What ancient civilizations have been overlooked, ignored, or lost through the ages? I talk to British author and historian Philip (Maty) Matyszak about these forgotten peoples, the myths of Hercules, and much more.

Note: I apologize for the audio level inconsistency. I needed to boost things to make it easier to hear Maty.

The Kingdom of Pontus was one of the most significant powers of the Hellenistic Era and a major rival to Rome. American historian Duane Roller joins me to talk about the rise and fall of this fascinating and mysterious civilization.

Historian and archeologist Greg Woolf joins me to talk about how ancient cities developed, why we often have the wrong impression about them, and much more.

What mysteries lie below the ocean's surface? We talk to underwater archaeologist Peter Campbell about the ancient relics he is looking for in the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.

How did the Kingdom of Macedon go from a Greek backwater to controlling one of the largest empires of the ancient world? Historian Adrian Goldsworthy joins me to discuss Alexander the Great and his influential father Philip II.

Thebes was once the most powerful city-state in Greece, but it has largely been overshadowed in popular culture by Athens and Sparta. Historian Paul Cartledge and I discuss the rise and fall of Thebes, and what impact it made on the ancient world.

Maybe Homer's Trojan War didn't happen after all. In this episode, we talk to Mediterranean archaeologist Josho Brouwers about the so-called Greek "Age of Heroes" and what it was really like.

What caused the mysterious collapse of so many civilizations in the 12th century BCE? Did the Trojan War really happen? Were Achilles and Helen real people? Eric Cline, one of the world's leading ancient historians and archaeologists, helps answer these questions and more in the latest episode of Ancient Heroes.

The relationship between the heroes Achilles and Patroclus is one of the controversial subjects in Greek mythology. I look at the sources, consider multiple perspectives, and offer my thoughts.

British historian and author Andrew Chugg reveals the new evidence he has uncovered in his search for the lost tomb of Alexander the Great.