15, 2019 06:00 - 21 minutes - 38.9 MBToday Jean is joined by ancient history enthusiast and my favourite murder fangirl Harriet Scott (from season one episode one and eight). Harriet brings the true crime genre to antiquity through discussing the various theories and unsolved questions surrounding the death of Cleopatra VIII - lover of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, ruler of Egypt, and fierce, intelligent woman. Was it suicide or was it murder? Harriet on twitter: https://twitter.com/hattiescott17 Jean on twitter: https://twi...
S.3 E.4 Medusa: Creative Writing Meets Academia with Anwen Hayward
June 24, 2019 05:59 - 34 minutes - 64.1 MBIn today's episode host Jean Menzies is joined by author and academic Anwen Hayward. They discuss Anwen's retelling of the Medusa myth, her PhD research, the intersections between creative writing and academia, and monsters in Greek and Romann myth. That's Ancient History on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Anwen on twitter: https://twitter.com/kyatic Here, the World Entire by Anwen Hayward (medusa retelling): https://amzn.to/2Xth8nK My database of myth retellings: https://moreje...
S.3 E.4 Creative Writing Meets Academia with Anwen Hayward
June 24, 2019 05:59 - 34 minutes - 64.1 MBIn today's episode host Jean Menzies is joined by author and academic Anwen Hayward. They discuss Anwen's retelling of the Medusa myth, her PhD research, the intersections between creative writing and academia, and monsters in Greek and Romann myth. That's Ancient History on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Anwen on twitter: https://twitter.com/kyatic Here, the World Entire by Anwen Hayward (medusa retelling): https://amzn.to/2Xth8nK My database of myth retellings: https://moreje...
S.3 E.3 Myth Digest: Pandora and Her Non-existent Box
June 10, 2019 06:00 - 20 minutes - 37.3 MBThat's Ancient History is back with another 'myth digest' where host Jean Menzies tells the tale of one classical myth in particular, breaks down its themes and discusses its significance to ancient culture. This episode is all about the myth of Pandora, the first ever mortal woman, created my Zeus, king of the gods, as a punishment for man. Follow That's Ancient History on twitter: https://twitter.com/thatsancient Check out Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days: https://amzn.to/2KERjdA
S.3 E.2 Ask a Classicist with Sanne Vliegenthart: Classics is Everywhere!
May 27, 2019 06:00 - 25 minutes - 47.6 MBIt's the third round of That's Ancient History's 'Ask a Classicist' specials where host Jean Menzies is joined by a complete classics novice and answers all of their pressing antiquity related questions (or tries to). Jean's classical myth retellings database: https://morejeansthoughts.wordpress.com/classical-myth-retellings/ Check out Sanne: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/booksandquills Twitter: https://twitter.com/booksandquills
S.3 E.1 The Trojan War with Natalie Haynes
May 13, 2019 06:00 - 23 minutes - 43 MBWelcome back to That's Ancient History. In this episode host Jean interviews comedian, presenter and author Natalie Haynes about her latest book. A Thousand Ships is Natalie Haynes' second Greek Myth retelling (after The Children of Jocasta) and it explores the events surrounding the Trojan War from the perspectives of the numerous women involved. Follow the podcast on twitter: http://twitter.com/thatsancient Check out these books: A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes: https://amzn.to/2DZon...
S.2 E.7 Classics After the Classroom with Stan Christoforou
February 04, 2019 07:00 - 20 minutes - 38.5 MBClassics? What can you do with that? Host Jean is joined one again by Stan Christoforou from previous episode 'Combat Trauma in Ancient Greece' to chat about Classics After the Classroom. This project is exploring the impact of Classics after the classroom and demonstrating just how many different directions Classics can take you. Classics After the Classroom: https://twitter.com/classicsATC Stan on twitter: https://twitter.com/ADE_stan
S.2 E.6 Classics and the Cinema Part 1 with Jill Scott
January 21, 2019 07:00 - 32 minutes - 60.1 MBS.2 E.6 Classics and the Cinema Part 1 with Jill Scott by Jean Menzies
S.2 E.5 If the Olympian Gods were alive in the 21st Century with Alexandra Sheppard
January 07, 2019 07:00 - 25 minutes - 47.5 MBThis episode Jean is joined by author Alexandra Sheppard whose deput novel explores the life of 14 year old Helen, the half-mortal daughter of Zeus living in London and trying to keep her family's heritage hidden whilst dealing with the everyday turmoil of teenage life. Check out Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard: https://amzn.to/2SDXLmd Alexandra Sheppard on twitter: https://twitter.com/alexsheppard The other books mentioned: Circe by Madeline Miller: https://amzn.to/2C9zopA I Capture the...
