It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me

By It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me

Want a quick way to know more about Classical Myths and Literature? Join Armand D'Angour (Professor of Classics at Oxford University) and Jimmy Mulville (Comedy Producer, Chairman of charity 'Classics... more

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FAQs about It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me:

How many episodes does It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.

It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me episodes:

May 27, 2025 Dogs, Birds and… Eels? – Pets in the Ancient World
Armand and Jimmy follow the pawprints of history to uncover the deeply emotional – and sometimes bizarre – relationships the ancients had with their animals. From the heartbreaking moment Odysseus returns home to find his loyal dog Argos dying, to a Roman epitaph that mourns a beloved pup named Patrikhi, they reveal a world where grief and love for pets were immortalized in verse. Along the way, they explore a Roman orator who dressed his pet eel in jewellery, Virgil’s possible tax-dodging fly funeral, and Julius Caesar’s short-lived affection for a giraffe…

The main texts explored (in order) were: Homer’s Odyssey, Roman Epitaph for Patrikhi, Catullus Poems 2 & 3, Martial Epigrams 1.109, Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, Herodotus’ Histories and Euripides’ Orestes.

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visit www.classicsforall.org.uk
...more
21min
May 20, 2025 Letters from the End of the World – Pliny in Pompeii with Ancient History Fangirl
Armand and Jimmy plunge into the smoke and ash of one of Ancient Rome’s most haunting eyewitness accounts: Pliny the Younger’s letters describing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. With ash raining from the sky and the sea vanishing before their eyes, the Roman world seemed to collapse in real time. But beyond the drama lies a deeper story – of science, courage, superstition, and family. Why did Pliny the Elder sail toward the disaster? What made these letters survive two thousand years? And how did a volcano help shape both the mythology of Roman nature writing and our understanding of imperial control? Expect crumbling cities, singing dolphins, volcanic gods, and one of the most vivid ancient accounts of catastrophe ever written.

Thank you to Genn and Jenny from the Ancient History Fangirl podcast for their suggestion of this week’s topic and the main text explored: Pliny the Younger’s Epistulae

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visit www.classicsforall.org.uk
...more
26min
May 13, 2025 Is Love Worth the Risk? – The Songs of Sappho with Martha Kearney
Armand and Jimmy dive into the passionate, mysterious world of Sappho – the iconic lyric poet of archaic Greece, whose fragments of song have echoed across millennia. From fiery expressions of desire to haunting lines of loneliness, they explore how Sappho’s poetry defined love, lyricism, and the female voice in a male-dominated world. Along the way, they unpack why she was called the “10th Muse,” how her songs were exactly that – songs rather than just poems, and how a single line could move an Athenian statesman to tears. Discover how Sappho’s legacy shaped Roman poets like Catullus, inspired modern writers like Anne Carson, and still resonates in today’s age of short-form storytelling and queer expression.

Thank you to Martha Kearney for suggesting this week's topic and the main texts we explored (in order): Sappho’s Fragment 31, Catullus’ Poem 51, Sappho’s Fragment 58, Fragment 16.

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visit www.classicsforall.org.uk
...more
26min
May 06, 2025 Julius Caesar’s Gamble – "The Die is Cast" with Mary Beard
Armand and Jimmy follow Julius Caesar to the banks of the Rubicon - and the moment that changed Roman history forever. With the help of Britain’s best-known classicist, Mary Beard, they unravel the famous phrase "The die is cast" and reveal why it doesn’t mean what most people think. Along the way, they explore Caesar’s love of Greek drama, the surprising truth about ancient dice (made from donkey knuckles!), and the gossipy brilliance of Suetonius, Rome’s ultimate scandal historian. From political gambles to lapidary phrases carved in stone, discover why these ancient words still roll through our culture today - from posh politicians to Spanish power metal bands.

Thank you to Mary Beard for suggesting this week's deep dive into Julius Caesar, "The Die is Cast," and the main text we explored: Suetonius' Lives of the Caesars.

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visit www.classicsforall.org.uk
...more
23min
April 29, 2025 Naked Heroes, Angry Gods – 'The Odyssey' with Alex Horne
Armand and Jimmy set sail through the timeless tale of The Odyssey, Homer’s epic poem that follows the long and perilous journey of Odysseus as he fights monsters, resists temptresses, and outwits gods to return home. Along the way, they uncover the story’s deep emotional core — Penelope’s cleverness, Telemachus’ coming of age, and Odysseus’ own struggle between glory and homecoming. From the Cyclops’ cave to the bow-stringing, bloody showdown, discover how and why The Odyssey continues to inspire creators like Ralph Fiennes (The Return) and Christopher Nolan (in his upcoming adaptation), and why it still resonates with us today.

Thank you to Alex Horne for suggesting this week's topic and our main text explored: The Odyssey by Homer

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visit www.classicsforall.org.uk
...more
35min
October 01, 2024 Lysistrata
Armand and Jimmy explore the hilarious and bold story of Lysistrata, the comedic tale of Ancient Greek women who devise an unexpected strategy to end the Peloponnesian War by withholding sex from their men. They also dive into the unique brand of humour of its author, Aristophanes, which cleverly lampooned prominent figures of his time, as seen in other works like The Frogs…

Main text explored: Lysistrata by Aristophanes
The Frogs by Aristophanes

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visitwww.classicsforall.org.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
29min
September 24, 2024 The Aeneid
Armand and Jimmy delve into one of the greatest masterpieces of Roman literature, The Aeneid, shedding light on its historical significance and the political motivations behind its creation by the poet Virgil. They explore the enduring power of the famous line, Sunt Lacrimae Rerum ("There are tears of things"), and offer an in-depth discussion of Book 6, where Aeneas, the hero, descends into the Underworld…

Main text explored: The Aeneid by Virgil

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visitwww.classicsforall.org.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
29min
September 17, 2024 Plato
Join Armand and Jimmy as they delve into Plato’s Symposium, unraveling the diverse perspectives on love shared by Plato, Socrates, and their fellow guests. Armand reveals the intriguing figure he believes was instrumental in shaping Plato’s views on love before explaining the origins of the term 'Platonic Love...'

Main text explored: The Symposium by Plato

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visitwww.classicsforall.org.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
28min
September 10, 2024 Juvenal
Armand and Jimmy discuss Juvenal, one of the earliest and most influential satirists, emphasising how every aspect of his work was crafted for comedic effect—from the absurd content, such as the foolish desires his fellow Romans prayed for in Satire 10, to the very structure of his verse itself...

Main text explored: Satire 10 of Book 4 by Juvenal

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visitwww.classicsforall.org.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
25min
September 03, 2024 Narcissus
Armand and Jimmy delve into the myth of Narcissus and Echo, revealing how it has left its mark on modern psychology by prompting the ideas of 'Narcissism' and more recently 'Echoism.' They also shed light on the poet Ovid, who told the tale in his Metamorphoses shortly before his own life story took an unfortunate turn...

Main text explored: Book III of Metamorphoses by Ovid

Presented by Armand D’Angour and Jimmy Mulville
Produced by Diggory Waite
A Hat Trick Production

For more on the charity Classics For All, who support state schools to introduce or develop the teaching of classical subjects sustainably on the curriculum or as an after school activity, visitwww.classicsforall.org.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
25min

FAQs about It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me:

How many episodes does It's All Greek (and Latin) To Me have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.

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