Ithaca Bound

In the final series episode of the Ithaca Bound Podcast, Professor Ivana Petrovic, Department of Classics and Department Chair, University of Virginia, joins the show to explore what scholars know about the Greek pantheon.

Pottery in ancient Sparta was used for storage, shipping, communicating moral lessons, and more. Dr Adrien Delahaye, French School at Athens, joins the show to explore what scholars know about Spartan pottery in the Archaic and Classical periods.

Marseille is the oldest city in France but not the oldest French city. Professor Junko Takeda, Syracuse University, joins the show to speak about the period of time when Marseille became part of France.

In 1516, the Ottoman Empire took over the region of Syria from the Mamluk Empire. Professor Stefan Winter, Koç University & University of Quebec at Montreal, joins the show to discuss Ottoman Syria during the century.

Much happened in the 7th century during Umayyad’s prominence including two fitnas (commonly referred to as civil wars), printing coins, and the assembly of a navy. Dr. Antoine Borrut, University of Maryland, joins the show to discuss the caliphate's hegemony in the Mediterranean Basin in the 7th century.

Classical Athens had a principles-based legal system that echoes in many legal systems today. Emeritus Professor Edward Harris, University of Durham, makes a return appearance on the show to discuss what court trials were like in the Classical Athenian period.

Classical Sparta functioned for years with a body of citizens who passed laws while co-existing with two contemporaneously sitting kings (a diarchy). Dr Philip Davies, University of Nottingham, joins the show to explain how government functioned in the Classical Spartan period.

Bronze Age Palaikastro on the Island of Crete remarkably persisted for over two millennia, and peculiarly, may never have had a palatial building. Carl Knappett, a professor and department chair at the University of Toronto, joins the show to share what's known about this ancient Minoan urban centre.

Pompeii became largely uninhabited in the fifth century and began a repopulation process in the fourth. Ivo van der Graaff, Associate Professor, University of New Hampshire, Durham, returns to the show to discuss what was occurring in Pompeii during the fifth and fourth centuries BCE.

The Abbasid Caliphate existed for hundreds of years longer than its Islamic predecessors. Dr Harry Munt, University of York, returns to the show to explain their reign and longevity.

Dr Kathryn Lomas, Durham University, makes a fifth appearance on the show to share what scholars know about Carthage during the interregnum between the Second and Third Punic Wars.

Religion during the Ptolemaic Egypt period was complex and diverse. Dr Julietta Steinhauer, University College London, returns to the show to discuss what religion was like in Ptolemaic Egypt.

In Greek mythology, the region of Thessaly is home to centaurs, Achilles, Jason, and more. Professor Emma Aston, University of Reading, returns to the show to chat about Thessaly appearing in Greek mythology.

During the Late Bronze Age, the Cypriots had a variety of settlements, their own language, and were seafaring. Louise Steel, Professor, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, joins the show to share what civilization was like on the island during this period of time.

After the Bronze Age, life on the Island of Crete continued. Dr Saro Wallace, Senior Research Fellow, Gerda Henkel Research Foundation, joins the show to explain what civilization was like in this period of time on the island.

In the 10th century, in response to the growing presence of the Fatimid Caliphate in northern Africa, an Emir in Córdoba declared himself a Caliph, transforming the Emirate of Córdoba into a Caliphate. Professor Brian Catlos returns to the show to discuss the period in time when the Caliphate of Córdoba was formed.

In the 17th century, the people commonly known as the Hittites created a kingdom called Hattusa. Dr Mark Weeden, Associate Professor of Ancient Middle Eastern Languages, University College London, returns to the show to speak about the Kingdom of Hattusa in the 17th and 16th centuries BCE.

Rome and farming were inextricable. Professor Annalisa Marzano, University of Reading, joins the show to talk about how ancient Romans farmed.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Almohads operated an empire that stretched across much of the Maghreb and southern Iberia, and are known for such features as their level of bureaucracy and minting squared coins. Professor Amira K. Bennison, University of Cambridge, returns to the show to discuss the Almohads.

The Social War was a five-year war fought in the 1st century BCE (91-87) between the Roman Republic and many of its allied communities. Dr. Seth Kendall, Associate Professor, Georgia Gwinnett College, returns to the show to speak about the events in the third year of the war.