S.2 E.4 Myth Digest: The Life of Helen of Troy
December 10, 2018 07:00 - 22 minutes - 42.2 MBIn this episode of That's Ancient History host Jean Menzies goes in-depth exploring the ancient myth of Helen aka Helen of Troy. Helen is a figure of mythology who has continued to be talked about to the present day. Often used as an example of women's dangerous beauty is Helen's myth as simple as you've been led to believe? Of course not, Helen's story is complex, with numerous as many variations as a myth can have. It is also much more than simply the story of the Trojan War. Why not listen...
S.2 E.3 Ask a Classicist with Lauren Wade: what is classics anyway?
November 26, 2018 07:00 - 31 minutes - 58.6 MBIn 'Ask a Classicist' host Jean Menzies invites a guest with no background in classics to quiz her on everything they've ever wondered about antiquity. In this episode she is joined by friend, fellow booktuber and Feminist Orchestra bookclub co-host Lauren Wade. Lauren asks Jean to really get to the heart of things by explaining what exactly 'classics' actually is. They also discuss everything they themselves are curious about from the Greeks to the Celts, but know nothing about... Follow La...
S.2 E.2 Classics and Early Modern Theatre with Elle Jones
November 12, 2018 07:00 - 28 minutes - 52 MBEver wondered why William Shakspeare was so obsessed with classical mythology and ancient history? He wasn't alone! In this week's podcast episode Jean is joined by Elle Jones, classics and theatre enthusiast, to talk all about the classical influences abundant throughout early modern theatre; from Shakspeare to Christopher Marlow; from Greek mythology to Roman history; Elle knows it all! Check out Elle on instagram and Twitter @ellefjones Twitter: http://twitter.com/ellefjones Instagram: h...
S.2 E.1 Women in Wartime with Pat Barker
October 29, 2018 07:00 - 26 minutes - 49.3 MBWelcome back for season two of That's Ancient History! We are kicking things off with a very special first episode featuring an interview with award-winning author Pat Barker. Pat Barker's latest book, The Silence of the Girls, retells Homer's Iliad from the perspective of Briseis a Trojan Queen who has been captured during the Trojan War and given as a slave to the Greek hero Achilles. This podcast discussed the experience of women during wartime, enslavement, sexual violence, PTSD, retellin...
S.1 E.9 Reading Women Crossover Episode - Women in Classics & Mythology
September 03, 2018 06:00 - 36 minutes - 67.6 MBThis very special podcast episode comes to you in collaboration with the Reading Women podcast. Jean is joined by Autumn and Kendra to discuss women in classics and mythology. They cover everything from sexism in antiquity to modern day scholarship, as well as perceptions of women in mythology including goddesses such as Athena. You'll find plenty of interesting discussion topics as well book recommendations in this latest episode. Plus it doesn't stop here. This is one part of the two-part c...
S.1 E.8 Visiting Ancient Sites with Harriet Scott & Jill Scott
August 20, 2018 06:00 - 44 minutes - 83.8 MBFrom the Colosseum to the Palace of Knossos, from Hadrian's Wall to the Parthenon, this episode of That's Ancient History travels the Ancient World as it survives today. Jean is joined by classics graduates Jill & Harriet (who you might recognise from previous episodes) to talk about their experiences visiting ancient sites. The sites discussed include the Athenian Acropolis and its many temples; Delphi the home of the oracle of Apollo; Hadrian's Wall and Vindolanda; the Roman Forum and Flavi...
