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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Armand and Jimmy discuss Homer's epic poem The Iliad and in particular the moment where the Greek warrior Diomedes and the Trojan Glaucus meet on the battlefield... 

Main text explored: The Iliad 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, visitwww.classicsforall.org.uk

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

Odi et amo - 'I hate and I Iove'

Armand and Jimmy chat about the Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus and the trials and tribulations of his love affair with a young woman whom he calls Lesbia—who, Armand explains, may have been misidentified for centuries...

Main texts explored (in order of appearance in episode): 

Catullus 85

Catullus 83

Catullus 8

Catullus 2

Catullus 3

Catullus 10

Catullus 1

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

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

A multidisciplinary approach to this episode, as Jimmy and Armand explore the exclamation ‘Eureka!’ uttered by Archimedes, known from a story told by architectural historian Vitruvius about how the inventor discovered how to assess the metallic content of a gold crown.

However, is the story fake news? If so, what was the true story? A bit of classical detective work provides a more plausible explanation.

Main text explored: De Architectura by Vitruvius

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

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

In this episode we take the oft quoted idea of the Oedipus Complex and find out its origins in Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex.

Armand and Jimmy first present a handy guide to the key points of the story, then explore how we believe the themes of the play might have been received by its audience at the time, as well as current thinking on how plays such as this were presented to their audiences in ancient Athens.

Main text explored: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

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

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

We kick off the series with an expression that is often heard; but what do we know about who wrote it and from which literary work it is plucked?

Armand and Jimmy discuss possible translations of the phrase, what the writer was trying to convey with it as well as how we interpret the meaning of Carpe Diem in our lives today.

There’s also a quick potted history of how Armand and Jimmy both got drawn in by the Classics.

Main text explored: The Odes of Horace

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

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