Fredegund (545 – 597 CE), the queen consort of Chilperic I – the Merovingian Frankish king of Soissons, has a reputation of being one of the most bloodthirsty and sadistic women in history. Accounts by Gregory, the Bishop of Tours (539 – 594 CE), depict her as a murderous lady who achieved power through her husband and used it to keep his kingdom in a state of war for more than forty years. She was also known as an early exponent of dirty warfare who relied heavily on poison and other covert operations

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/05/fredegund/

In the late 20th century, the concept of a link between appearance and “immoral” behaviour fully emerged, rendering the saying “never judge a book by its cover” pointless. This time, rather than mythical kings, it was minority groups that were frequently targeted.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/02/immorality-and-the-rise-of-the-wolf-ladies/

Sword dancing has found its place in many different cultures. In Asia, the sword dance is often used for plot descriptions and characterization in Chinese opera. In Pakistan and Nepal, military dances are still commonly performed for weddings and other occasions. In India, the Paika Akhada (“warrior school”) previously used to train Odisha warriors, is performed in the streets during festivals. Sword dances are also performed all over Europe, particularly in areas corresponding to the boundaries of what used to be the Holy Roman Empire.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/04/28/dance-of-the-swords/

There was silence for a moment after the matron appeared—and then the “Diggers,” like one man, sprang up and cheered and cheered…

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/04/25/at-the-heart-of-war-stories-of-women-of-anzac/

The werewolf is a staple of supernatural fiction these days, and one could be forgiven for thinking that this snarling creature was created during the Medieval and Early Modern periods as a result of superstitions around witchcraft and black magic. But the werewolf is much older than that.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/03/28/ancient-stories-of-werewolves/

About 48 million years ago, an owl swooped down to catch its prey in broad daylight – we know this because in 2018 Dickinson Museum Researchers found the exquisitely preserved remains of the owl. Its skull shares a telltale characteristic with modern-day hawks which also hunt by day. As they have evidently existed since the ancient times, the owl has been regarded with fascination, awe and fear throughout history. They feature prominently in the myths and legends of a variety of cultures.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/03/24/ancient-legends-of-the-divine-owl/

Legendary magician Merlin were said to carry a silver bough from an apple tree which allowed him to cross into the other worlds and to return to the land of the living. It’s no accident, then, that the apple tree is closely associated with knowledge, truth and enlightenment. The association between apples and knowledge continues In the Christian tradition as Eve offers Adam an apple – a forbidden fruit which grew on the tree of knowledge. Images after images were painted of this scene and the “forbidden fruit” became immortalized in arts as an apple.

What is it about the apple that caused it to become such a sacred symbol in the mythologies of the world?

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/03/17/divine-apples/

In his Argonautica, ancient Greek author Apollonius of Rhodes provides a rather romantic introduction of Medea as a young woman desperately in love. Unfortunately, this introduction quickly takes on a sinister turn and casts Medea as one of the most infamous and controversial figures in Greek mythology.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/03/10/medea/

Despite the misogyny in the ancient world, discussions and debates about gender equality has also started (or, at least, made famous) by an unlikely source: male philosophers.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/03/08/women-according-to-ancient-men/