2026 update

Content warning: references to violence and sexual assault. It's that time of year for another Night of the Livy Dead halloween special and this time I'm looking at evidence for human sacrifice in the rituals and myths of the Greeks. From the Trojan war through to a fearsome cheese based challenge and more. There's also a word from the Clueless on Classics podcast (go check them out). I've also just put up a video about the link with human sacrifice and werewolves on my YouTube channel https://youtu.be/9PRFY2ehAqE Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental). Reading list Bremmer, J. Scapegoat rituals in ancient Greece Friesen, CJP. Dying like a woman: Euripides' Polyxena Hughes, DH. Human sacrifice in ancient Greece Macco, KAJ. Analysis of a Scapegoat Sacrifice at the Ancient Greek Thargelia Festival Marshall, CW. Death and the maiden Nooter, S. Tragedy, sacrifice and the averted gaze. Recht, L. Symbolic Order

The Sicilian Expedition is famous for being an utter disaster for ancient Athens during the Peloponnesian War. Over the course of several episodes I will get into what happened, how and why. I begin by considering an earlier expedition Athens undertook against Syracuse as well as how Thucydides presents it. I also talk about Syracuse and much more to set the scene for it all. You can find me here. If you can review or recommend that would be great, feel free to use those links (or email me at [email protected]) to say hi! Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental). Reading List and modern sources used: Kagan, D. The Peloponnesian War Kagan, D. Thucydides Smith, DG. Thucydides' ignorant Athenians and the drama of the Sicilian Expedition.                   

Four months of ancient Roman festivals in one episode? What great value, well, perhaps not entirely but I explain why this is the case. The ancient Roman festival series ends with aplomb and includes an all out brawl, scandal, secret drinking and how a public performance at a party can be highly consequential In case you notice my voice started going towards the end but hopefully won't notice it much. But in case you do that's what it is (as opposed to just bad audio). You can find me here. If you can review or recommend that would be great, feel free to use those links (or email me at [email protected]) to say hi! Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental). Reading list and modern sources used: Arnhold, M. Male worshippers and the Cult of Bona Dea Bennet Pascal, C. October Horse Brouwer, HH. Bona Dea, the sources and description of the cult Dolansky, F. Celebrating the Saturnalia Green, MA. Dying for the Gods Mastrocinque, A. October Equus Michaels, A. Roman Festivals Versnel, HS. Festival for Bona Dea and the Thesmophoria Warde-Fowler, W. Roman Festivals

The Odyssey is trending so I though I would pick out some elements from the poem and discuss them. From trying to advocate for the suitors through to a theme I think is often missed, there is a lot to chat about. I also include a promo for something you might be interested in, Alexandria: A Hellenistic World podcast. Find me across social media and the like here and don't forget to check out the Ancient History Hound subreddit Reading / sources used The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson), this has a great introduction which covers a couple of the points raised. Gazing at Helen with Stesichorus, Kampakoglu & A. Novokatko Odyssey 5.234-53 and Homeric Ship Construction: A Reappraisal. Samuel E Mark. Bronze and iron in Homer. Andrew Lang Megarons and ΜΕΓΑΡΑ: Homer and Archaeology. Mary O Knox. Artemidorus at the dream gates: Myth, theory, and the restoration of liminality. Vered Lev Kenaan Hades, Homer and the Hittites. Gunnel Ekroth. (for a great piece on katabasis and how it wasn't undertaken by Odysseus by Dr Ellie Mackin Roberts click here) Priam's Katabasis: Traces of the Epic Journey to Hades in Iliad 24. Miguel Herrero de Jauregui

In this episode I get speculative and try to piece together what happened at the Consualia and an infamous event in Rome's early history. Alongside that there's Roman women saving the day, the strange disappearance of Romulus and more. You can find me here. If you can review or recommend that would be great, feel free to use those links (or email me at [email protected]) to say hi!

In the final part of the miniseries I look at Spartan marriage, money and mothers as well as a range of other topics. I hope you've enjoyed these Sparta episodes, why not let me know? Find me via these links Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental). Reading list and modern sources used: Bershadsky, N. The Argive Women, Beards and Democracy Dwight, Z. Maidens and the Spartan Marriage Practice. Hodkinson, S. 'Blind Ploutos'?: Contemporary images of the role of wealth in classical Sparta Kennell, NM. Gymnasium of Virtue: education & culture in ancient Sparta Millender, EG. Spartan Literacy revisited Pomeroy, S. Spartan Women Scott, AG. Plural Marriage and the Spartan State

In this episode I get into a famous event and a famous non-event. Did Hannibal really take Rome by surprise by crossing the Alps and why didn't he attack Rome directly after Cannae? I tackle both of these questions whilst throwing in the Celts and army attrition for good measure. Links below but you can find me on most social media platforms as 'ancientblogger' and can email me at [email protected] Find me here Feel free to find me and say hi! If you can rate or review please do but more importantly thanks for listening. Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).    

In this episode I look at how the Spartan soldier fared in battle. What advantages had they been given through the agoge and syssitia? What was hoplite battle like and how good were the Spartans? I also look at a couple of Plutarch's sayings about the Spartans in the context of war and weigh up whether they were just a later invention or if there was something more to them. Find me on X, Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok as ancientblogger (see links below). There's my AncientBlogger YouTube channel and the Ancient History Hound subreddit. Come say hello (you can even go full old school and email me on [email protected]). Find me here Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental). Reading list and sources used Bardunias, P. Storm of spears & press of shields Bardunias, P & Eugene Ray Jnr, F. Hoplites at War Cartledge, P. The Spartans Cole, M. The Bronze Lie Echeverrrai, F. Hoplite and Phalanx in archaic and Classical Greece a reassessment                                 Taktike Techne – the neglected element in classical 'hoplite battles' Rusch, SM. Sparta at War Special shoutout to the excellent BadAncient website,the In Our Time Sparta episode and the Sparta episodes on The Ancients podcast.

Sparta, what do we know about it exactly and what's been exaggerated, or just made up? In the first of three episodes I look at the education system (agoge), communal mess (syssitia) and get into the Krypteia (not literally though). What do the sources say about these and how do they differ from ways they are sometimes depicted? In addition to all of this I have a quick overview of the sources which have their part to play and get into a few anecdotes.  Find me on X, Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok as ancientblogger (see links below). There's my AncientBlogger YouTube channel and the Ancient History Hound subreddit. Come say hello (you can even go full old school and email me on [email protected]). Find me here Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental). Reading list and sources used Berry, PE & Knotterus JD. Spartan Society: Structural ritualization in an ancient social system Cartledge, P. The Spartans Davidson, J. The Greeks and Greek Love Figueira, T. Mess contributions and subsistence at Sparta Kennell, NM. Gymnasium of Virtue: education & culture in ancient Sparta Luraghi & Alcock. Helots and their masters in Laconia and Messenia Matyszak, P. Sparta, rise of a warrior nation Miller, S.G. Ancient Greek Athletics. Special shoutout to the excellent BadAncient website,the In Our Time Sparta episode and the Life in Sparta and the truth about Sparta episode on The Ancients podcast.

Time for a quick update about what to expect in 2026 and when the next episode will drop.  Let me know what you think, I'm @ancientblogger on Instagram, X, Bluesky and TikTok. There's also the Ancient History Hound subreddit and AncientBlogger YouTube channel. Or just good old email [email protected] Thanks for listening and here's to a 2026 with more ancient history content. Cheers, Neil (and Bodhi).