A podcast about the history of ancient Greece for people new to and familiar with Ancient Greek history.The Casting Through Ancient Greece podcast will focus on telling the story of Ancient Greece starting from the pre history through Archaic Greece, Classical Greece and up to the Hellenistic period. Featured throughout the podcast series will be Major events such as the Greek and Persian wars, The Peloponnesian war and Alexander the Greats war against Persia. www.castingthroughancientgreece.com for more resources and creditsSupport the series at www.patreon.com/castingthroughancientgreecefacebook: casting through ancient greeceTwitter: @casting_greece
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Victory didn’t end the story; it changed the rules. After Mycale and Plataea, the Persian threat receded, the Aegean opened, and a vacuum pulled Athens, Sparta, and Persia into a new contest—one fought with fleets, diplomacy, and competing visions of security. We walk through the decade that followed 479 BC to show how shattered empires, cautious land powers, and ambitious sea powers redrew the map of Greek politics. We unpack Persia’s strategic shift from invasion to consolidation: naval lo...
99: The Arrival in Sicily (00:40:44)
Bronze flashed on the water and songs filled the air as our fleet left the Piraeus, but the shine faded fast along the Italian coast. Harbors opened while hearts stayed closed, Segesta’s “treasure” dissolved into borrowed plate, and our grand design was forced to contend with supply lists, neutral cities, and the creeping cost of time. We lay out how awe met caution in Magna Graecia, why admiration didn’t translate into alliances, and how an expedition sold on momentum stalled before the stra...
Teaser: Legacy of Victory (Patreon) (00:05:15)
A continent-spanning empire bore down on a patchwork of rival city-states—and out of that pressure, a people discovered themselves. We follow the Greek victories over Persia from raw survival to a moral origin story, showing how memory, art, and ritual transformed urgent alliance into a lasting idea: Hellenic freedom. We start with the fragile coalition that met the Persian advance at Salamis and Plataea, then uncover how the meaning of those battles grew in the retelling. Simonides’ epigram...
98: Launch of the Sicilian Expedition (00:40:51)
Trumpets sounded over the Piraeus and a city’s confidence took shape in bronze and oars. We follow the launch of the Sicilian Expedition from the charged votes in the Assembly to the glittering departure ritual that Thucydides captures with chilling clarity, tracing how a cautious proposal spiraled into the most costly armament a single Greek city had ever sent to sea. Along the way, the story exposes the fragile scaffolding beneath the spectacle: stretched finances, untested logistics, and a...
Teaser: Mycale in the Wider War (Patroen) (00:06:24)
Empires can lose in stages—and the moments in between can matter most. We dive into the chain that turned Xerxes’ massive gamble into Greek momentum: the trap at Salamis, the phalanx at Plataea, and the “forgotten victory” at Mycale that shifted the war from survival to liberation. Step by step, a divided world of city-states learned to think as one, using geography, coalition discipline, and psychological pressure to unmake Persian dominance of the Aegean. We start with the strategic stakes...
Teaser: Pausanias at Plataea (Patreon) (00:05:25)
The complicated legacy of Pausanias, Spartan regent and commander at Plataea, reveals the razor-thin line between military glory and personal disgrace. When Persian forces under Mardonius threatened Greek freedom in 479 BC, it was Pausanias who stood at the forefront of the Hellenic coalition—a complex alliance of city-states with competing interests and traditions. His story offers a fascinating glimpse into the burdens of command during ancient warfare's most decisive moments. Standing as ...
97. Sicily, Deciding Disaster (00:38:53)
The Sicilian Expedition stands as one of history's most infamous military disasters—a bold gamble that crippled Athenian power and ultimately sealed their fate in the Peloponnesian War. But what drove Athens to stake everything on this distant campaign? When Segesta, a small Sicilian city, came seeking help against their rivals, Athens faced a pivotal choice. Though initially cautious, requesting proof of Segesta's resources and sending scouts to assess the situation, the Athenian assembly's...
96: Melos, Might & Right (00:42:36)
The aftermath of the Battle of Mantinea marks a critical turning point in the Peloponnesian War, as Sparta reasserts its dominance while Athens grapples with the moral contradictions of empire. With their decisive victory at Mantinea, the Spartans restore their reputation and secure their position as the preeminent land power in Greece. This revival allows them to reinstall oligarchic governments throughout the Peloponnese, temporarily bringing even democratic Argos under their influence. Bu...
