Ancient Rome Refocused

Episode 26 (S5) This story is about is interpreting a third century poem that puts Frogs and Mice into the characters of Ancient Heroes.Yes, this poem actually exists.Imagine you create a theater company. You decide to bring to life this ancient poem. You hold auditions, and you study the ancient storytellers called the Rhapsodoi. Picking out the best storytellers and musicians you travel to the 21st century version of the Dionysia, The Fringe, one of the world's largest art festivals in Edinburgh, Scotland. Amongst the hubbub of musicians, artists, jugglers, comedians you perform your play in the mayhem of an artistic frenzy.

Bonus Material Episode 26 (S5) Andrew Hulse, producer of Helicon Theatrical Productions, discusses the scholar of epic poetry, Milman Perry, and his associate AlbertLord. Hulse promotes Lord's book The Singer of Tales as a "wacky and mind bending…" experience.Albert Bates Lord was a professor of Slavic and comparative literature at Harvard University who, after the death of Milman Parry, carried on that scholar's research into epic literature. WikipediaThe Singer of Tales is a book by Albert Lord that discusses the oral tradition as a theory of literary composition and its applications to Homeric and medieval epic. It was published in 1960. Wikipedia

News Release: Speech by Michael Bennet of ColoradoUsing Rome as an example during a speech in Congress after a mob tried to intervene in the legal and fair election of the President of the United States.

Episode 25 (S4) Rob Cain goes on a rant about modern and ancient heroes. He discusses the heroes of literature and reviews the heroescelebrated on TV as he was growing up. What is a modern hero? What is a classical one? Do heroes pay a price?18:45 into the podcast a musical tribute is given to Khaled al-Asaad, a Syrian archaeologist and the head of antiquities at the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Khaled al-Asaad refused to reveal the location of ancient artifacts to the invaders. He placed the history of his city over his own life.

Episode 24 (S4) If I was going to do walking tour of Great Britain I would pack this book with an extra pair of socks.Roman Britain is a great book, based on a series of lectures given at Oxford University. The book is filled with maps and drawings and insights into the ancient world.Check out the great map on the inside cover. Go for an old edition. It has a lot more dash. It's relatively small, and easy to put inyour knapsack.An interesting tidbit is that according to Collingwood there was a lot more diversity in Romano Britain that discussed in the modern discourse of today. Considering Collingwood lived during the time of the British Raj, I tend to believe his conclusions.  If you intend to visit Romano Britain, this is the book. Just make sure there isn't a updated version out there. You may want to bump a modern map up against it.

BONUS Episode 23 (S4) Morgan Taubert decides to write a letter to Herodotus, the Father of History.Check out his blogsite at: http://letterstocicero.blogspot.com/

BONUS, Episode 23 (S4)An original musical piece by Zebulon (aka: Morgan Taubert). The piece was played in Episode 23 (S4) by permission of the artist.Do you want to hear more of his music? Check out Morgan's website at:https://zebulonstoryteller.bandcamp.com/

Episode 23 (S4) - Rob Cain interviews Morgan Taubert from Adelaide, South Australia. Morgan writes letters to the dead. This includes letters to Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Morgan has a popular blog site called LETTERS TO CICERO (AND MY OTHER DEAD FRIENDS).

http://letterstocicero.blogspot.com

Morgan is also a musician. Check out his music at: Zebulonstoryteller.bandcamp.com.

Music featured on the show include:

Dumpster Fire

Garyan

Street Dance Karsilamus

Taken North of Egypt.

Episode 23 (S4) Rob Cain interviews Morgan Taubert from Adelaide, South Australia. Morgan writes letters to the dead. This includes letters to Marcus Tullius Cicero. What do you say to the greatest orator of the Roman Republic? What would you say?  After you listen to the podcast check out Morgans' blog at: LETTERS TO CICERO (AND MY OTHER DEAD FRIENDS).http://letterstocicero.blogspot.comMorgan is also a musician. Check out his music at:  Zebulonstoryteller.bandcamp.com.Music featured on the show include: Dumpster Fire, Garyan, Street Dance Karsilamus

Bonus Material. Dr. Joel Christensen, Brandeis University, gives his opinion on why its important to study the classics, and why we should learn Latin and Ancient Greek.