Best Institute For The Study Of Ancient Cultures Podcasts (2025)

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The Epigraphic Survey and Chicago House by Emily Teeter 1:03:14

7M ago1:03:14

1:03:14

The Epigraphic Survey and Chicago HouseCelebrating Emily Teeters new book, Chicago on the Nile: 100 Years of the Epigraphic SurveyEmily Teeter, ISAC (Retired)In 1924, an Egyptologist, an artist, and a photographer—the staff of the University of Chicago’s new Epigraphic Survey—began the task of recording the scenes and inscriptions carved on the wal…

1
OI Podcast Episode 16, Afrofuturism: Ancient Egypt in Speculative Fiction 26:34

4y ago26:34

26:34

OI Podcast Episode 16Afrofuturism: Ancient Egypt in Speculative FictionYtasha WomackTime as a web, weaved in storytelling to offer a remix of narratives exploring who we are and how we got here. Author Ytasha Womack, "Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture," joins us for a discussion that examines the Black Speculative Arts Mov…

1
OI Podcast Episode 15, Egyptian Influences/Contemporary Music 28:31

4y ago28:31

28:31

OI Podcast Episode 15Egyptian Influences/Contemporary MusicAndrew ListAncient Egypt offers a feast of inspiration. From the mammoth carved temples to the intimate, painted tombs, visitors to these sites often daydream a fantasy of what life must have been like. Earlier this year, composer Andrew List, Berklee College of Music, reached out to the OI…

1
OI Podcast Episode 14, The Lyre Ensemble, Part 2 25:49

4y ago25:49

25:49

OI Podcast Episode 14The Lyre Ensemble, Part 2Playing the Gold Lyre of UrContemporary music played on an ancient Lyre. The Lyre Ensemble continues a discussion on the recreation of the Gold Lyre of Ur, focusing on both the possibilities and trappings of creating music on an ancient replica. Andy Lowings, Jennifer Sturdy, Mark Harmer, and Stef Conne…

1
OI Podcast Episode 13: The Lyre Ensemble, Part 1 26:55

4y ago26:55

26:55

OI Podcast Episode 13The Lyre Ensemble, Part 1Recreating the Gold Lyre of UrWhat might ancient Mesopotamian music sound like?Inspired by both this question and the 2003 looting at the Baghdad Museum, harpist Andy Lowings set out to recreate a playable replica of the iconic Gold Lyre of Ur. Andy, along with his friend Jennifer Sturdy, enlisted the h…

1
OI Podcast Episode 12: Demons In Ancient Egypt with Rita Lucarelli 31:59

4y ago31:59

31:59

OI Podcast Episode 12Demons in Ancient EgyptRita LucarelliFrom Pazuzu to Baphomet, demons in modern pop culture are figures of dark terror and fear. In the ancient world, the concepts of demons weren't always so simple.The OI's Steven Townshend sits down with Rita Lucarelli, University of California, Berkeley, for a podcast that explores the many d…

1
In the Wake of the Phoenicians by David Schloen 48:53

4+ y ago48:53

48:53

In the Wake of the Phoenicians: Makers of the MediterraneanPresented by David Schloen, OIFrom olive oil to the alphabet, the Phoenicians left a lasting mark on the Mediterranean. The OI's David Schloen guides us through exciting new research into this ancient civilization and anticipates future excavations of Phoenician colonies in coastal Spain.In…

1
OI Podcast Episode 11: Who Is Medjed? 36:01

4+ y ago36:01

36:01

OI Podcast Episode 11Who Is Medjed?Ilaria CariddiAn obscure Egyptian deity has exploded into Japan's popular culture. Who is this mysterious marshmallow? And why is it becoming more popular than Isis and Osiris?The OI's Steven Townshend sits down with Ilaria Cariddi, research fellow at the University of Florence, to try and make sense of this this …

1
The Public Display of Things from the Holy Land by Morag Kersel 35:43

4+ y ago35:43

35:43

Truth or Consequences: The Public Display of Things from the Holy LandPresented by Morag M. Kersel, DePaul UniversityWhen museums place items on display they take on multiple roles as custodians of sacred relics, shapers of public interpretation, fiduciary institutions, and educational establishments. The public counts on the museum to tell the tru…

1
OI Podcast Episode 10: Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites Part 2 13:20

4+ y ago13:20

13:20

OI Podcast Episode 10Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites Part 2Theo van den HoutEarly in the 14th Century BCE, the Hittites faced a twenty year plague. How did these ancient Anatolians deal with pandemics? While the methods may be different, not much has changed.Join Theo van den Hout, the Arthur and Joanne Rasmussen Professor of Anatolian Langu…

