Virgil's Purple Prose? No, definitely not, but the Aeneid is replete with interesting uses of the word 'purpureus' and in this episode we look at purple as a colour of beauty, death, danger and eroticism - as well as shades of gold and the mystery of Lavinia's blush! đ Did you know that the colour purple in ancient Rome was a symbol of power and decadence but its origins are Phoenician? Camilla is our bonus feature this week: to listen to our bonus content, become a CA member today and head to our member area: â â â â â https://classicalassociation.org/join-us/â â â â â Watch on â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â â to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-classics-podcastâ â â â â Browse Caroline's work: â â â â â â â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â â â â â â â Podcast theme music by â â â â â â â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â â â â â â â . Learn â â â â â â â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â â â â â â â  here.
Is the Aeneid fundamentally a melancholy poem? We revisit the Optimists and Pessimists whilst looking at examples of 'tears' and weeping, learning about the scholar Adam Parry, exploring Virgilâs use of apostrophes and brilliant half-lines, and taking a proper look at the closing scene of book 12, when Aeneas is enraged by sorrow to commit a terrible act...Enter our Verse and Voice Competition Read Adam Parry's article hereTo listen to our bonus content, become a CA member today and head to our member area: â â â â https://classicalassociation.org/join-us/â â â â Watch on â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-classics-podcastâ â â â Browse Caroline's work: â â â â â â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â â â â â â Podcast theme music by â â â â â â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â â â â â â . Learn â â â â â â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â â â â â â  here.
In this episode, politics come to the forefront as Katrina explains the historical context to Augustus' principate and the grizzly proscriptions (cw: violence) and Caroline explains two different schools of thought about Virgil's poetic intentions: the Optimists and the Pessimists.To listen to our bonus content, become a CA member today and head to our member area: â â â https://classicalassociation.org/join-us/â â â Watch on â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â â â â â â â â â â â https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-classics-podcastâ â â Browse Caroline's work: â â â â â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â â â â â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â â â â â Podcast theme music by â â â â â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â â â â â . Learn â â â â â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â â â â â  here.
Was Aeneas a pious Faithful or a deceptive Traitor? Caroline and Katrina explore the importance of 'pietas' in the Aeneid, spill the tea on the latest episodes of Celebrity Traitors and discuss morality and heroism - is Aeneas perhaps more like Odysseus than we think?To listen to our bonus content, become a CA member today and head to our member area: â â https://classicalassociation.org/join-us/â â Watch on â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â â â â â â â â https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-classics-podcastâ â Browse Caroline's work: â â â â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â â â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â â â â Podcast theme music by â â â â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â â â â . Learn â â â â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â â â â  here.
Itâs Spooky Season and so this weekâs episode is a trip to the Underworld, as imagined by Virgil in Aeneid Book VI. But what does âViscumâ mean? A 'parasitic plant' (no, that's not a new description of Aeneas!) and have you ever heard of 'birdlime'? What links Meleager and Virgil? Would you trust the Sibyl? What's Platoâs The Myth of Er got to do with it, and which talisman would you take? To listen to our bonus content, become a CA member today and head to our member area: â https://classicalassociation.org/join-us/â Watch on â â â â YouTubeâ â â â to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â â â â â https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-classics-podcastâ Browse Caroline's work: â â â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â â â Podcast theme music by â â â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â â â . Learn â â â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â â â  here.
It's our Dido episode at last! In Book 4 Line 69 Virgil describes Dido as a 'cerva' - a 'doe', wounded by an arrow in one of his most impressive and ambiguous similes. But who is to blame in their 'doomed' relationship? We examine some other similes from books 1 and 4, with Aeneas as hunter (is he unknowing or just careless?) and Dido as Diana. Caroline has an interesting theory about 'the horse in the bedroom' and we talk funeral pyres, everlasting curses, young Ascanius, and a hunting dog...To listen to our bonus content, become a CA member today and head to our member area: https://classicalassociation.org/join-us/Watch on â â â YouTubeâ â â to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â â https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-classics-podcastBrowse Caroline's work: â â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â â Podcast theme music by â â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â â . Learn â â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â â  here.
We're sticking with the theme of song and Katrina explains the relevance of some of the minor characters in the Aeneid from Iopas the bard to the unfortunate Cretheus from book 9, with some comparisons to Homer and the oral tradition. Caroline has been revisiting the Muses - just why does Erato come to inspire Virgil? Watch on â â YouTubeâ â to view the texts at the same time. The Sounds of Ancient MusicListen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â â Join Usâ â â Browse Caroline's work: â â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â â Podcast theme music by â â â â Transistor.fmâ â â â . Learn â â â â how to start a podcastâ â â â  here.
Cano - 'I sing'! We're heading back to the beginning and in this episode, Caroline and Katrina explore the opening lines of the poem, translation difficulties, Aeneas' heroism, and find out more about Virgil the man - as well as themselves! Watch on â YouTubeâ to view the texts at the same time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â â Join Usâ â Browse Caroline's work: â â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â â â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ â Podcast theme music by â â â Transistor.fmâ â â . Learn â â â how to start a podcastâ â â  here.
