What did the armor of Achilles really look like?
The armor that Achilles wore during the Trojan War plays an important part in his legend. So what do we know about Achilles’ armor and how do the various depictions stack up against the mythological descriptions?
Road Trip in Greece 2022
I’ve wanted to visit Greece since I started reading about its ancient history years ago, but between getting married, having a kid, COVID-19, changing jobs, etc. it kept getting put off. Finally, my wife Katy and I found a window to make it happen in October of 2022. Here are photos, notes, recommendations, and more.
#16 - The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece (w/ Paul Cartledge)
Thebes was once the most powerful city-state in Greece, but it has largely been overshadowed in popular culture by Athens and Sparta. Historian Paul Cartledge and I discuss the rise and fall of Thebes, and what impact it made on the ancient world.
#15: Who were the REAL Heroes of Early Greece? (w/ Josho Brouwers)
Who were the warriors of early Greece? Were they like the heroes depicted in the Homeric epics? Or completely different? Was there even a Trojan War at all? Greek warfare expert Josho Brouwers joins us to answer these questions and many more.
#14: Mysteries of the Bronze Age & Trojan War (with Eric Cline)
What caused the mysterious collapse of so many civilizations in the 12th century BCE? Did the Trojan War really happen? Were Achilles and Helen real people? Eric Cline, one of the world's leading ancient historians and archaeologists, helps answer these questions and more in the latest episode of Ancient Heroes.
Were Achilles and Patroclus lovers?
It’s one of the big questions of Greek mythology that continues to be debated thousands of years later: were Achilles and Patroclus lovers? Or just platonic friends?
What makes a Greek hero?
What made this Heroic Age special and why do we still know the stories of so many heroes today? Who were these heroes?
Alexander the Great's 3 Heroes
Alexander the Great has long been associated with the mythic heroes of ancient Greece. In many ways, it seems like he was one himself - the only difference being that we have proof Alexander actually lived.
Alexander the Great and the Secrets of Zeus-Ammon
Alexander's desire to visit the oracle of a god known as Zeus-Ammon led to one of the strangest and most mysterious chapters of his life.
How Did Achilles Die?
This question, which I discovered on Quora last night, seems very straightforward. However, Achilles is a figure of myth, rather than history. Like many mythological figures, the stories about him evolved over time and contain discrepancies.
whiplash and the quest for greatness
Fletcher doesn't consider his teaching style abuse. He considers it the only means to bringing out greatness in his students. According to him, the worst thing you can tell a student is "good job", because positive praise like this fosters a sense of complacency. For Fletcher, struggle and humiliation are the ultimate motivators.
making sense of a hero's motivation
Perhaps no mythological figure has aroused more controversy, both in ancient and modern times, than the Thessalian warrior Achilles. In this article, I try to make sense of the somewhat contradictory interpretations of Achilles' motivation for returning to battle during the Trojan War.