Ithaca Bound

Religion in Old Kingdom Egypt w. Dr Fayza Haikal

The Old Kingdom was not only a period that's known for its pyramids, but also its pantheon of deities. Professor Emerita Fayza Haikal, The American University in Cairo, joins the show to share what religion was like in the Old Kingdom of Egypt.

Amarna w. Dr Thais Rocha da Silva

In the 14th century BCE, Pharaoh Akhenaten controversially moved the capital of Egypt to Amarna (what contemporaries called Akhetaten). Dr Thais Rocha da Silva, University of São Paulo & Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, joins the show to talk about what the city was like.

Writing in Cyprus During the Late Bronze Age w. Dr Philippa Steele

The writing system used on the Island of Cyprus during the Late Bronze Age is known by the neologism, Cypro-Minoan. Dr Philippa Steele, University of Cambridge, joins the show to explain what's known about it.

Linear B w. Dr. Dimitri Nakassis

Linear B is the writing system that was used by the civilization(s) known as the Mycenaeans. Professor and Chair of the Department of Classics at the University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Dimitri Nakassis, joins the show to discuss this Late Bronze Age writing system.

Samnites in the 5th Century BCE w. Dr Rafael Scopacasa

The Samnites were a group of communities from the central Apennine Mountains who shared certain traits and that predominantly appear in the historical sources in the second half of the first millennium BCE. Historian, Dr Rafael Scopacasa, returns to the show to discuss what scholars know about the Samnites in fifth century BCE.

Almoravid Empire‘s Hegemony in the Mediterranean w. Professor Amira K. Bennison

In the 11th and 12th centuries, the Almoravid Empire held vast amounts of territory in northern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, and capitalized their state in Marrakesh. Professor Amira K. Bennison, University of Cambridge, joins the show to discuss their reign.

Greek Calendars in the 1st Millennium BCE w. Dr. Alexander Jones

Greek calendars, in the first millennium BCE, were plentiful and varied. Professor Alexander Jones, New York University, joins the show to explain ancient calendars in this period and region of the Mediterranean.

Early Greek Literacy w. Dr Adam Schwartz

After an evidential hiatus of a few hundred years, an alphabet arrived in Greece, and with it, literacy. Dr Adam Schwartz, University of Copenhagen, returns to the show to talk about early literacy in Greece.

Urban Life in Catalonia in the 14th Century w. Dr Jeff Fynn-Paul

The Principality of Catalonia encompassed Barcelona, and in the fourteenth century, was part of the Crown of Aragon. Dr Jeff Fynn-Paul, Leiden University, joins the show to talk about what urban life was like in this part of the Mediterranean Basin in the period.

Infrastructure in Late Ancient Pompeii w. Dr. Eric Poehler

Pompeii presents an opportunity to understand the dynamics of city infrastructure better in the ancient period. Professor Eric Poehler, University of Massachusetts Amherst, joins the show to explore Pompeii's infrastructure in the later period of its existence.