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 ATLANTIS

The Lost City of Atlantis is one of the most recognizable notions from the ancient Greek world.

The idea of Atlantis: an ancient, almost prehistoric technologically advanced island lost to the depths of the sea, has captivated the world for centuries. Maritime archaeological discoveries are attributed to Atlantis and searches for the lost city are widely publicized. For centuries Atlantis has been considered everything from myth to history to a vast conspiracy of archaeological subterfuge when in fact it’s none of those things… but the truth is much more interesting. 

In this special three week series Liv breaks down the ancient sourcing on the story of Atlantis and speaks with archaeologists to provide listeners with in depth knowledge of the lost city of Atlantis both in terms of archaeological facts and ancient sources, and how modern notions of Atlantis and similar ideas harm the study of ancient history and archaeology. 

Part 1:

Deconstructing Atlantis: Finding Atlantis in the Depths of Plato’s Imagination

The story of Atlantis has fascinated the world for centuries... But how many of us know where the story came from, or what is actually included in the original source? Episode one of Deconstructing Atlantis dives into the story of Atlantis as it exists in the Timaeus and Critias.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

Conversation:

From the Known to the Unknown, Atlantis vs. Mediterranean Archaeology w/ Flint Dibble

Liv speaks with researcher Flint Dibble all about the archaeology of the Mediterranean, what we know about Plato's Atlantis, and more importantly: what we know about Athens from the Bronze Age and earlier! Twitter threads mentioned in the episode: Atlantis in current pop culture, the dangers of Atlantis "lore", erotic vases.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

Part Two:

What Makes a Myth? Plato’s Allegorical Atlantis

We've heard the original source for Atlantis, but why is it that Plato's Timaeus and Critias can't be termed "myths"? If it isn't a myth, how do we know that there isn't some history behind it? This episode details what we do know about Plato's Atlantis and what that proves.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

Conversation:

Deus Ex Alien, Ancient Realities vs. Pseudoarchaeology w/ David S. Anderson

Liv speaks with archaeologist David S. Anderson about the concept, and harm, of pseudoarchaeology. Why it matters to promote false notions of alien intervention and the study of the very real ancient people of the world is much more important.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

BONUS!

Kassandra Meets Poseidon, Atlantis in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey w/ Kira Jones

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is known for its accuracy... so where did it get Atlantis? Liv speaks with returning guest Dr. Kira Jones all about the world of Assassin's Creed Atlantis. Spoilers for all of AC Odyssey, particularly the Atlantis DLC, obviously.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

Part Three:

Platonic Allegory Meets Bronze Age Reality Meets Dangerous Conspiracy

Just because Plato's Atlantis was never intended to convey history doesn't meant it didn't have some historical inspiration in the form of a Bronze Age natural disaster... Plus: how did Atlantis become what it is today and where do these dangerous ideas come from?

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

Conversation:

The Conspiracy & Conspirituality of Atlantis w/ Steph Halmhofer

Liv speaks with archaeologist Steph Halmhofer about conspiracy and conspirituality in archaeology and pseudoarchaeology, Atlantis and its dangerous development into what it is today, and more.

CW/TW: brief mention of Canadian Residential Schools and recent and ongoing discovery of graves.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

BONUS:

But What About Milo?! Disney’s Atlantis The Lost Empire w/ Leesa Charlotte

Just because the "search" for Atlantis is supremely dangerous and problematic doesn't mean we can't continue to love Milo and his rag tag team! Liv tells Leesa Charlotte of Sweetbitter and Cult America all about the truths and lies behind Disney's Atlantis.

Listen on Apple Podcast, or Spotify

Q&A:

Why Isn't it a Myth? & What Makes Atlantis What It is

Liv answers listener questions about Atlantis, and reads all your comments and observations about this messy, messy non-mythological idea.

Listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify

Conversations:

Getting Trapped in Plato's Web... Timaeus, Atlantis, & Hesiodic Myth w/ Kaitlyn Boulding

We're going back to Plato and his Timaeus with Kaitlyn Boulding and it's absolutely fascinating. More context on Plato's work, on his story of Atlantis, and even how he connects with and mimics Hesiod.

Listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify

Further Reading and Sources

Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions. Special podcast artwork by Sara Richard.

 
 

 The Orphic Tradition

An attempt to explain and understand the Orphic Tradition, a bizarre offshoot of Greek mythology revolving around Orpheus as prophet, and which introducing a number of bizarre storylines, characters, and generally confusing nonsense. Yes, it's where Zagreus comes from.

Part 1

Don’t Look Back! The Mysterious Story of Orpheus & Eurydice

Orpheus and Eurydice are famous for their doomed love story, but it turns out Orpheus is also famous for, well, inventing an entire religion separate from the traditional ancient Greek mythology and practices?!