Teaser: Plataea, Clash of Military Systems (Patreon) (00:06:13)
Two distinct military systems, two worldviews, one decisive battlefield. The clash at Plataea in 479 BCE represents far more than a Greek victory over Persian invaders – it embodies the collision of fundamentally different approaches to warfare, each reflecting the society that created it. Following the naval defeat at Salamis, Persian King Xerxes withdrew with most of his forces, but left his trusted commander Mardonius with an elite army estimated at 70,000 men. This wasn't merely an occup...
95: The Battle of Mantinea (00:38:35)
The battlefield at Mantinea in 418 BC witnessed one of the most consequential clashes of the Peloponnesian War, a moment when Sparta's reputation hung in the balance. Following years of diplomatic erosion and military hesitation, King Agis led a massive Spartan force north to confront a growing coalition threatening to unravel Sparta's entire alliance system. What unfolded on that plain near Tegea wasn't merely a battle of spears and shields, but a collision of political visions for Greece. ...
Bonus: Sparta's About Turn (Patreon) (00:06:15)
his is a teaser of the bonus episode, "Sparta's About Turn" found over on Patreon. The precarious Greek alliance against Persia hung by the thinnest of threads in 479 BCE. After watching Athens burn twice while Sparta refused to march beyond the safety of the Peloponnese, Athenian patience had run out. When their final delegation arrived in Sparta, they delivered what amounted to an ultimatum: stand with us against Persia, or we may have no choice but to negotiate on our own. Behind Sparta's...
94: Diplomacy by Force (00:40:33)
What happens when military might meets diplomatic cunning? In the fragile years following the Peace of Nicias, a dangerous dance unfolds across Greece as former enemies circle each other warily, neither willing to strike first yet both preparing for inevitable conflict. Alcibiades emerges as Athens' bold strategist, orchestrating a brilliant campaign that uses military presence as leverage without actually breaking the peace. With just a small force, he marches confidently through Spartan te...
93: Breaching the Peace (00:38:03)
The fragile Peace of Nicias shatters as competing interests and broken promises drive Athens and Sparta back toward conflict. At the heart of this diplomatic unraveling stands Alcibiades, a charismatic young general whose ambition would reshape Greek politics and alliances. When Corinth, feeling betrayed by peace terms that threatened their colonial claims, encouraged Argos to form a rival power bloc, the seeds of renewed warfare were planted. Sparta's subsequent alliance with Boeotia direct...
92: Birth of the Argive League (00:39:07)
Have you ever wondered how ancient empires managed the delicate dance of diplomacy and warfare? In this gripping episode, we unravel the complex strategies and political chess moves of the Peloponnesian War, spotlighting the pivotal period following 424 BC. Witness the dramatic rise and fall of Athens and Sparta as we dissect significant events like the Spartan defeats at Pylos and Sphacteria and Athens' bold military ventures. We also examine how setbacks at Megara and Delium fueled Sparta's...
91: The Peace of Nicias (00:41:01)
Welcome to another episode of Casting Through Ancient Greece! In this episode, we delve into one of the most pivotal yet precarious moments of the Peloponnesian War: the Peace of Nicias. After a decade of bitter conflict between Athens and Sparta, the year 421 BCE brought a glimmer of hope for peace. Named after the Athenian general and statesman who negotiated it, the Peace of Nicias was a formal attempt to halt hostilities. But was it truly a step toward reconciliation or merely a pause bef...
90: Clash at Amphipolis (00:38:07)
Witness the dramatic power play between two iconic city-states as we pull back the curtain on the strategic chess match that was the conflict over Amphipolis. Could the overconfidence of Athenian generals have been their downfall against the cunning maneuvers of Spartan general Brasidas? This episode promises insights into the mind games and tactical genius that unfolded, unraveling how Brasidas turned the tables on Athens with diplomacy and strategy, charting an unexpected course through the...
