Epic Greek History

The Bad Boy of Sparta: The Life of King Cleomenes

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 life of this larger-than-life figure from Spartan history.    Suggested Reading: Herodotus, Histories 5.39-42, 64-65, 70-75, 90-91; 6.49-51, 61-84 Paul Cartledge, Sparta and Lakonia Nigel M. Kennell, Spartans: A New History Victor Ehrenberg, From Solon to Socrates Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517742/support]

You Say You Want a Revolution: Cleisthenes and Athenian Democracy

After the expulsion of the tyrant Hippias, two prominent citizens were foremost in the competition for power. Isagoras was a conservative aristocrat who favored a narrow oligarchy. Cleisthenes, although a member of the blue-blooded Alcmaeonid clan, drew support from the people by proposing radical democratic reforms. In this episode, host Scott Emmons narrates the birth of the Athenian democracy, which soon had to defend itself against threats from within Athens and from anti-democratic Sparta.   For maps and other related visuals, check out Episode 27 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com [https://epicgreekhistory.substack.com/p/episode-26-you-say-you-want-a-revolution].  Suggested Reading Herodotus, Histories 5.66-81; 90-94 Aristotle, Constitution of Athens 20-22 Kurt A. Raaflaub et al., Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece Oswyn Murray, Early Greece Anthony Snodgrass, Archaic Greece: The Age of Experiment Robin Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517742/support]

Hurrah for the Pirate King! Polycrates and the Tyranny of Samos

The tyrant Polycrates of Samos impressed classical authors by building the first naval empire in the Aegean since the legendary king Minos of Crete. He dominated island cities, employed his navy for piracy, dedicated an island to Delian Apollo, and forged a strong alliance with the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis II in the face of growing Persian power. The unraveling of that alliance gives us one of the classic Greek cautionary tales on the fragility of human glory. In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through Polycrates’ rise to power, his accomplishments as tyrant, and his inevitable downfall.     For images illustrating parts of this podcast, check out Episode 25 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com [https://epicgreekhistory.substack.com/p/episode-25-hurrah-for-the-pirate].  Reading Suggestions: Herodotus, Histories 3.39-47; 3.122-125 Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War 1.13.6 Oswyn Murray, Early Greece Anthony Snodgrass, Archaic Greece: The Age of Experiment Robin Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517742/support]

Won't You Be My Ally? The Expansion of Spartan Power in the Peloponnese

While Athens was transforming itself under the lawgiver Solon and the tyrant Pisistratus, Sparta was busy extending its influence in the Peloponnese. What began as an attempt to conquer and enslave the Arcadian city of Tegea evolved into a policy of expansion through alliances. The result was the Peloponnesian League, which would play a crucial role in the conflicts of the following century. In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through the military victories and a bold religious initiative that contributed to Sparta’s growing power.   For maps and other helpful visuals, check out Episode 25 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com [https://epicgreekhistory.substack.com/p/episode-24-wont-you-be-my-ally-the].  Reading Suggestions Herodotus, Histories 1.66-68; 1.82 Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.47 Paul Cartledge, Sparta and Laconia Nigel M. Kennell, Spartans: A New History Robin Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517742/support]

Hey, Gang, Let's Put On a Show! Thespis and the Origins of Greek Tragedy

The Athenian tyrant Pisistratus centralized the Attic worship of Dionysus with an elaborate new festival. The Great Dionysia went on to become the city’s main dramatic festival, where later giants like Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides would compete for top honors. In this episode, host Scott Emmons explores the obscure origins of tragedy and the role of the legendary Thespis in creating Greek drama.  There are few if any confirmed depictions of Thespis in ancient Greek art, but supplemental visuals for this episode are available at epicgreekhistory.substack.com. [https://epicgreekhistory.substack.com/p/hey-gang-lets-put-on-a-show-thespis] Reading Suggestions:  Aristotle, Poetics 1449a Albin Lesky, A History of Greek Literature pp. 223-229 John J. Winkler and Froma I. Zeitlin, eds., Nothing to Do with Dionysos? Athenian Drama in its Social Context Carnes Lord, “Aristotle’s History of Poetry,” Transactions of the American Philological Association vol. 104 (1974) pp. 195-229 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2936090) Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2517742/support]