Best Seleucid Podcasts (2025)

1
107: Jews and Judaism from Alexander the Great to Antiochus III 45:44

9d ago45:44

45:44

In this episode, we delve into the history of the Jews – both in the homeland of Judea and the many communities of the Diaspora. From the conquests of Alexander, the Jews navigated through a new paradigm that favored “Greekness” and embraced many aspects of Hellenistic culture, while also trying to uphold the Laws of Moses that linked them back to …

1
Interview: "The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World" with William Dalrymple 46:06

2M ago46:06

46:06

Historian and broadcaster William Dalrymple (“The Company Quartet“, “Empire“) joins the podcast to discuss his latest book “The Golden Road“. A survey covering from antiquity to the early medieval period, the book seeks to address India’s far-reaching (and often forgotten) influence across the entirety of Eurasia, from tracking the spread of religi…

1
106: Jewish Literature in the Hellenistic Age 46:04

2M ago46:04

46:04

Among the various peoples of the ancient Mediterranean, few cultures possess such a extensive surviving corpus of texts as the Jews. With the conquest of Alexander and the widespread introduction of Greek culture, Jewish authors voiced their grievances against the Hellenistic kingdoms while celebrating the antiquity of their own history, offering u…

1
Bonus: Elizabeth Taylor's "Cleopatra" (1963) 25:31

4M ago25:31

25:31

“Cleopatra” (1963), a four-hour epic starring Elizabeth Taylor as the titular queen, is legendary in the history of filmmaking. Its notoriously troubled production made it one of the most expensive movies ever made and brought 20th Century Fox on the verge of collapse, but Taylor’s portrayal has defined the image of Cleopatra in pop culture for ove…

1
105: The Sixth Syrian War and Day of Eleusis 36:23

5M ago36:23

36:23

War over Coele Syria breaks out yet again. With the death of Cleopatra I, her three very young children (Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VIII, and Cleopatra II) are raised to the throne by their ambitious ministers Eulaios and Lenaios, who lead campaign of reconquest against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. It turns into a disaster, with the Syrian king launching two s…

1
104: The Seleucid Empire - Madness and the Divine 35:48

6M ago35:48

35:48

The Seleucid realm experienced twelve unusual years of peace during the reign of Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175), but his alleged murder by a corrupt court official paved the way for Antiochus IV Epiphanes (“God Manifest”) to usurp the throne of Syria from his nephew. An incredibly polarizing figure, Antiochus was renowned for his generous donatio…

1
103: Antigonid Macedon - The First Domino Falls 1:17:35

7M ago1:17:35

1:17:35

After Rome’s declaration of war in 171, Perseus desperately attempts to stand his ground. When the “Third Macedonian War” drags on longer than anticipated, the consul Lucius Aemilius Paulus is called in and destroys the royal army at Pydna in 168, leading to the end of the Antigonid dynasty and the Macedonian kingdom.Episode Notes:(https://hellenis…

1
102: Antigonid Macedon - Sins of the Father 38:27

9M ago38:27

38:27

Despite a controversial rise to the throne, King Perseus showed himself to be an able ruler. Continuing his father’s policies of restoring the strength of Macedonia, he earned a positive reputation across the Greek world through his philanthropy and general good behavior. His rising popularity earned the enmity of those like Eumenes II of Pergamon,…

1
101: Antigonid Macedon - A House Divided 44:37

10M ago44:37

44:37

The long reign of Philip V comes to an end after nearly 42 years on the throne. Following the defeat at Cynoscephalae, the Antigonid ruler spends the next two decades restoring his kingdom through economic and military reforms. By 179, Macedonia was once again a powerhouse to be reckoned with. However, infighting between the two princes Perseus and…

1
100: Q&A #2 - Electric Boogaloo 1:08:29

10M ago1:08:29

1:08:29

Six and a half years since we first started this journey, we finally have reached episode 100. Taking the least original approach possible, I decided to host another question and answer session to celebrate. Episode Notes:(https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/10/05/100-qa-2-electric-boogaloo/)Bad Ancient - "Are the Homeric Epics an Accu…

1
099: Hellenistic Science - Geography and Astronomy 48:57

11M ago48:57

48:57

Our understanding the cosmos and our place in it has perplexed humanity for untold generations. The astronomers and geographers of the Hellenistic period were no different, looking to explain celestial phenomena and the nature of the Earth. Eratosthenes of Cyrene managed to calculate the circumference of the Earth to an astonishingly close value, H…

1
Interview: The "Flight of Seleucus" and Dynastic Propaganda, with Angus Jacobson 44:49

1y ago44:49

44:49

It's never easy coming up with your own origin story, and the ascendant Hellenistic dynasties tried their best to justify their legitimacy in an age of shifting alliances. PhD candidate Angus Jacobson joins the show to discuss the "Flight of Seleucus" story presented to us by Libanius of Antioch (314-392 A.D.), offering insights as to how the Succe…