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcast

Part 2

There’s Life After Death, An Attempt to Understand the Orphic Tradition

What on Gaia's earth is the Orphic tradition? Liv attempts to break down this mysterious tradition that may or may not have been more of an ancient religion. And it all revolves around that famous Thracian singer, Orpheus.

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcast

PArt 3

Finally, We’re Talking About Zagreus, Are You Happy? The Orphic Thrice Born Dionysus

Zagreus, Zagreus, Zagreus. What a mess of a story. It's gross, it's weird, it's both an afterthought and supremely important. Welcome to the story of thrice born Dionysus, better known as Zagreus.

CW/TW: **this episode includes particularly egregious assault and incest, even for Greek myth**

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcast

Part 4

Born From a Cosmic Egg, You Say? More Orphic Tradition Horrors & Oddities

In this final episode on the Orphic tradition we look at some weird and wild alternate theogonies, the so-called Orphic gold tablets, and the Orphic hymns. Yes, it's a lot.

CW/TW: **this episode includes particularly egregious assault and incest, even for Greek myth**

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcast

 
 

The Spartan Mirage

 A special series of episodes, available wherever you get your podcasts... Spartan myth, history, culture, and more, accompanied by conversations with some of the top experts in ancient Sparta and ancient military practices, along with the more troubling modern notions of Sparta...

Part 1

Why Is Sparta So Weird? Ancient Sparta & The Spartan Mirage

In this introduction to the new series on ancient Sparta and the Spartan Mirage, Liv gives a rundown on the history of Archaic and Classical Sparta, truths and misconceptions.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Conversations:

Pausanias in the Peloponnese, Spartan Myth & Culture w/ Dr. Maria Pretzler

Liv is joined by Maria Pretzler, a professor of Classics who specializes in mythology and the writings of Pausanias. They talk about the culture of the Peloponnese, what we learn from the late travel writer Pausanias, the mythology of ancient Sparta.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Part 2

Very Extravagant Rich People, Ancient Sparta & The Spartan Mirage

We're talking all things Spartan culture: all the things made them Spartan, set them apart from the rest of the Greek world.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Conversations:

The Classic Blunder! 'Never get involved in a land war [with Sparta], Spartan Military w/ Roel Konijnendijk

Liv speak with Roel Konijnendijk who teaches at Oxford and specializes in ancient Greek warfare. Roel covers Spartan warfare, what made them different, and not so different from the rest of the ancient Greek city-states.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Part 3

Mythology vs. Myth Making, From the Heracleidae to Thermopylae, Ancient Sparta & The Spartan Mirage

That's right it's time for actually, run of the mill mythology! Okay, it's Spartan so actually it's still pretty weird, and confusing... Because you know, Greek mythology. We're talking Children of Heracles and all the famous Spartans of the Homeric world. Plus, the myth-making that gave us 300.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Conversations:

Not the Fun Kind of Myths, De-Mystifying Spartan Tradition w/ Owen Rees

Liv speaks with Owen Rees, a professor and founder of Bad Ancient, about ancient Sparta, that Mirage, and how Sparta is viewed today by some of the most dangerous groups around.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Part 4

They Really Just Loved to Sing & Dance, Ancient Sparta & The Spartan Mirage

We're talking more of Sparta's history and culture including a (very brief!!) overview of the Persian and Peloponnesian wars and just a taste of Sparta during the Roman period, Lacedaimonia Land.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Conversations:

A Long and Storied History of Sparta, Modern Misuse & Misconception w/ Stephen Hodkinson

Liv speaks with Stephen Hodkinson, expert in all things Sparta. They discuss Sparta throughout history including its use in politics from the founding of the USA to Nazi Germany to modern day misuses of Spartan culture and history.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Part 4

Things Were Marginally Better for Them! The Women of Sparta

In this final episode of the Spartan series, Liv goes through the lives of Spartan women. From worshipping and dancing with Helen to having your brother in law's babies, Spartan women had interesting and unique lives.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Bonus!

Researching Sparta Was A Trip, Behind the Scenes w/ Michaela Smith

In this bonus episode, Liv speaks with Michaela Smith who handled the research for the special Sparta series. They talk about researching for the show, and the ancient world in general.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Conversations:

Singing the Songs of Sparta, Alcman’s First Partheneion w/ Julia Perroni

Liv speaks with fellow podcaster Julia Perroni about the (possibly) Spartan poet Alcman and his poem dedicated to the young women of Sparta, the First Partheneion.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast

Q&A!

Answering Those Lingering Spartan Questions

In a brief finale to the series on Sparta and the Spartan mirage, Liv answers lingering listener questions about that ancient city-state and its mythology.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast