Ancient Greece Declassified - Ancient greece declassified

Ancient Greece Declassified

Ancient Greece Declassified

Fire in the Cradle of Democracy (The Persian Wars, Part 1)

Fire in the Cradle of Democracy (The Persian Wars, Part 1)

Oct 1, 2024

The three decades from 508-478BC were possibly the most consequential in all of ancient history. In this episode and the next, we tell the story of the Greco-Persian Wars through the eyes of Themistocles, the Athenian mastermind who guided the Greeks to victory.

The Spartans: Proto-Fascist Losers? w/ Bret Devereaux

The Spartans: Proto-Fascist Losers? w/ Bret Devereaux

Jan 1, 2024

The Spartans were the ancient world's most deadly warriors. Or were they? Several recent scholars are challenged this notion.

Why Platonism & Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke

Why Platonism & Stoicism Are Going Viral w/ John Vervaeke

Aug 21, 2023 Aristotle Cognitive Science Epistemology Ontology Philosophy Plato rationalism Socrates Stoicism

As our world becomes increasingly hi-tech, more and more people have been turning to ancient wisdom traditions in search of meaning. There are two schools of ancient philosophy in particular that have seen a meteoric revival in recent years: Platonism and Stoicism. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke joins us to explore why this is happening. *** Join the upcoming AGD Tour in Greece: greecepodcast.com/tour *** Support Ancient Greece Declassified on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast Or make a

A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece)

A New Theory of Democracy's Origins (It Wasn't Greece)

Dec 1, 2022 democracy economy

A radical new theory is challenging the traditional narrative of how democracy was born. "It wasn't Greece!" argues political scientist David Stasavage.

Anacyclosis: Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History

Anacyclosis: Polybius' Grand Unified Theory of History

Dec 1, 2022 Polybius Rome democracy cataclysm

Polybius' theory of anacyclosis is the most sophisticated theory of political (r)evolution to have emerged from ancient Greek and Roman political thought.

Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? (Rep. VIII)

Does Democracy Lead to Tyranny? (Rep. VIII)

Oct 1, 2022 Athens democracy demagogue Homer Illiad Plato Polybius Republic Socrates

Plato argued that the inevitable next step in political evolution after democracy is tyranny. Many political thinkers throughout history agreed with him. Were they right?

When a Philosopher Ruled the World w/ Donald Robertson

When a Philosopher Ruled the World w/ Donald Robertson

Jul 31, 2022 Stoicism Rome Philosophy

Was Marcus Aurelius really the enlightened ruler that history books and modern movies portray him as? And is his brand of Stoic philosophy applicable to the modern world?

Time Traveling to the Ancient World

Time Traveling to the Ancient World

Jun 1, 2022 Aristophanes Aristotle Aspasia Carthage Cicero Sappho Socrates Sophocles Symposium Thucydides

Thirty three scholars, philosophers, and archaeologists answer the question: If you could time travel to the ancient world, who would you want to meet?

The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke (Rep. VII)

The Forms, the Matrix, and AI w/ John Vervaeke (Rep. VII)

May 14, 2022 Aristotle Athens Axial Age Epistemology Plato The Matrix Ontology Cognitive Science

Philosophers today often dismiss Plato's Theory of Forms as an outdated and failed attempt to explain knowledge. Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke offers a radically different take on Plato's theory.

Plato's Cave w/ Ben Morison (Republic VII)

Plato's Cave w/ Ben Morison (Republic VII)

Apr 30, 2022 Plato Republic Epistemology The Matrix

Plato's cave may be the most famous allegory in all of western philosophy. In this episode, we are joined by philosopher Ben Morison to dive deep into the cave and unpack its various levels of meaning.

Why People Hate Plato (Republic VI)

Why People Hate Plato (Republic VI)

Apr 29, 2022 Cicero Athens democracy Plato Socrates Timaeus Republic Utilitarianism Consequentialism Epistemology

Plato is at once the most loved and possibly the most hated philosopher of all time. This episode explores why.

The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful w/ Gabriel R. Lear (Rep. VI)

The Good, the Bad & the Beautiful w/ Gabriel R. Lear (Rep. VI)

Dec 12, 2021 Plato Aristotle Athens

Book 6 of the Republic is the work’s core section where Plato lays out his metaphysics. Appealing to his signature Theory of Forms, Plato offers a transcendent vision of the Good as the ultimate source of human knowledge.

The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova

The Hittite-Homer Connection? w/ Mary Bachvarova

Nov 28, 2021 Homer Hittite Helen of Troy Achilles Hector Bronze Age Collapse epic poetry Akkadian cuneiform Illiad Mycenae Odyssey Sarpedon Trojan War

For thousands of years, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were the oldest epic stories that Europeans know of. But is it possible that Homer was, in turn, influenced by the stories of other civilizations to the east of Greece?

Philosopher Queens w/ Mary Townsend (Republic V)

Philosopher Queens w/ Mary Townsend (Republic V)

Oct 18, 2021 Plato Socrates Aristotle Aspasia Diotima

The most controversial part of Plato's Republic is its fifth book, wherein Socrates argues for the political equality of men and women and the idea that philosopher kings and queens should rule.

Anatomy of the Soul w/ Jonathan Lear (Republic IV)

Anatomy of the Soul w/ Jonathan Lear (Republic IV)

Sep 23, 2021

How does Plato's theory of a tripartite soul hold up from the perspective of modern psychology?

Apr 17, 2025