1
OI Podcast Episode 9: Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites 30:16

5y ago30:16

30:16

OI Podcast Episode 9Plague Prayers of the Ancient HittitesTheo van den HoutEarly in the 14th Century BCE, the Hittites faced a twenty year plague. How did these ancient Anatolians deal with pandemics? While the methods may be different, not much has changed. Join Theo van den Hout, the Arthur and Joanne Rasmussen Professor of Anatolian Languages an…

1
Uncovering History Episode 8: Searching the Hittite Skies 18:23

5y ago18:23

18:23

Uncovering History Episode 8Searching the Hittite SkiesEmily SmithPhD student in Hittitology, OIJust in time for summer stargazing, Emily Smith joins Steven Townshend for a discussion on comets, eclipses, and other celestial occurrences in the ancient skies.To support this and all of our research, become a member of the Oriental Institute. To explo…

1
Uncovering History Episode 7: Awakening the Dead for Love Part 2 44:12

5y ago44:12

44:12

Uncovering History Episode 7Awakening the Dead for Love Part 2 | Robert Ritner, Rowe Professor of Egyptology, and Foy Scalf, OIIn this episode Steven talks from home with Robert Ritner, the Rowe Professor of Egyptology, OI, and Foy Scalf, head of the OI research archives to continue the conversation about their recently published, and unique, eroti…

1
Uncovering History Episode 6: Awakening the Dead for Love 41:07

5y ago41:07

41:07

Awakening the Dead for Love | Robert Ritner, Rowe Professor of Egyptology, and Foy Scalf, OIIn this episode Steven talks from home with Robert Ritner, the Rowe Professor of Egyptology, OI, and Foy Scalf, head of the OI research archives to explore their recently published, and unique, erotic love spell from ancient Egypt written on papyrus in Demot…

1
Judean and Egyptian Novellas of the Achaemenid and Hellenistic Periods by Joey Cross 58:36

5y ago58:36

58:36

Joey Cross, PhD candidate in the department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago, presents an at-home lecture that explores the elements of storytelling in the Achaemenid and Hellenistic periods, while shining a light on how scholars reconstruct the world of this art form. Joey is currently writing a dissertation…

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The Rise of Ancient Israel and Other Problematic Entities by Ayelet Gilboa 1:16:39

5y ago1:16:39

1:16:39

Oriental Institute Membership lecture for CentennialThe Rise of Ancient Israel and Other Problematic EntitiesAyelet Gilboa, Director of the Zinman Institute of ArchaeologyThis audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on October 2, 2019. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/H1Fn…

1
Exploring the Roots of the Vine by Stephen Batiuk 54:29

5y ago54:29

54:29

Exploring the Roots of the Vine: The History and Archaeology of the Earliest WinesStephen BatiukStephen Batiuk examines new archaeological fieldwork and biomolecular chemistry and genetics that are pushing the origins of wine back to the Neolithic period. Batiuk explores how ancient migration possibly led to the spread of wine culture across the Ne…

1
On Judicial Violence in Mesopotamia: The Problem of An Eye For An Eye by Martha Roth 55:36

5y ago55:36

55:36

OI Centennial Year Members' Lecture"On Judicial Violence in Mesopotamia: The Problem of an Eye for an Eye"Martha RothChauncey S. Boucher Distinguished Service Professor of AssyriologyDepartment of Near Eastern Languages and CivilizationsUniversity of ChicagoOriental InstituteThis audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on…

1
Star Wars and Religion by Russell Johnson 55:10

5y ago55:10

55:10

Star Wars and ReligionRussell JohnsonUniversity of Chicago Divinity SchoolRussell Johnson, University of Chicago Divinity School, uses the core episodes of George Lucas's epic vision to explore several of the worlds religious traditions. This lecture is based on Russell's popular University of Chicago course, Star Wars and Religion. This audio reco…

1
Anatolians on the Move: From Kurgans to Kanesh by Petra Goedegebuure 59:39

5y ago59:39

59:39

The Marija Gimbutas Memorial LectureAnatolians on the Move: From Kurgans to KaneshPetra GoedegebuureAssociate Professor of HittitologyLast year Sir Colin Renfrew opened the Marija Gimbutas lecture series acknowledging that she was essentially right when she said that the Proto-Indo-Europeans came from north of the Black Sea and then dispersed east …