1
098: Hellenistic Science - Mechanics, Engineering, and Technology 39:40

1y ago39:40

39:40

The developments in theoretical mathematics were also translated into practical (and sometimes impractical) applications during the Hellenistic period. New weapons of war like torsion catapults and enormous ships found their way on the battlefield, and this love for all things big extended to Rhodian architects who constructed their famous Colossus…

1
097: Hellenistic Science - Mathematics 26:44

1y ago26:44

26:44

The third century B.C. witnessed the greatest outburst of Greco-Roman mathematics in the entirety of antiquity. Euclid of Alexandria's "Elements" served as *the* textbook in the study of geometry for over two thousand years, while the archetypal mad scientist Archimedes of Syracuse allegedly was so fond of mathematical inquiries that it lead to his…

1
096: Hellenistic Science - Medicine and the Healing Arts 40:13

1+ y ago40:13

40:13

As the first episode in our series on science and technology, we begin by looking at the advancements in medicine during the Hellenistic Age. In Alexandria, Herophilus and Erasistratus became the first doctors to practice human dissections in any significant capacity until the Middle Ages, greatly improving our understanding of anatomy and physiolo…

1
095: Ptolemaic Egypt - The Two Lands Restored 37:54

1+ y ago37:54

37:54

Twenty years of chaos in the Ptolemaic kingdom come to an end during the reign of Ptolemy V Epiphanes (204-180). His marriage to the Seleucid princess Cleopatra I Syra confirmed the loss of Coele Syria to Antiochus III, yet she proved to be a good match and helped secure the future of the dynasty. Haronnophoris and the Great Revolt are finally put …

1
094: The Senate vs Scipio Africanus 49:14

1+ y ago49:14

49:14

Rome hoped that the Peace of Apamea would instill some sort of order over the eastern Mediterranean, allowing them to return to Italy after decades of warfare. Yet the vacuum of power left behind in a post-Seleucid Asia Minor would lead to fierce competition, with those like Eumenes II of Pergamon and Pharnaces I of Pontus waging war against their …

1
00 – Preface 20:33

1+ y ago20:33

20:33

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
01 – Book 1, Ch 01-02 16:11

1+ y ago16:11

16:11

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
02 – Book 1, Ch 03-04 16:27

1+ y ago16:27

16:27

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
03 – Book 1, Ch 05-06 14:44

1+ y ago14:44

14:44

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
04 – Book 1, Ch 07-08 20:03

1+ y ago20:03

20:03

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
05 – Book 1, Ch 09-10 16:51

1+ y ago16:51

16:51

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
06 – Book 1, Ch 11-12 14:48

1+ y ago14:48

14:48

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
07 – Book 1, Ch 13-14 18:26

1+ y ago18:26

18:26

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
08 – Book 1,Ch 15-16 17:40

1+ y ago17:40

17:40

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
09 – Book 1, Ch 17-18 19:54

1+ y ago19:54

19:54

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
10 – Book 1, Ch 19-20 19:44

1+ y ago19:44

19:44

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
11 – Book 1, Ch 21-22 22:44

1+ y ago22:44

22:44

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
12 – Book 1, Ch 23-24 23:55

1+ y ago23:55

23:55

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
13 – Book 1, Ch 25-26 19:32

1+ y ago19:32

19:32

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
14 – Book 1, Ch 27-28 17:22

1+ y ago17:22

17:22

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
15 – Book 1, Ch 29-30 16:34

1+ y ago16:34

16:34

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
16 – Book 1, Ch 31-32 20:49

1+ y ago20:49

20:49

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
17 – Book 1, Ch 33 12:46

1+ y ago12:46

12:46

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
18 – Book 2, Ch 01-02 15:07

1+ y ago15:07

15:07

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
19 – Book 2, Ch 03-05 13:37

1+ y ago13:37

13:37

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
20 – Book 2, Ch 06-07 13:17

1+ y ago13:17

13:17

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
21 – Book 2, Ch 08-09 34:28

1+ y ago34:28

34:28

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
22 – Book 2, Ch 10-11 17:33

1+ y ago17:33

17:33

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
23 – Book 2, Ch 12-13 20:43

1+ y ago20:43

20:43

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
24 – Book 2, Ch 14-15 25:12

1+ y ago25:12

25:12

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
25 – Book 2, Ch 16 26:49

1+ y ago26:49

26:49

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
26 – Book 2, Ch 17 16:21

1+ y ago16:21

16:21

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
27 Book 2 Ch 18 20:15

1+ y ago20:15

20:15

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Josephus

1
093: The Seleucid Empire - The Peace of Apamea 19:03

1+ y ago19:03

19:03

The defeat at the Battle of Magnesia brings the war between Antiochus III and the Roman Republic to a close. Forced to evacuate all territory north of the Taurus Mountains and saddled with an enormous indemnity, Antiochus' career comes to an abrupt end in Elymais after an unprecedented 35 years on the throne, leaving the Seleucid Empire at a crossr…