Best Greek And Persian Wars Podcasts (2025)

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Wondery Presents: How to Survive Against the Odds 6:02

Play Pause

16h ago6:02

6:02

Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds—learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brink How to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores the physiological responses of the human body under unbearable condi…

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AWA359 - Who are your go-to translators for your favourite texts? 8:53

4d ago8:53

8:53

In this episode, Murray Dahm tackles a listener question about the best translators for classical texts like Herodotus’s Histories. Are modern versions better? What’s the deal with Penguin’s Aubrey de Sélincourt vs. Tom Holland’s more recent take? Join us on Patron patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

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The Final Defeat of Hannibal Barca 40:32

5d ago40:32

40:32

More than any other individual, Hannibal defined the Second Punic War. But after his crushing victory at Cannae, Hannibal never again came so close to finishing off Rome. At Zama, in 202 BC, he finally met his match on the battlefield: Scipio Africanus. Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that S…

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Announcements: Next Tour, Seeking Video Editor, Connect on Social Media, Patreon update 3:52

9d ago3:52

3:52

Some announcements for those of you who care about what's happening at AGD behind the scenes...

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AWA358 - What was an oblique phalanx? 14:04

11d ago14:04

14:04

Matt from North Carolina writes 'Can you explain and describe what an oblique phalanx is and how it was used in war by Alexander the Great?' Join us on Patron patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

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Why Was Carthage Such a Threat to Rome? Interview with Dr. Bret Devereaux, Part 2 59:39

12d ago59:39

59:39

Dr. Bret Devereaux returns to the show to discuss why, exactly, Carthage was such a threat to the Roman Republic. The answer lies in the fact that more than any other state in the ancient world, Carthage most closely resembled Rome. Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in har…

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61 Who is Lantern Jack? (Doug Interviews Me) 1:04:24

12d ago1:04:24

1:04:24

I chat with friend and fellow podcaster Doug Metzger about how I first became fascinated with the ancient world and share some of the adventures I had on the way to getting a PhD in Classical Philosophy. ------------------ Support AGD on Patreon: patreon.com/greecepodcast ------------------ Timestamps [01:25] Why I started AGD [05:15] Why Stoicism …

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What´s New In History: The 40,000-Year-Old Maritime Revolution 16:16

13d ago16:16

16:16

Long before the Greeks launched triremes or the Egyptians built reed boats, ancient Southeast Asians were already mastering the sea. In this episode, Bernie and Dan dive into new archaeological findings that challenge the entire timeline of technological progress. Stone tools, deep-sea fish bones, and microscopic plant fibers tell the story of a fo…

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AWA357 - What was the least influential weapon on the ancient battlefield? 8:53

18d ago8:53

8:53

Ralph Kirby challenges Murray with an intriguing question: could the Polybolas be considered the least influential weapon on the ancient battlefield? Used by both the Successor Macedonian states and Rome, Kirby argues that the Polybolas might have even replaced the Scorpio as a legionary siege weapon. Join us on Patron patreon.com/ancientwarfarepod…

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The Rise of Scipio Africanus and the War in Iberia 39:22

19d ago39:22

39:22

Most of Rome's generals were competent but not outstanding, which was more than enough for a power with Rome's structural advantages. Yet the Second Punic War did produce one extraordinary military leader for Rome: Scipio Africanus, a scion of one of the city's most illustrious families. Today, we follow his rise, how it reflected Rome's aristocrat…

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216. 510s BC part 6: Legends Fall, Cities Burn, Tyrants Die 32:58

20d ago32:58

32:58

It’s a wild ride through the 510s BCE in Greece—where legends fall and the ground starts to shift beneath the ancient world. We kick things off at the Olympics of 512, where a new champion takes all three footraces and Milo of Crotone suffers his final Olympic defeat. But Milo isn’t done—he goes to war, becomes a symbol of Crotone’s might… and even…

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3.01 We Believe, aka Happy Birthday Nicene Creed (325CE-381CE) 56:03

21d ago56:03

56:03

In this episode Jonathon interviews guest Rev. Michael Carpenter about his new book "We Believe: How The Nicene Creed Can Deepen Your Faith." It's a fantastic episode, unfortunately Michael DOES dispel Jonathon's favorite myth about Santa Claus... For more info on "We Believe", check out Michael's webpage www.revmichaelcarpenter.com…

