The Greek Myth Files

In this episode we treat the hero's life outside the Iliad, his unusual conception, his parents, and his time under the tutelage of the Centaur Cheiron.

In this episode we cover the mustering of the forces at Aulis, Agamemnon’s great mistake, and the resulting sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia.

We dive into the fascinating character Alexander, also known as Paris. After an, um, interesting youth, he judged the goddesses, was reunited with his parents, seduced the Greek Helen, fought in the Trojan War and (somehow) killed the great Greek hero Achilles before himself falling to Philoctetes.

In this episode, we tackle the figure of Helen, daughter of Leda and Zeus, who causes the Trojan War because of her infidelity.

In this episode, we give an overview of the Trojan War and its importance in ancient Greek culture. We cover the ancient sources, the epic cycle, the importance of Homer, the *first* sack of Troy by Heracles (and the Trojan king Laomedon), and the first failed attempt of the Greeks to even find Troy and their eventual discovery of a guide to lead them to the actual location of the city. It was one very messed up war.

We dive into the life of the so-called "Greater Ajax," son of Telamon, of the island Salamis, great warrior at Troy whose tragic end is told by the great playwright Sophocles.

Credits Written and Narrated: Professor R. Scott Smith Voice Acting: Raina Burke Original Art: Beatrice Mattison (see below) Music: Brooklyn Tea, Jared Sims

We break down the myth of Daphne ("Laurel") and her transformation and explore the various locations in which the myth is set—a good example of a "floating" myth.

Written and Directed: R. Scott Smith Special Guest: Gregory McMahon, Professor, Classics, Humanities and Italian Studies, University of New Hampshire Voice Actors: A.J. O’Neil and Julia Sommer Student Artist: Maggie Melendez Music: Jared Sims (Brooklyn Tea)

In this episode, we explore the meaning of monster, some of the monsters of the ancient Greek and Roman world, and discuss some of the ways monsters work in ancient Greek myth. At the center of this episodes is an interview with Debbie Felton, Professor of Classics at the University of Massachusetts—Amherst. She's an expert on the super- and preternatural world.

In this episode we follow the Argonauts on their winding voyage from Colchis to their home in Thessaly. Medeia, the young daughter of King Aietes, comes center stage to save the Argonauts' bacon. And, after they arrive home, Medeia helps Jason enact revenge against the usurper, King Pelias.

In this episode, we follow the Argo and the Argonauts from Thessaly to the Bosporus, where they meet the famous Clashing Rocks. Along the way we cover four other events: the Lemnian Women, the tragic death of Cyzicus, Polydeuces' defeat of Amycus in a boxing match, and Phineus and the Harpies.

In this episode we learn about the ship named Argo and her crew as Jason prepares his voyage to reclaim the Golden Fleece. Was the Argo the first ship? What was special about this vessel? Find out on this episode of the Greek Myth Files.