The Seleucid Empire's vast geographic spread made it the heir to a wide variety of cavalry traditions, with the fighting style of each region being incorporated into an army of Macedonian origin: units like armored cataphracts and horse archers from the steppes, scythed chariots from the Near East, and even war elephants acquired from distant India. Scholars have long viewed the cavalry of the Seleucids (and by extension other Hellenistic powers) as being ineffectual, with the use of such "exotic" troop types limited to being a passing fad. Dr. Silvannen Gerrard joins our show to argue that the Seleucid military was in fact quite capable and adaptive, and that the often-downplayed role of unorthodox troops like elephants betrays a powerful and effective tool for warfare. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2021/07/18/interview-on-the-cavalry-of-the-seleucid-empire-w-dr-silvannen-gerrard/) Dr. Silvannen Gerrard Links: Twitter (https://twitter.com/WingedBookWyrm) Academia.edu (https://manchester.academia.edu/SilvannenGerrard?from_navbar=true) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

A conversation with Lynn Jones (Florida State University) on how fragments of the True Cross were requested, gifted, traveled, repatriated, abducted, and returned in the early Byzantine period; how they were used to validate rival claims to power; and the anxiety caused by doubts over their authenticity. The conversation is based on a number of Lynn's publications, especially 'Perceptions of Byzantium: Radegund of Poitiers and Relics of the True Cross,' in L. Jones, ed., Byzantine Images and their Afterlives: Essays in Honor of Annemarie Weyl Carr (Ashgate 2014) 105-125.

<p>While Mesopotamia and even the Indus Valley get the lion's share of the attention, sophisticated and long-lasting societies inhabited the lands fringing the Caspian Sea for thousands of years. The people of the Kura-Araxes Culture, the Oxus Civilization, and Elam left their mark everywhere from Anatolia to Mesopotamia to South Asia, shaping future cultures for millennia to come.</p><p>I wrote a book, and it comes out on July 20! You can preorder (in hard copy, e-book, or audiobook)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/patrick-wyman/the-verge/9781538701171/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World</em>&nbsp;here.</a></p><p>Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App <a href="https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory</a>.</p><p>Support us by supporting our sponsors!</p><p><br /></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>As you may know I have already produced three episodes about Women in the Roman World which are available for you on the <a href="http://patreon.com/historyofbyzantium" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ad-Free Bonus Feed</a> at Patreon.</p><p>I now present three more episodes about Women in the Byzantine World. And these episodes are very much a continuation of that series. In part one we talk about how the arrival of Christianity affected Roman women. We also hear a couple of Saints' Lives. These tales give us a rare glimpse of how women appeared in popular culture.</p><p>This first episode is free but parts 2 and 3 are only available on the <a href="http://patreon.com/historyofbyzantium" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ad-Free Bonus Feed</a> at Patreon.&nbsp;</p><p>The Incidental Music used is “Introspection” from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.purple-planet.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Purple-Planet.com</a></p> <hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Hello everyone,</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I am back with three bonus episodes for you about Women in the Byzantine World. These episodes should be available within an hour or so of this update. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since women get much less attention than they deserve in our narrative I’ll put the first of these episodes out for free for everyone to enjoy. Parts 2 and 3 though are only available on the Ad-Free Bonus Feed at Patreon or at thehistoryofbyzantium.com. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since I’m very late with these bonus episodes they will be available to anyone whose subscription at the website ran out in the last year. So if you had a subscription which ran out any time from July 2020 and you haven’t renewed or switched to Patreon just email me and I’ll add the episodes to your account manually. That email is <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>These 3 episodes are a continuation of another 3 parter I recorded a couple of years ago called Women in the Roman World. If you like what you hear in part 1 of the new series but want to hear more about women’s lives in the Greco-Roman world then do check out those episodes. Either at Patreon or at thehistoryofbyzantium.com. But just to remind you episodes will no longer be available from the website from October. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I am now moving on to work on another Byzantine Story and then it will be back to the narrative. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Take care and thanks for listening.</p><p><br /></p> <hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The Ozymandias Project podcast has a new name! We are now The Ozymandias Project: Ancient Office Hours!</p><br /><p>New name, same mission. We decided to rename our podcast Ancient Office Hours to better convey the type of conversations we want to facilitate. While we have always had clear goals, it came to our attention that some confusion remained about the tone of our show. We hope our new title will further emphasize and clarify the easy-going nature of these ad hoc interviews. We hope to stimulate discussions about both academic and non-academic interests and provide new insights, ideas, and advice for anyone with an interest in ancient history & culture. </p><br /><p>Keep an eye on our socials and this feed for more exciting updates on The Ozymandias Project LLC later this month!</p><br /><p><br /></p> <a href="https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/5612618" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get exclusive bonus content (ad free episodes, early releases, and experimental content) on Patreon!</a><br /><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>When we think of the open grasslands of the Eurasian steppes, we usually imagine nomadic herders taking their livestock from place to place on horseback. But the steppes are a vast and varied place, and so too were the ways of life that ancient people developed to live there. Professor Alicia Ventresca Miller of the University of Michigan joins me to talk about diet, mobility, and how chemical isotopes can tell us more about the diversity of life on the ancient steppes.</p><p>I wrote a book, and it comes out on July 20! You can preorder (in hard copy, e-book, or audiobook)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/patrick-wyman/the-verge/9781538701171/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World</em>&nbsp;here.</a></p><p>Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App <a href="https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory</a>.</p><p>Support us by supporting our sponsors!</p><p><br /></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