S.1 E.7 Clytemnestra, Gender and Greek Tragedy with Grace Page
August 06, 2018 06:00 - 22 minutes - 42.6 MBIn this week's episode Jean is joined by Grace Page whose current research focuses on gender roles in Aeschylus' tragic trilogy of plays, The Oresteia. Grace hones in on Clytemnestra's role in the Greek tragedies and how Aeschylus uses the art of persuasion, speech and deception to characterize her and play with gender roles. Clytemnestra was the Queen of Argos, wife of the Greek hero Agamemnon and mother of Orestes, Electra and Iphigenia in Greek myth. She is a controversial character that a...
S.1 E.6 Ask a Classicist with Jen Campbell: Fairy Tales, Disney Films & Food
July 23, 2018 06:15 - 21 minutes - 40.6 MBIn 'Ask a Classicist' host Jean Menzies invites a guest with no background in classics to quiz her on everything they've ever wondered about antiquity. In this episode she is joined by author Jen Campbell as they discuss Disney's Hercules, the similarities between myth and fairy tales and how the ancients dined. Find Jen @jenvcampbell on Twitter. Books Mentioned: The Constellation Myths of Eratosthenes & Hyginus: https://amzn.to/2zRYRWi The Tale of Tales by Giambattista Bastile: https://amz...
S.1 E.5 The Ancient Inspiration Behind Fantasy & Science Fiction with Jill Scott
July 09, 2018 06:00 - 39 minutes - 74.7 MBIn this podcast Jean is joined by fellow ancient history and fantasy/sci-fi fan to talk about the paralels between mythology, ancient history and their favourite books. Jill delves deep into the legends of J.R.R Tolkein's Lord of the Rings and Middle Earth, highlighting some major comparisons with Greek mythology. George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series turns out to resemble the Roman empire. The hosts demonstrate how J. K. Rowling threaded classics throughout Harry Potter's characters a...
S.1 E.4 Myth Digest: Procne and Philomela Athenian Princesses
June 25, 2018 06:00 - 17 minutes - 33.3 MBIn this episode of That's Ancient History host Jean Menzies goes in-depth exploring the ancient myth of Procne and Philomela, Athenian princesses, and sisters. The podcast will introduce you to the myth, some of its major variations over time and what it perhaps meant to the ancient people who told it - along with some bonus Shakespearean reception. Works Mentioned: Tereus by Sophocles (fragmentary play) Ovid's Metamorphosis: https://amzn.to/2uF06ST Apollodorus' Library of Greek Mythology: h...
S.1 E.3 Combat Trauma in Ancient Greece with Stan Christoforou
June 11, 2018 06:00 - 29 minutes - 55.3 MBIn this episode of That's Ancient History Jean talks to fellow PhD student Stan Christoforou about his research on combat trauma in 5th century BC Greece. His research involves dealing with modern psychology and to what extent it can be used to inform our understanding of antiquity, as well as looking at ancient mythological Greek heroes and the burden of war upon their lives. Stan is also currently collecting information for Classics After the Classroom, a project intended to promote classic...
S.1 E.2 Retelling Classical Myths with Madeline Miller
May 28, 2018 06:01 - 27 minutes - 50.9 MBIn this episode Jean is joined by Madeline Miller, author of the award-winning Song of Achilles to discuss her latest book Circe as well as the process of retelling ancient myths in modern fiction. The topics discussed include the origins of Madeline Miller's passion for ancient history and mythology, the decisions that need to be made when writing a myth retelling and what themes from Circe's story resonate with the 21st audience. Books Mentioned: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: https:...
S.1 E.1 Where it all began? Getting into classics with Harriet Scott
May 28, 2018 06:00 - 31 minutes - 58.7 MBIn the first episode of season one Jean is joined by fellow classics graduate Harriet, who now works in charities, to chat about how they both discovered ancient history and mythology and developed a passion for the topics. Both were educated at comprehensive state schools in Scotland and had no formal education in classics prior to university so relied on pop culture, television documentaries and encouraging family members to introduce them to antiquity. Hopefully, their experiences will hel...
That's Ancient History Introduction
May 22, 2018 17:56 - 2 minutes - 5.6 MBThat's Ancient History Introduction by Jean Menzies