1
A New Iron Age Kingdom in Anatolia by James Osborne and Michele Massa 59:59

5+ y ago59:59

59:59

A New Irong Age Kingdom in AnatoliaJames OsborneAssistant Professor of Anatolian ArchaeologyMichele MassaBritish Institute at Ankara, Honorary FellowIn 2019, discoveries made by the Konya Regional Archaeological Survey Project, directed by Michele Massa, and the Türkmen-Karahöyük Intensive Survey Project, directed by James Osborne, brought to light…

1
What We Learned from 25 Years of Research at Catalhoyuk by Ian Hodder 1:09:27

5+ y ago1:09:27

1:09:27

Braidwood Visiting Scholar LectureWhat we learned from 25 Years of Research at Catalhoyukby Ian HodderStanford University, Director of the Catalhoyuk Archaeological ProjectThis audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on December 4, 2019. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/o7…

1
Seven Brides with Seven Stingers: The Scorpion Wives of Horus by Robert Ritner 59:27

5+ y ago59:27

59:27

Seven Brides with Seven Stingers: The Scorpion Wives of HorusPresented by Robert Ritner, Professor of Egyptology, University of ChicagoA lectured delivered on October 9, 1996, in Breasted Hall of the Oriental Institute, introduced by William Sumner.This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture on May 1, 2013. A video of th…

1
The OI in Iraq by McGuire Gibson 57:32

5+ y ago57:32

57:32

The OI in IraqMcGuire GibsonProfessor of Mesopotamian ArchaeologyThis lecture was live streamed on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 7 PM Central Time. This audio recording was originally presented as an illustrated lecture. The video of this lecture is available on the OI YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/83dfycHdDYA Our lectures are free and availab…

1
How Ancient Israel Began by David Ilan 1:08:26

5+ y ago1:08:26

1:08:26

David A. Kipper Ancient Israel Lecture Series:How Ancient Israel Began: A New Archaeological PerspectiveDavid Ilan, Hebrew Union College; Director, Tel DanOver the last 100 years , a number of models have been proposed to explain the origins of ancient Israel. Join us as David Ilan examines a new proposal: that Egypt itself instigated Israelite set…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Institute For The Study Of Ancient Cultures Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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ISAC Podcast

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

1
The Epigraphic Survey and Chicago House by Emily Teeter 1:03:14

1
OI Podcast Episode 16, Afrofuturism: Ancient Egypt in Speculative Fiction 26:34

1
OI Podcast Episode 15, Egyptian Influences/Contemporary Music 28:31

1
OI Podcast Episode 14, The Lyre Ensemble, Part 2 25:49

1
OI Podcast Episode 13: The Lyre Ensemble, Part 1 26:55

1
OI Podcast Episode 12: Demons In Ancient Egypt with Rita Lucarelli 31:59

1
In the Wake of the Phoenicians by David Schloen 48:53

1
OI Podcast Episode 11: Who Is Medjed? 36:01

1
The Public Display of Things from the Holy Land by Morag Kersel 35:43

1
OI Podcast Episode 10: Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites Part 2 13:20

1
OI Podcast Episode 9: Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites 30:16

1
Uncovering History Episode 8: Searching the Hittite Skies 18:23

1
Uncovering History Episode 7: Awakening the Dead for Love Part 2 44:12

1
Uncovering History Episode 6: Awakening the Dead for Love 41:07

1
Judean and Egyptian Novellas of the Achaemenid and Hellenistic Periods by Joey Cross 58:36

1
The Rise of Ancient Israel and Other Problematic Entities by Ayelet Gilboa 1:16:39

1
Exploring the Roots of the Vine by Stephen Batiuk 54:29

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On Judicial Violence in Mesopotamia: The Problem of An Eye For An Eye by Martha Roth 55:36

1
Star Wars and Religion by Russell Johnson 55:10

1
Anatolians on the Move: From Kurgans to Kanesh by Petra Goedegebuure 59:39

1
A New Iron Age Kingdom in Anatolia by James Osborne and Michele Massa 59:59

1
What We Learned from 25 Years of Research at Catalhoyuk by Ian Hodder 1:09:27

1
Seven Brides with Seven Stingers: The Scorpion Wives of Horus by Robert Ritner 59:27

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The OI in Iraq by McGuire Gibson 57:32

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How Ancient Israel Began by David Ilan 1:08:26

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