Synopsis: Part 2 of a two-part Spotlight series on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Galerius: refugee, herdsman, soldier, Caesar, Augustus, Tetrarch, conqueror, schemer, would-be ruler of the (Dacian?) Empire, and persecutor of the Christians. A rollicking Third Century romp inspired by my current residence in his former tetrarchal capital of Thessaloniki, Greece.
“Galerius…was born to wipe out the disgrace incurred by Valerian’s capture.” – The Historia Augusta
“Had I a hundred mouths, a hundred tongues, A voice of brass, and adamantine lungs, Not half the dreadful scene could I disclose.” – Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors
Episode Images:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S8_Images.pdf
References and Further Reading:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S8_References.pdf
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Episode S7 - Ascendo
Thursday, June 13, 2024 • Duration 31:28
Synopsis: Part 1 of a two-part Spotlight series on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Galerius: refugee, herdsman, soldier, Caesar, Augustus, Tetrarch, conqueror, schemer, would-be ruler of the (Dacian?) Empire, and persecutor of the Christians. A rollicking Third Century romp inspired by my current residence in his former tetrarchal capital of Thessaloniki, Greece.
“Galerius…(was) trained to arms in the severe school of Aurelian and Probus.” – Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
“In this wild beast there dwelt a native barbarity and a savageness foreign to Roman blood; and no wonder, for his mother was born beyond the Danube.” – Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors
Episode Images:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S7_Images.pdf
References and Further Reading:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S7_References.pdf
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Episode C23 - Eclipse
Sunday, July 9, 2023 • Duration 29:19
Synopsis: A siege by Adad-nirari’s subordinate, Nergal-Eresh, finally breaks the Damascene hold over southern Syria and Canaan. The Urartian kings Menua and Argishti press Assyria’s frontiers, even as they conquer and secure new territories in the Araxes River valley. In the reigns of Adad-nirari’s sons, the Empire is beset by plague, rebellions, and disturbing omens.
“Through the god Haldi’s power, Argishti, son of Menua, speaks: a city for my power I erected, and gave it the name of Argishtihinli. The land around was never inhabited, nothing was established here, therefore I have led four canals from the Manu river, I had vineyards and orchards established, I have done good things here. I am Argishti, son of Menua, powerful king, the great king, the king of the Land Biai, the Lord of the city of Tushpa.” – Inscription of Argishti of Urartu
Map of the Iron Age Near East:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Map_Near_East.jpg
Map of Iron Age Northern Syria:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Map_Syria.jpg
Map of Iron Age Southern Syria and Canaan:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Map_Canaan.jpg
Episode Images:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/C23_Images.pdf
References and Further Reading:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/C23_References.pdf
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Episode B20 – The God of Dusk
Friday, September 25, 2015 • Duration 26:50
Synopsis: The destruction of Jerusalem.
Shalim (semetic): Caananite god of dusk and the evening star, paired with Shahar, god of dawn and the morning star. Root of Hebrew shalom and Arabic salam(peace), associated with sunset and the completion of the workday. Related to the Caananite sun goddess Shapash, a possible manifestation of Shamash. An element in the names of King David’s sons Solomon and Absalom. Original guardian, patron and protective deity of Jerusalem.
“Before the fifteenth of July all Syria had sworn the same allegiance. Vespasian’s cause was now joined also by Sohaemus with his entire kingdom, whose strength was not to be despised, and by Antiochus who had enormous ancestral wealth, and was in fact the richest of the subject princes. Presently Agrippa, summoned from Rome by private messages from his friends, while Vitellius was still unaware of his action, quickly crossed the sea and joined the cause.” – Tacitus, The Histories, Book II
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Episode B19 – The Prefect
Friday, September 11, 2015 • Duration 26:04
Synopsis: Tiberius Julius Alexander throws Egypt’s backing behind Vespasian’s bid for the throne.
“Accordingly, in order to overthrow John (of Gischala), they determined to admit Simon (bar Giora), and earnestly to desire the introduction of a second tyrant into the city…Accordingly he, in an arrogant manner, granted them his lordly protection, and came into the city, in order to deliver it from the zealots. The people also made joyful acclamations to him, as their savior and their preserver; but when he was come in, with his army, he took care to secure his own authority, and looked upon those that had invited him in to be no less his enemies than those against whom the invitation was intended. And thus did Simon get possession of Jerusalem.” – Josephus, The Jewish War, Book IV, Chapter 9
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Episode B18 – The Josephus Problem
Friday, August 28, 2015 • Duration 28:29
Synopsis: Joseph ben Matityahu fought the Romans as a Jewish General before becoming a trusted advisor to the Flavians.
The Josephus Problem (mathematics): Given a group of n men arranged in a circle under the edict that every mth man will be executed going around the circle until only one remains, find the position L (n, m) in which you should stand in order to be the last survivor.
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Episode B17 – The Valley
Friday, June 26, 2015 • Duration 28:57
Synopsis: Nero crowns Tiridates King of Armenia. A succession of brutal and corrupt procurators set Judea on the path to revolt.
“Go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom (Gehenna), which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee…
Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;
They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind.
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter.” – Jeremiah 19:2-6
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Episode B16 – Burn
Friday, June 12, 2015 • Duration 28:16
Synopsis: The birth of Drusilla and Sohaemus’ son Gaius Julius Alexio. The Empire confronts the revolt of Boudica, renewed warfare in Armenia, and the Great Fire of Rome.
“Rome shall perish – write that word
In the blood that she has spilt;
Perish, hopeless and abhorr’d,
Deep in ruin as in guilt.” – William Cowper, Boadicea: An Ode
Map of Near East c. 64AD:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Near_East_64AD.jpg
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Episode B15 – God of the Mountain
Friday, May 29, 2015 • Duration 28:51
Synopsis: Drusilla marries the Emesene Priest-King Gaius Julius Sohaemus. Rome and Parthia go to war over Armenia.
“Our ancestors worshipped the Sun, and they were not that foolish.
It makes sense to revere the Sun and the stars, for we are their children.” – Carl Sagan
Syria and adjacent regions:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Syria_55AD.jpg
Emesene family tree:
https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/10_Emesenes_55AD.pdf
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Episode B14 – The Just
Friday, May 15, 2015 • Duration 26:50
Synopsis: The divorce of Felix and Drusilla. James and Paul struggle for the soul of early Christianity.
“And then it was that the sicarii, as they were called, who were robbers, grew numerous. They made use of small swords, not much different in length from the Persian acinacae, but somewhat crooked, and like the Roman sicae, as they were called; and from these weapons these robbers got their denomination; and with these weapons they slew a great many; for they mingled themselves among the multitude at their festivals, when they were come up in crowds from all parts to the city to worship God, as we said before, and easily slew those that they had a mind to slay.” – Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Chapter 8
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