Classical Wisdom Speaks

#41 - Sex, Soldiers and Thebes with James Romm, Paul Cartledge and Helene Foley


Listen Later

Formed in 379 BC to combat the Spartan threat...
Hailed by Plato as a force that could never be beaten...
The last hope to preserve the freedom of Greece...
Buried together on the spot they fell....
300 male lovers reveal a dramatic ancient tale whose story will leave you gripped into the end. 

James Romm of Bard College, and author of the Sacred Band, discusses Sex, Soldiers and Thebes with Cambridge Professor, Paul Cartledge, and Columbia Professor, Helene Foley. Moderated by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. 

They delve into the history of Thebes, the evolution of male eros and the essential role of the Sacred Band in fighting for Greek democracy. 

About the Speakers: 

James Romm is the James H. Ottaway Jr. Professor of Classics at Bard College and specializes in ancient Greek and Roman culture and civilization.  Dr. Romm is author of several books, including Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero, Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and most recently, “The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers fighting to save Greek Freedom”. 

Paul Anthony Cartledge is the A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Clare College. He has published extensively on Greek history over several decades, including The Cambridge Illustrated History of Ancient Greece, Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past as well as Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece (2020) 

Helene P. Foley is Professor of Classical Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University and a member of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at Columbia. She specialises in ancient Greek literature, women and gender in antiquity, and the reception of classical drama. Helene is author of many books, her most recent being Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American Stag.

Anya Leonard, Founder and Director of Classical Wisdom, a platform dedicated to bringing ancient wisdom to Modern Minds.   For more information about Classical Wisdom and Podcast Classical Wisdom Speaks, please check out our website at: http://classicalwisdom.com

You can buy the speakers' excellent books below:

The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers fighting to save Greek Freedom: 

Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece

Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American Stag

Sign up to get Classical Wisdom's Free newsletter as well as a FREE E-book on the "Two Sides of Jesus", Here: https://classicalwisdom.com/free-e-book-two-sides-of-jesus/

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Classical Wisdom SpeaksBy Classical Wisdom

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

31 ratings


More shows like Classical Wisdom Speaks

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,425 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,201 Listeners

Emperors of Rome by La Trobe University

Emperors of Rome

1,534 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

511 Listeners

History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps by Peter Adamson

History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

1,598 Listeners

The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

The History of Literature

1,110 Listeners

Ancient Greece Declassified by Dr. Lantern Jack

Ancient Greece Declassified

496 Listeners

Stephen Fry's 7 Deadly Sins by Stephen Fry | SamFry Ltd

Stephen Fry's 7 Deadly Sins

870 Listeners

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics by BBC Radio 4

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

264 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,197 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

14,371 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,832 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

2,030 Listeners

Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast by Donald J. Robertson

Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast

38 Listeners

Instant Classics by Vespucci

Instant Classics

120 Listeners