Classical Wisdom Speaks

What Did Ancient People Believe About Death and the Afterlife?
Robert Garland explores how Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and other ancient cultures understood death, grief, burial, and the afterlife. 
This episode is for anyone fascinated by ancient history, mythology, religion, and the human experience of death. 
Classicist Robert Garland discusses how ancient civilizations approached mortality: from Greek ideas of Hades and the afterlife to Egyptian burial practices, reincarnation, grief, cremation, and ritual. Drawing from his book What to Expect When You’re Dead, he reveals how ancient beliefs about death shaped culture, religion, and everyday life. 
If you’ve ever wondered how the ancient world dealt with life’s biggest mystery, this conversation offers a fascinating and surprisingly human exploration of death across civilizations. 
KEY TOPICS COVERED
Ancient Greek beliefs about the afterlife 
Homer’s Odyssey and the underworld 
Egyptian burial rituals and mummification 
Reincarnation and Pythagoras 
Greek funeral customs and expressions of grief 
The Eleusinian Mysteries and salvation beliefs 
Roman views of death and punishment after death 
Ancient cremation and burial practices 
The psychology of grief in the ancient world 
What ancient cultures can teach us about mortality today.
If you enjoy conversations about ancient history, mythology, and philosophy, subscribe for more deep dives into the ancient world. 
Which ancient belief about death or the afterlife surprised you most? Let us know in the comments. 
LINKS
👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1
👉 Buy Robert Garland's book "What To Expect When You're Dead": https://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Youre-Dead/dp/0691266174
GUEST 
Robert Garland is the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor Emeritus of the Classics at Colgate University. He’s written extensively about ancient life and death in books like The Greek Way of Death, Wandering Greeks, and What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife. #AncientHistory #GreekMythology #Afterlife #RobertGarland #AncientGreece

This episode is for anyone interested in ancient Greece, democracy, political history, and rhetoric, especially if you want to understand how the past connects to modern political challenges. 
You’ll learn who Demosthenes was, how he rose to power through oratory and persuasion, and why he became known as democracy’s defender during the rise of Macedon under Philip II. This conversation explores the fragility of democracy, the role of speech in politics, and the dangers of misinformation: issues that feel just as urgent today. 
If you want a deeper understanding of how **ancient political systems worked AND failed** this episode offers powerful insights.
KEY IDEAS 
Who Demosthenes was and why he matters Ancient Athenian democracy explained 
The rise of Macedon and Philip II 
Democracy vs monarchy in ancient Greece 
The power of rhetoric and political persuasion 
Rivalry between Demosthenes and Aeschines 
The Battle of Chaeronea and Athens’ defeat 
How misinformation and emotional speech shaped politics
Lessons from ancient democracy for today’s world 
Why Demosthenes remains a controversial figure 
TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 Introduction & James Romm 
00:50 Setting the stage: Athens in the 4th century BC 
04:08 Rise of political oratory in Athens 
05:20 Democracy and the power of speech 
08:06 Rise of Philip II and Macedon 
10:31 Democracy vs monarchy 
12:07 Why Athens was treated differently 
14:24 Demosthenes’ early life and speech training 
19:08 Political rivals and propaganda 
20:19 Fake news and attacks in ancient politics 
22:30 Athens decides to fight Macedon 
23:29 The Battle of Chaeronea 
24:06 Did Demosthenes fail? 
25:13 His legacy and historical debate 
26:31 What we can learn from ancient democracy 
27:05 Misinformation and political chaos 
28:03 Trust, leadership, and public decision-making 
29:32 Final reflections on democracy
If you’re fascinated by ancient history and its connection to modern politics, subscribe for more deep dives like this. 
What do you think: was Demosthenes a hero or a misguided idealist? 
Share your thoughts below. 
LINKS
👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
👉 Watch the FULL episode: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/democracys-last-defender 
👉 Buy Demosthenes: Democracy's  https://www.amazon.com/Demosthenes-Democracys-Defender-Ancient-Lives/dp/0300269382 
GUEST 
James Romm is Professor of Classics at Bard College and acclaimed author of multiple books on ancient Greece, specializing in Greek history, politics, and biography. 
He will also be speaking at our upcoming LIVE event "Why Myth Matters", as part of an incredible group of prestigious philosophers, preeminent professors and best-selling authors.
Learn more and register to join us HERE: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/why-myth-matters-tickets-1988334531107?aff=oddtdtcreator 
#AncientGreece #Demosthenes #GreekHistory #Democracy #PoliticalHistory

