Epic Greek History

37 Episodes

Reverse

War Is Hades: Five Battles that Kept Greece Greek

2026-11-0101:04:32

In 480 BCE, King Xerxes invaded Greece with a force that dwarfed the city-state militias. Against all odds, the Greeks won. In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through five key battles in a war that had profound implications for the development of Greek culture. For visuals illustrating aspects of the second Persian War, check out Episode 36 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com. Reading Suggestions Herodotus, Histories 7.175—9.122 Plutarch, Life of Themistocles and Life of A...

Mr X or Xerxes, We Hardly Knew Ye

2026-10-1525:30

To the Greeks, Xerxes was a malevolent despot who tried and failed to enslave them. At the other extreme, Xerxes portrayed himself as a righteous king whose rule was blessed by the great god Ahuramazda. In this episode, host Scott Emmons looks at Xerxes from both Greek and Persian angles in order to get a more rounded picture of this enigmatic monarch. For visuals illustrating aspects of this topic, check out Episode 35 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com. Reading Suggestions: Maria Brosius, A H...

Waiting for Goliath: The Years After Marathon

2026-10-0155:10

After the Athenian victory at Marathon, it was only a matter of time before the Persians would return in greater force. In this episode, host Scott Emmons leads you through a decade of political developments in Athens, the Persian king Xerxes’ preparations for a massive invasion, and the formation of a Hellenic alliance that committed to the defense of Greece. For visuals illustrating aspects of this topic, check out Episode 34 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com. Portrait bust of Themisto...

Based on a True Story: Legends of Marathon

2026-09-1515:39

The Battle of Marathon quickly morphed from history to legend. In this episode, host Scott Emmons describes how tales of the battle grew ever taller over time. For visuals illustrating the legendary character of the battle (some not mentioned in the podcast), check out Episode 33 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com. Reading Suggestions: Tom Holland, Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West “Greece: The Battle of Marathon” at World Archaeology Owen Rees, “Did Pheidi...

The Persians are Coming! Showdown at Marathon

2026-09-0152:02

The battle of Marathon was the first great confrontation between mainland Greeks and Persian forces. The Athenian victory over a numerically superior force gave the citizens a heightened confidence that carried them through the next Persian invasion and fueled their cultural achievements of the 5th century BCE. In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through the events leading up to this climactic battle. For maps an other visuals illustrating this topic, check out Episode 32 at www.e...

#box-pro-ellipsis-179431224713778{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}Epic Greek History