Following straight on from our last episode, we're finding thresholds in Books 5-8 - featuring footraces, fatherly mentors, a fearsome Fury and The Shining. Tell us your favourite 'crossing the threshold' moments on screen or on the page! And watch on YouTube to view the texts at the same time. Up Next: Cano, 'I sing'Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: â Join Usâ Browse Caroline's work: â https://carolinelawrence.com/â â Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsâ â Read the Aeneid in Latin and Englishâ The Steadman commentariesPodcast theme music by â â Transistor.fmâ â . Learn â â how to start a podcastâ â  here.
Starting with the word for 'threshold', Katrina and Caroline explore storytelling techniques and the stages of the Hero's Journey; the links between Paddington Bear and Aeneas; and dalliances with death, talismans, chihuahuas and K Pop Demon Hunters! Watch now on YouTube for the accompanying slides and make sure to come back for Part 2 of this bumper episode.In each episode, inspired by a particular word, Katrina and Caroline explore characters, themes and poetic techniques, their favourite Virgilian similes, hear the sounds of ancient languages, and dive into the rich imagery and literary heritage of the Aeneid. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and find out more about the CA: Join UsBrowse Caroline's work: https://carolinelawrence.com/Enjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsRead the Aeneid in Latin and EnglishPodcast theme music by â Transistor.fmâ . Learn â how to start a podcastâ  here.
In this brand new series, TCP host Katrina Kelly is joined by bestselling author Caroline Lawrence, to discuss Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid. Inspired by a particular word (this week it's lumen, 'light') that acts as a springboard for each episode, Katrina and Caroline explore characters, themes and poetic techniques, their favourite Virgilian similes, hear the sounds of ancient languages, and dive into the rich imagery and literary heritage of the Aeneid. In Episode 1, they jump straight to Book 8 - in medias res, as Virgil would say - and a simile that has caught Caroline's attention. They'll discuss wheelie bins and copper bowls, Aeneas' shield, the theories of intromission and focalisation, Apollonius of Rhodes, time travel, and a very hard stare...Listen to more TCP episodes and catch us on YouTubeFind out about the Classical AssociationBrowse Caroline's workEnjoy the rest of the series and our reading suggestionsRead the Aeneid in Latin and EnglishPodcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.
We have a bonus episode for you... what better way to close out Season 2 than with an interview with one of the most fascinating people we've ever met - Baroness Black. Sue, as she prefers, is a trailblazing scientist and a champion for education and, indeed classical subjects. After graduating from the University of Aberdeen in human anatomy and forensic anthropology, Sue has had a varied and distinguished academic career, lecturing in Anatomy at St Thomasâ Hospital London and working as a consultant in forensic anthropology for both the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, undertaking forensic investigations in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Grenada. She was the lead forensic anthropologist during the international war crimes investigations in Kosovo and in 2024, she was appointed to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scotland. Sue is currently the President of St John's College, Oxford and a crossbencher peer in the House of Lords, where she is a part of the Classics All Party Parliamentary Group. In this episode, she explains to Katrina what a Day in the Life is like for a Peer and President of an Oxbridge college, talks about the careers classicists go into, her own experiences with forensic archaeology, her love for Roman roads, and using her Latin in everyday life!Find out more about the APPG hereFind more episodes of â â â Classics and Careers â â â Follow the Classics Podcast onâ â â â â â â â â Instagram â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â â â â â â â to access discounts, events and moreFollow the CA on â â â â â â â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â â â â â And lots more at â â â â â â â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ â
In the final episode of Season 2, Katrina chats to Mary-Ann Ochota, author of Hidden Histories and Secret Britain, anthropologist, broadcaster and President of the Countryside Charity. You might recognise Mary-Ann from Time Team or as a documentary maker and presenter for the BBC World Service.They discuss early adventures, her university experience, her favourite archaeological sites, and how she got into the world of broadcasting, from work experience to the freelance hustle. Mary-Ann's websiteListen to Ancient Greek Music being performedFind more episodes of â â Classics and Careers â â Follow the Classics Podcast onâ â â â â â â â Instagram â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â â â â â â to access discounts, events and moreFollow the CA on â â â â â â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â â â â And lots more at â â â â â â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ â The views and opinions in expressed are those of the interviewee and not necessarily of the Classical Association
Tom Davey, RADA trained actor, talks to Katrina about his favourite roles, playing in an adaptation of Antigone at the Edinburgh Fringe, his company Bright Torches inspiring young people and the power of storytelling to build resilience. Find out more about Bright Torches and on our blogFind more episodes of â Classics and Careers â Follow the Classics Podcast onâ â â â â â â Instagram â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â â â â â to access discounts, events and moreFollow the CA on â â â â â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â â â And lots more at â â â â â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ The views and opinions in expressed are those of the interviewee and not necessarily of the Classical Association
