A HISTORICAL PODCAST

TROY AND MYCENAE

ANCIENT TROY A glimpse of the current archaeological site of King Priams great city. The lovely paved ramp is from the Roman period of the city.	ANCIENT MYCENAE A view of the acropolis from which Agamemnon ruled from.

MYCENAEAN

THE CATALOGUE OF SHIPS The areas of Greece contributing contingents for the Trojan war, and the allies that would assist the Trojans.	BULL FRESCO A partially reconstructed example of Mycenaean fresco, note the figure leaping and grabbing the horns of a bull.	THE LION GATE Monumental entry to Mycenae, constructed in the 13th century BCE it enclosed grave circle A which is located just inside and to the right of picture.
TOMB OF AGAMEMNON The processional dromos (avenue) leading into the Tholos tomb of Mycenaean royalty.	INSIDE THE THOLOS View looking out of the tomb of Agamemnon. Note the size of the lintel over the doorway.	LINEAR B An example of Linear B script. It has much in common with earlier script of Crete known as Linear A.
BOAR TUSK HELM A Mycenaean boar tusk encrusted helm, the type Odysseus was armed with before heading out on a raid against Troy.	VOLUTE KRATER Housed in the British Museum, this Krater (wine jug) shows Iphigenia being led to the sacrificial alter, her father wields the dagger and Artemis and Apollo watch on.

HELEN

Helen with Priam Stock image of Helen above the Scaean gate watching, as the lines of battle draw apart, a duel between her two husbands begin.	Helen at the Scaean gate By Gustave Moreau (c1880) This image of a faceless Helen speaks to her every-woman quality. Is her face turned in despair or a longing for home?	Leda and the Swan By Cesare de Sesto, 1505 to 1510. A famous painting showing Zeus in swan form, Leda and the 4 children of the mythical union.
Abduction of Helen By Francesco Primaticcio, 1530 to 1539. Showing Helen being carted off to her fate with Aphrodite watching on.	Abduction of Helen By Luca Giordano, this image shows Helen writhing as she is carried away by Paris	Theseus and Pierithous Showing the two heroes playing dice over the fate of Helen of Sparta.
Theatre of Dionysus Where the ancient tragedians, Euripides, Aeschylus and Sophocles plied their trade in 5th BCE, Athens.

DIOSCURI

MARBLE RELIEF OF THE DIOSCURI 2nd Centure CE sculpture depicting the twins with their ever present steeds, beneath their stars.	The temple of Castor and Pollux Remains of the Dioscuri's temple in the Forum Romanum.	Calydonian boar hunt In this image we see Atalanta in purple, with bow in hand. Meleager is dealing the final blow with our twins hemming the beast in from horse back.
The Argo's escape from Colchis In this image we see Medea casting her younger brother overboard.	Constellation Gemini The twins final resting place in the stars.

ANTHOLOGY OF MYTH

Perseus with Medusa's head This 1554 statue by Benvenuto Cellini shows our hero at his moment of victory. Note the hooked sword, a gift from the god Hephaestus.	Oedipus and the Sphinx An 1864 painting by one of my favourite artists, Gustave Moreau. In the foreground you can see the remains of those who answered the riddle incorrectly.	Bellerophon and Chimera This black figure image from the 6th century is from the region of Laconia, possibly made by the Perioeci who lived in the spartan surrounds.
Yanartas, the chimera flames. Burning since ancient times, this place in southern Turkey is believed to be where the Chimera fell to the earth dead, slain by Bellerophon.

BRONZE AGE COLLAPSE

Treat of Kadesh This is the fragmentary remains of the Hittite's formal acceptance of terms with the Egyptian's. Inscribed in Cuneiform.	Sea people relief This relief is inscribed on the mortuary temple of Ramses the third. The sea people are shown surrounded by the Egyptian forces, the big guy with the bow is Ramses himself, showing his men how it's done.	Ugarit The remains of the once proud city of Ugarit.
Sea people migrations. An impression of possible sea people migrations, and other invasions of the late bronze age.	Uluburun shipwreck A perfectly preserved time capsule of eastern Mediterranean trade during the bronze age.