<p>Writer Betty Robertson, (a former narrative designer on Assassin's Creed games Odyssey & Valhalla) joins Lexie to discuss overcoming creative blocks, trying to balance the history and folklore elements when writing for Odyssey & Valhalla, and whether being involved in the making of video games, in any capacity, could be considered a STEM field. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week’s exciting odyssey!&nbsp;Don't forget to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOzymandiasP1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theozymandiasproject" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a> & <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theozymandiasproject/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or visit our website <a href="http://www.theozymandiasproject.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.theozymandiasproject.com</a>!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /><p>Catch Betty's episode on the "AC Sisterhood Speaks!" podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ac-sisterhood-speaks-episode-4-betty-robertson/id1542456288?i=1000511389589</p><br /><p>Or catch it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FL8524NXuj2E1y5eTzivW</p><br /><p>Some great examples of ancient fan fiction can be found on SASA's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8xgMgNHQegPhNf_ZuWy1muCom8uyxOHv</p><br /><p>Support us on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject</a>&nbsp;</p> <a href="https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/5612618" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get exclusive bonus content (ad free episodes, early releases, and experimental content) on Patreon!</a><br /><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Drawn by the prospects of providing service to the Ptolemaic government in either the bureaucracy or the army, or perhaps seeking to settle and farm some of the most productive land in the world, tens of thousands of Greeks would immigrate to Egypt in pursuit of a better life. Thanks to the abundant papyrological record, we are able to get an intimate look into the lives and careers of those who now to called Egypt home: those such as the deeply religious devotee of Serapis named Ptolemaeus, or Kleon, the hard-pressed chief engineer of the Fayyum reclamation project of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Show Links Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2021/07/04/061-ptolemaic-egypt-greeks-in-an-egyptian-land/) Episode 061 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/061-ptolemaic-egypt-greeks-in-an-egyptian-land-transcript.pdf) Two Friends Talk History Podcast Buzzsprout (https://twofriendstalkhistory.buzzsprout.com/) Website (www.archaeoartist.com) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

<p>Things didn't stop happening on the vast grasslands of the Eurasian steppes once the first waves of migrants had departed to make their mark on Europe and beyond. New societies, languages, and ethnic groups emerged. The chariot was invented, and bronze metallurgy spread far and wide. One of those innovative societies on the steppe gave rise to the Indo-Iranians, whose descendants would spread out everywhere from Siberia to Syria.</p><p>I wrote a book, and it comes out on July 20! You can preorder (in hard copy, e-book, or audiobook)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/patrick-wyman/the-verge/9781538701171/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World</em>&nbsp;here.</a></p><p>Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App <a href="https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory</a>.</p><p>Support us by supporting our sponsors!</p><p><br /></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

A conversation with Sean Anthony (Ohio State University) about the earliest sources for the life of the Prophet Muhammad, including the Quran, papyri, inscriptions, and Christian sources of the seventh century, and how Muslims were initially perceived by the Romans of the eastern provinces. The conversation is based on Sean's book Muhammad and the Empires of Faith: The Making of the Prophet of Islam (University of California Press 2020).

<p>Professor David Anthony is one of the world's foremost experts on the archaeology of the ancient Eurasian steppes and sits at the cutting edge of Indo-European studies. We discuss the unique nature of the Yamnaya and the prehistoric steppe, the people who lived there, what ancient DNA can tell us about these past societies, and why they matter even 5000 years later.</p><p>I wrote a book, and it comes out on July 20! You can preorder (in hard copy, e-book, or audiobook)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/patrick-wyman/the-verge/9781538701171/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World</em>&nbsp;here.</a></p><p>Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App <a href="https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory</a>.</p><p>Support us by supporting our sponsors!</p><p><br /></p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>