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In Greek myth, Delphi was the literal center of the world. In real-world religious practice, it lived up to its reputation. People came from all over the Greek world — and even outside it — to seek Apollo’s guidance in matters both personal and political. In this episode, host Scott Emmons discusses the mythical origins of the Delphic oracle, the mystery of the Pythia’s inspiration, the riddling nature of oracular responses, and the importance of Delphi in the power struggles between Greek states.

For images related to this episode, check out Episode 13 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Suggested Reading:

The Delphic Oracle by H.W. Parke and D.E.W. Wormell (A seminal work in two volumes, published in 1956. Available at the Internet Archive)

Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World by Michael Scott

Oracle: Ancient Delphi and the Science Behind its Lost Secrets by William J. Broad

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Ancient Greece was defined by its culture, not by its borders. Starting in the 8th century BCE, Greeks planted settlements in southern Italy and Sicily — so many that the area came to be known as Magna Graecia, "Great Greece." Hellenic settlements soon spread to other parts of the Mediterranean and also to the northeast, even surrounding the Black Sea. This episode takes you on a whirlwind tour of Greek settlements, then focuses in on Cyrene, a thoroughly Greek city located in North Africa.

For maps and photos accompanying this episode, check out Episode 12 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Reading Suggestions:

The Greeks Overseas by John Boardman

Wandering Greeks by Robert Garland

Greece in the Making, 1200-479 BC by Robin Osborne

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The Lelantine War between Khalkis and Eretria was the first major historical conflict that drew in combatants from around the Greek world. And yet, we know next to nothing about it. Ancient historians and other authors mention it in passing, but they don’t tell us exactly when it happened, how long it lasted, or even who won. While it’s possible to reconstruct a rough outline from ancient sources, some scholars maintain that the war may never have taken place at all. The Lelantine War can give us a glimpse of an aristocratic approach to warfare in the early polis. But it also provides a lesson in the difficulty distinguishing between history and legend in the early Archaic Period.

For views of Euboea and the Lelantine Plain, see Episode 11 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com

Reading Suggestions:

A History of the Archaic Greek World by Jonathan M. Hall

Early Greece by Oswyn Murray

“The Lelantine War: A Conflict Lost in Time” by Josh Brouwers in Ancient World Magazine

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In ancient Greece, freedom was something to be cherished — in part because its opposite was an ever-present part of Greek life. Slaves worked as farmhands, domestic servants, skilled craftsmen, miners, prostitutes, and more. While some lived almost as independently as free wage workers and could even aspire to purchase their freedom, others were condemned to a life of hard labor under the harshest conditions. In this episode, host Scott Emmons provides and introduction to Greek slavery and the highly diverse forms it could take.

For images related to slavery in ancient Greece, check out Episode 10 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com

Reading Suggestions:

Slaves and Slavery in Ancient Greece by Sara Forsdyke (2021)

Slavery in Classical Greece by N.R.E. Fisher (1993)

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The 8th century BCE brought big changes to Greece, including an increase in population and a dramatic upswing in economic activity. Many of the defining features of Greek civilization began to take shape. Monumental temples appeared. The Olympic Games began, inspiring a sense of a common Greek identity. Perhaps most importantly, the Greeks adapted a Phoenician alphabet and produced the writing system through which we can experience all of ancient Greek literature, history, philosophy, and science. In this episode, host Scott Emmons takes you on a meandering journey through the period that has justly been called the Greek Renaissance.

For accompanying photos, visit Episode 9 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com

Reading Suggestions:

Archaic Greece: The Age of Experiment by Anthony Snodgrass

Citadel to City State: The Transformation of Greece, 1200-700 B.C.E. by Carol G. Thomas and Craig Conant

Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC by Robin Osborne

The Other Greeks: The Family Farm and the Roots of Western Civilization by Victor Davis Hanson

The World of Odysseus by M.I. Finley

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Any student of Greek history will occasionally come across a Greek word or name that's hard to pronounce. In this episode, host Scott Emmons offers a few pointers — but only after exploring the more interesting question of how we know what classical Greek sounded like. We know a lot more about it than you might think!

For a few accompanying visuals, check out Episode 8 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com

Reading suggestion:

Vox Graeca by W. Sidney Allen

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The Early Iron Age in Greece has traditionally been called a dark age, both because of the economic decline after the fall of the Mycenaean palaces and because the archaeological evidence is less abundant for this period. The picture is still far from clear, but archaeology continues to turn up more information. In this episode, host Scott Emmons draws on ancient legends, archaeological evidence, and the Homeric epics to shine some light on this puzzling yet fascinating early phase in Greek history.

For visuals, visit Episode 7 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

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If you were asked to name a book that was foundational to your nation’s literature and culture, what would it be? For the ancient Greeks, there would have been no question — Homer was the king. In this short episode, host Scott Emmons explores Homer's enormous and long-lasting influence on both Greek and Roman culture.

For accompanying photos, check out Episode 6 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com

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