What does the story of Demeter really tell us about loss, power, and the human experience? 
In this episode, renowned translator and classicist Diane Rayor unpacks the Homeric Hymn to Demeter: one of the most powerful and enduring myths from ancient Greece. 
Far more than just a story about gods, this hymn explores grief, motherhood, identity, and the fragile balance between life and death. Diane Rayor brings her deep expertise and fresh translation work to the conversation, revealing layers of meaning that are often missed in traditional readings. 
Together, we explore how this ancient text speaks to universal human emotions, and why it still resonates thousands of years later. 
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 
The core story of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and its significance 
How Demeter’s grief shapes the natural world and human experience 
The role of Persephone and what her story represents 
Why this hymn was central to ancient Greek religion and ritual 
How translation choices affect our understanding of ancient texts 
What this myth can (and can’t) tell us about life today 
TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 Introduction & Diane Rayor 
01:30 What is the Homeric Hymn to Demeter? 
04:10 The story of Demeter and Persephone 
08:45 Themes of grief, loss, and motherhood 
12:20 The Eleusinian Mysteries and religious context 
16:00 Translation choices and interpretation 
20:10 Why this myth still matters today 
If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about ancient texts and their meaning, subscribe for more episodes with leading scholars and translators. What does this myth mean to you? 
LINKS 
👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
👉 Diane's Translations of the Homeric Hymns: https://www.amazon.com/Homeric-Hymns-Translation-Introduction-Literature/dp/0520282116 
👉 Audio Recordings of Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works: cambridge.org/sappho 
👉 No Reply Press: https://www.noreplypress.com/ 
Featuring guest Diane Rayor: 
Diane J. Rayor, Professor Emerita of Classics, Grand Valley State University, Michigan and acclaimed translator known for her accessible and poetic translations of ancient Greek works, including Homer and Sappho. 
#AncientGreece #GreekMythology #Demeter #Persephone #Classics #DianeRayor

What is the point of studying Classics today? 
Mary Beard explains why the ancient world still shocks, challenges, and reshapes how we think. Discover how Greek and Roman history can change your perspective, without offering easy answers. 
In this conversation, renowned classicist Mary Beard explores how ancient Greece and Rome remain deeply relevant today, not as a guidebook for life, but as a way to see modern problems differently. You’ll learn how to approach classical history without intimidation, why “the shock of the old” still matters, and how anyone can join the conversation.
If you’ve ever wondered how ancient history connects to today’s world, this episode will change how you think about the past and the present. 
KEY IDEAS: 
• Why studying Classics isn’t about finding “answers” 
• The idea of “The Shock of the Old” and why it still matters 
• How ancient texts like Medea continue to unsettle us 
• The danger of over-revering Greek and Roman history 
• How Classics helps challenge modern “presentism”
• Can the ancient world teach us anything useful today? 
• How to get into Classics without knowing Latin or Greek 
• Why Classics has no single political agenda 
• How the past has been used by both left and right movements 
• Finding wonder (“thauma”) in ancient history
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Mary Beard & Talking Classics 
00:23 Why the Classics still matter 
01:24 Why we should revere the ancient world less 
02:39 The “shock” of ancient culture (Medea example) 
04:48 Wonder and awe in the ancient world 
05:44 The Egyptian bread story (first encounter with history) 
07:29 Making Classics accessible to everyone 
08:43 Do the Greeks and Romans offer life lessons? 
10:06 Using Classics to rethink modern problems 
11:37 Presentism vs learning from the past 
13:22 How to start engaging with Classics 
15:04 Podcasts, media, and entry points into history 
16:20 Seeing the classical world all around us 
19:08 Technology (VR) and experiencing the past 
21:05 Is Classics political? 
22:25 How different ideologies use ancient history 
24:48 Classics and democracy, revolution, and reform 
25:38 Who “owns” the past? 
26:18 Final thoughts 
If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe for more deep dives into history and ideas. 
Learn More! Check out these LINKS 
👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
👉 Watch the full episode: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/mary-beard-why-you-should-argue-with 
👉 Mary Beard's "Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old:: https://profilebooks.com/work/talking-classics/
What do you think: can the ancient world still teach us something today? Let me know in the comments. 
GUEST Mary Beard – One of the world’s most influential classicists, Professor Emerita at Cambridge, and bestselling author of SPQR and Twelve Caesars. Known for making ancient history accessible, relevant, and thought-provoking. 
#Classics #AncientHistory #MaryBeard #GreekHistory #RomanHistory

An age of apocalyptic thinking, a clash of empires, and a legacy that still shapes the world today... 
Today Anya is joined by Professor Barry Strauss to discuss the Jewish Revolts against the Roman Empire. Discover what fueled these uprisings, and how their dramatic outcome has shaped centuries. 
Barry Strauss is the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University as well as the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he is the former Chair of the Department of History as well as Professor of History and Classics. 
He is the author of many bestselling books, including most recently Jews Vs Rome, which you can buy HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Jews-vs-Rome-Centuries-Rebellion/dp/1668009595 
Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ 
An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. 
Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
And access the extended version of this episode HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/jews-vs-rome