Classical Wisdom Speaks

What Can Ancient Epics Teach Us About Death? | Homer, Lost Classics & Greek TragedyWhat can the greatest stories of ancient Greece teach us about death, and how to live?Thousands of years ago, Greek poets and playwrights were exploring questions we still struggle with today.Is a short life of glory better than a long, ordinary one? What do we owe the dead? And how do we make sense of grief,...

How much of what we think we know about Cleopatra comes from history? And how much was created by Roman propaganda, Shakespeare, and centuries of storytelling?In this fascinating episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, host Anya Leonard speaks with international bestselling author Natasha Solomons about her novel I Am Cleopatra, the extraordinary life of Egypt's last pharaoh, and the challenge of...

What Counts as Classical? | Dan-El Padilla Peralta on the Future of ClassicsWhy do we call ancient Greece and Rome “classical”? And who decided that their literature, art and philosophy should hold such a privileged place in our understanding of history?Is there a difference between studying the ancient world and treating it as uniquely authoritative?In this thought-provoking episode of Classical...

What Can Greek Myth Teach Us About Being Human? | Why Myth MattersWhy have stories of gods, monsters, heroes and tragedy survived for thousands of years?For the ancient Greeks, myth wasn't simply entertainment. It helped people understand the gods, society, suffering, morality and the unpredictability of human life.In this special extended Classical Wisdom event, Why Myth Matters, Anya Leonard is...

Have We Misunderstood the Women of Ancient Athens? | Katherine Backler on Their Forgotten LivesWere women in ancient Athens simply wives and mothers, largely confined to the home? Or does the surviving evidence reveal a much richer picture?In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard speaks with ancient historian Katherine Backler, author of Athena’s Sisters: Reclaiming the Women of...

Where Should You Go in Greece for Ancient History? | Aristotle Koskinas on Hidden Gems & Must-See SitesPlanning a trip to Greece? Some of its greatest archaeological treasures are hiding in plain sight—and even at famous sites like Delphi, visitors can walk straight past monuments that changed Greek history.So where should an ancient history lover actually go?In this episode of Classical...

How Do You Cope When Everything Falls Apart? | Philip Freeman on Boethius & Ancient WisdomWhat can philosophy do for you when you have lost everything—your power, your freedom, your friends, and perhaps even your life?In this live episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard speaks with classical scholar and award-winning translator Philip Freeman about one of antiquity's most...

Why Is Marcus Aurelius Still So Powerful Today? | Aaron Poochigian on Stoicism & MeditationsNearly 2,000 years after his death, Marcus Aurelius still speaks directly to millions of readers. But why?In this episode of Classical Wisdom Speaks, Anya Leonard sits down with poet, classics scholar and translator Aaron Poochigian to explore his new translation of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations—and...

Can Ancient Philosophy Teach Us How to Succeed? | Tom Morris on Aristotle, Stoicism & Living WellWhat does it actually mean to succeed in life? And could Aristotle, the Stoics and other ancient thinkers have better answers than our modern obsession with money, status and achievement?In this episode, Anya Leonard speaks with Tom Morris, public philosopher, former Notre Dame professor and...

How Did Beliefs Really Work in the Ancient World?| Michael Satlow on Ancient Religion & RitualFor people in Late Antiquity, gods, spirits and invisible forces weren't simply matters of faith: they were part of everyday reality. What would life feel like if gods, spirits, demons and other invisible beings were as real to you as the people around you? Professor Michael Satlow explores the...