89: The Tenuous Truce (00:41:06)
What if the triumphs of a powerful city could gradually slip away? In this episode of Casting Through Ancient Greece, we explore how Athens' dominance began to erode, not through immediate disaster, but through a series of missteps and lost opportunities. Once at the height of its military and political influence, Athens' advantage waned as strategic errors and unsuccessful campaigns chipped away at its position. From remarkable victories, such as the capture of over 120 Spartiates, to ...
88: Brasidas' Thracian Adventure (00:40:59)
What if one man's daring ambition could change the entire course of a war? In our latest episode, we dive into the dramatic events of 424 BC during the Peloponnesian War, spotlighting the audacious Spartan general Brasidas. We’ll recount Athens' initial victories, like the fortification at Pylos and the shocking Spartan surrender at Sphacteria, and their setbacks, including the failed attempts to control Megara and Boeotia and the devastating loss at the Battle of Delium. Follow Brasidas as ...
87: Megara & Delium (00:40:39)
How did Athenian victories at Pylos and Sphacteria become the turning point in the Peloponnesian War? Discover how these pivotal moments forced Sparta to rethink their entire strategy and seek diplomatic solutions. We explore the newfound aggression in Athenian tactics as they aimed to isolate Sparta by targeting its allies, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of ancient Greece. Uncover the dramatic and covert plans of Athenian generals Demosthenes and Hippocrates as they attempted to...
86: Shifting Dynamics (00:41:13)
Ever wondered how a single year could turn the tide in a protracted war? This episode takes you deep into the seventh year of the Peloponnesian War, uncovering the critical strategies and events that reshaped the conflict. As we shift our focus to the campaigning season of 425 BC, the narrative gets even more gripping. Discover how Athens leveraged treachery and strategic brilliance to capture Anactunorium and gain control over the Peloponnesian fleet. The collapse of Spartan military presti...
85: Surrender at Sphacteria (00:43:07)
The Athenian expedition to Sicily was an unexpected chapter in the Peloponnesian War, characterized by strategic missteps and unforeseen outcomes. As the Athenian fleet set out to aid their allies in Sicily against Syracuse, they found themselves caught in the whirlwind of war that stretched across the Greek world. From the Athenian prisoners on Sphacteria to the civil unrest in Corcyra, each event cascaded into the next, shaping the trajectory of the war. The delayed arrival of Athenian rein...
84: In Search of Victory (00:42:21)
Step back in time with me, Mark Selleck, as we trace the footsteps of Athenian generals post-Pericles, navigating the perilous landscape of public dissent and audacious military campaigns. The death of Pericles marked a significant pivot in Athenian strategy, and we'll peel back the layers of this tumultuous era, scrutinizing the aggressive maneuvers that propelled the city-state into the contentious Sicilian expedition. On the Spartan side, delve into the mysteries shrouding King Plistoanax'...
83: Athens Sails West (00:41:07)
Embark on a voyage through the tempestuous waters of ancient Sicilian politics, where our narrative charts the ascendancy of Syracuse amidst a maelstrom of democracies emerging from tyrannical ruins. Unearth the seismic shifts in Athenian foreign policy that set a fleet towards Sicily's shores, seeking to weave a web of influence that could ensnare the Peloponnesian war machine. Witness the Athenian fleet, under the command of Laches and Charoeades, as it threads through the Mediterranean, c...
Episode Update: March 2024 (00:10:14)
As we gather today to mark a remarkable journey through the annals of Greek history, I am filled with gratitude and excitement. Together, we've traversed 83 episodes, spanning the rich tapestry of Greece from its nascent days to the dramatic onset of the Peloponnesian War. Looking ahead, I'm thrilled to contemplate the untold stories that may unfold beyond Alexander the Great's demise. It's a testament to your engagement and curiosity that we're even considering this expansion of our historic...
82: Sicily Revisited (00:40:27)
Prepare to be transported to a Sicily that's both ancient and alive, where democracy's roots intertwine with the whispers of tyrants. On our historical odyssey, we'll traverse the landscapes of power, betrayal, and the unending quest for dominion. I promise an expedition into the heart of Sicilian intrigue, from the liberation of Syracuse to the theatrics of Hieron's tyranny, and the eventual emergence of revolutions that would forever alter the island's destiny. Our narrative begins in the ...