In this episode, Katrina talks to Dr Nimisha Shephard-Patel, a fundraising manager for the Hyde Group, who also has a doctorate in Classics from King's College London. Nimi highlights the importance of curiosity and asking questions, discusses how she was inspired by one classicist in particular, and talks about her own experiences of neurodiversity in education. Find more episodes of Classics and Careers Follow Nimi on LinkedInFollow the Classics Podcast onâ â â â â â Instagram â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â â â â to access discounts, events and moreWatch the CA's â â â â â â â â Anniversary Filmâ â â â â â â â  feat. a host of famous faces!Follow the CA on â â â â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â â And find out more at â â â â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ
From pulling pints to interviewing world experts, Erica tells Katrina how MoAn Inc was born, how she went from hating Latin to fangirling with Emily Wilson and Stephen Fry. She reveals the secrets behind some of her most popular videos, her plans for the future, and we have a very personal shoutout to one particular authorâŚPierce Brown we see you! Erica Stevenson is a self described 'Classicist Head Nerd' who was named on HistoryExtra's 30 Under 30 List in 2024. Since graduating from New York University in 2017 she's been a growing, vibrant creator in the classics sphere and has amassed large followings on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Follow Erica on YouTube and InstagramFollow the Classics Podcast onâ â â â â Instagram â â â â â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â â â to access discounts, events and moreWatch the CA's â â â â â â â Anniversary Filmâ â â â â â â  feat. a host of famous faces!Follow the CA on â â â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â â And find out more at â â â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ
In this episode, Katrina talks to former BBC Young Dancer of the Year (Contemporary), Matthew Rawcliffe, who is combining his love for dance and ancient art to retell myths such as Narkissos and Hades & Persephone for new audiences. Listen to other episodes in our â Careers series hereâ SHOW NOTESWatch Matthew's Final performance from 2022 Young Dancer of the Year and follow Matthew on InstagramMatthew's website and his current work on Hades and PersephoneMatthew's project is part-funded by a CA Grant - find out more about our scheme hereTickets for the last show on 21 February 2025Enjoy â â highlightsâ â from the 2004 Athens Olympics Opening Ceremony Follow us onâ â â â Instagram â â â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â â to access discounts, events and moreWatch the CA's â â â â â â Anniversary Filmâ â â â â â  feat. a host of famous faces!Follow the CA on â â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â â And find out more at â â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ
CW: in this episode, Rhodessa does talk about difficult themes including ab*se and dr*g-taking; the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA. Performer, teacher, director Rhodessa Jones is Co-Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed, performance company Cultural Odyssey. She founded and directs The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women, an award-winning performance workshop committed to the personal and social transformation of women. In this fascinating episode, she tells the story of her work and how it has been interwoven with classical themes; how the minotaur is paralleled in American society; the project 'Baby Medea'; dramatic performances in Russia; and her creative inspiration. Find out more about the Medea Project and Rhodessa here For Nancy Rabinowitz's work: Queering the Past(s) Follow us onâ â â Instagram â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â to access discounts, events and more Watch the CA's â â â â â Anniversary Filmâ â â â â  feat. a host of famous faces! Follow the CA on â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â And find out more at â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ
Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History and the Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research and our 2024 CA Prizewinner shares why he thinks the ancient world is important. He and Katrina talk about what Byzantine studies involves, his interest in texts like the Alexiad , the place that resonates with him the most, his love for libraries, and why you should enter our CA Competition! Enter our Write | Speak | Design Competition Nominate your winner for the 2025 CA Prize Listen to Peter and Afua on Legacy Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA. Follow us onâ â â Instagram â â â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â â to access discounts, events and more Watch the CA's â â â â â Anniversary Filmâ â â â â  feat. a host of famous faces! Follow the CA on â â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â â And find out more at â â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ
For the first time, Katrina welcomes three guests to the podcast with illustrators and classicists, Dr Cora Beth Fraser, Laura Jenkinson-Brown (aka Greek Myth Comix) and Flora Kirk sharing their perspectives on bringing the ancient world to life through art; their early encounters with classics; the influence of AI; the birth of ClassicsTober; being inspired by texts; and just how cold mural painting can be! Enter the CA's prize draw and you could win a voucher for Flora, Laura or Cora-Beth's shops on Redbubble: Greek Myth Comix Florah TheCobra Check out their work - GMC, FK, CBF - and enjoy the rest of our Classics and Careers series. Find Katrina, Flora and Laura on Cora Beth's Comfort Classics. Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA. Follow us onâ â Instagram â â â â â â Join the Classical Associationâ â â â to access discounts, events and more Watch the CA's â â â â Anniversary Filmâ â â â  feat. a host of famous faces! Follow the CA on â â â â Instagram (podcast), â â â â â â â â LinkedIn, â â â â â â â â Facebook, â â â â â â â â Twitter, â â â â â â â â YouTubeâ â â â And find out more at â â â â classicalassociation.orgâ