DARK AGE LACONIA

The Menelaion The iron age Spartan's set up a sanctuary here to worships, Helen, the Dioscuri and Menelaus. Nearby are the most significant Mycenaean remains in Laconia. This is possibly the location of Homeric Sparta.	The Eurotas river The main arterial of Laconia	The Taygetos range A view of modern Sparta with the famous Taygetos range looming in the background.
The Peloponnese Sparta's location within the peninsula.	Topographical map of early Sparta Showing the location of the 4 original village, acropolis and religious sanctuaries. Circa 950 BCE.

JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS

Jason and Serpent alternate An image showing a different version of Apollonius's story. Jason is regurgitated by the snake with the aid of Athena. Resting in the background is the fleece.	Amikos bound Another alternate scene, depicting King Amikos in chains rather than beaten to death by Polydeuces.	The Boreads The brothers Zetes and Calais assist Phineus.

APOLLO'S FAITHFUL

Apollo and Hyacinthus A morose Apollo cradles the dying Hyacinthus.	The Serpent Column Taken in 2012, the Serpent column by night in Istanbul.	Athena of the Brazen House These are the remains of Athena's temple within Sparta, resting on the edge of the acropolis.
Temple of Artemis Orthia The remains of the temple of Artemis Orthia in Sparta.	Apollo Karneios This image depicts Apollo with rams horns sprouting from his head.

RAISING SPARTANS

KYNISKA INSCRIPTION The inscription of Kyniska, sister of King Agesilaus, on winning the wreath in the 4 horse chariot event.	SPARTAN BOY TAKEN TO THE AGOGE From Frank Miller adaptation of 300, this image speaks of the harshness of Spartan society.	Young-Spartans-Exercising-Edgar-Degas This 19th century painting by Edgar Degas was apparently inspired by Plutarch's life of Lycurgus and depicts, for my mind at least, how Spartan youths would have exercised. Mt Taygetos rises in the background.
spartan-woman This bronze figurine is believed to depict a young Spartan women either running or more likely dancing.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

6the Cent. Peloponnesian League A great image to show the Spartan area of increasing influence within, and to a degree outside, the Peninsula.	Tegea This is the ruin of the Tegeate's temple to Athena Alea, where the chains of Spartan prisoners were displayed. (not my photo)	Olympia Stadium Ready, set, go.
Sicyon treasure Ruins of a treasury set up by Sicyon at Delphi, situated prominently along the Sacred way. (not my photo)	Acro-Corinth A view from a Roman era forum in ancient Corinth. Acro-Corinth rises majestically in the background.	Diolkos Part of the excavated remains of the Diolkos. (not my photo)
Corinthian Canal A view along the canal that took 2500 years to construct.

EMBASSIES AND ENEMIES

VIX KRATER This Laconian Krater, or overgrown wine mixing bowl, was found in the grave of a early Celtic queen from around 500 BCE. Believed to be similar to the one meant as a gift to King Croesus.	Lydian Empire around 560 BCE. The red line shows the greatest extent of the empire under Croesus' rule. For reference Samos is the island west and in between of Ephesus and Miletus.	Kouroi of Klebis and Biton Standing proudly, the brothers who pulled their mothers cart to the sanctuary of Hera in Argos.
Temple of Hera The foundations and one solitary, reconstructed column of the once mighty temple to Hera within the Heraion of Samos.	Pythagorio Looking out over the modern town of Pythagorio, named after Pythagoras who was native to the island of Samos. You can see part of the mole, commissioned by Polycrates, still being used today on the left of shot.	Tunnel of Eupalinos The aqueduct shaft that fed water to the ancient polis of Samos, also commissioned by Polycrates and named after its engineer.
Aqueduct entrace Entrance to the main workman shaft of the aqueduct.