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94: Diplomacy by Force 40:33

24d ago40:33

40:33

What happens when military might meets diplomatic cunning? In the fragile years following the Peace of Nicias, a dangerous dance unfolds across Greece as former enemies circle each other warily, neither willing to strike first yet both preparing for inevitable conflict. Alcibiades emerges as Athens' bold strategist, orchestrating a brilliant campai…

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AW356 - New discoveries in Ancient Warfare 2025 37:36

25d ago37:36

37:36

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Magazine Podcast, the team explores groundbreaking archaeological discoveries from 2025 that are reshaping our understanding of ancient conflicts. From mass graves to reinterpreted royal tombs, these finds illuminate the strategies, societies, and struggles of the past. Join us on Patron patreon.com/ancientwar…

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Why Didn't Cannae Win the War for Hannibal? 39:16

26d ago39:16

39:16

Cannae was a crushing victory for Hannibal, but it didn't win the war for him. Why? The answer lies in the nature of the Roman political system, which prioritized resilience, manpower, and the diffusion of authority. Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in hardcopy, ebook, or…

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What´s New In History - Into Persia with Xenophon and Alex Petkas 1:03:32

27d ago1:03:32

1:03:32

We march into the Persian Empire with Xenophon and Alex Petkas to break down the opening of Anabasis—a story of betrayal, survival, and leadership born from failure. This isn't just ancient military drama; it’s a mirror for modern challenges: how to lead when no one else will, how to make decisions in chaos, and how to earn trust in a world of unce…

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AWA355 - Did small built-up areas play a role in ancient battlefields? 8:43

1M ago8:43

8:43

In more modern battles, small farm compounds like La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont played pivotal roles in the fighting. But in ancient warfare, we rarely see small villas or farmsteads having a similar impact on battles. Why is that? Were these features less significant in ancient combat, or are there examples where small built-up areas shaped the co…

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Experiencing the Battle of Cannae 37:11

1M ago37:11

37:11

The Battle of Cannae was the worst defeat Rome ever suffered, and one of the worst battlefield losses in history. What was it like to be there? We explore the battle from the perspective of a common Roman soldier and try to make sense of the unexplainable. Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years tha…

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215. 510s BC part 5 "Oye! Greeks!" 40:06

1M ago40:06

40:06

“If they are free men, they are the basest cravens in the world; but if they are slaves, none would love their masters more.” — Herodotus, on the Ionians A Persian army on the run. A desperate warning from the Scythians. And a group of Greek tyrants who choose despotism over defiance. In this episode, we follow the moment Darius I almost lost it al…

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AWA354 - Why did ancient armies have few ranged units compared to line infantry? 13:07

1M ago13:07

13:07

Long-time listener Uygar sent this in. "why did ancient armies, especially Greek phalanx-heavy ones, have relatively few ranged units like archers and slingers compared to line infantry? How did an ancient army determine the right number of ranged units for their army? And did the ranged units fight in a scattered manner in between the formations o…

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Combining Ancient DNA and History: Interview with Dr. Pontus Skoglund 47:49

1M ago47:49

47:49

Ancient DNA has completely reshaped our understanding of prehistory, but what does it offer for periods when we actually have historical texts? Dr. Pontus Skoglund, one of the world's leading aDNA researchers, joins me to talk about his recent study of Iron Age and Medieval Europe, and how genomics can reveal new things even about periods we think …

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What's New In History - LazRus Podcast 6:48

1M ago6:48

6:48

Introducing the first ever LazRus Podcast by the creative genius Aniello Dougherty - who is also a teenager! Something different. Something New. Check it out and let us know what you think. This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski. If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory…

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Teaser: Fracture in the League? (Patreon) 6:29

1M ago6:29

6:29

The defeat of the Persian fleet at Salamis didn't end the Greek struggle for survival - it revealed deep fractures within their alliance that nearly surrendered their hard-won victory. Though only 31 Greek city-states had united against Persian invasion, their coalition teetered on collapse shortly after their naval triumph. When King Xerxes withdr…

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AWA353 - Who were ancient scouts? 11:05

2M ago11:05

11:05

'I was curious as to how exactly the scouting process worked in ancient armies, although I'm sure it varied widely throughout different cultures and time periods. Additionally, was there every a commonly accepted type of soldier selected for scouting, or did ancient commanders simply send whoever was available? Thanks to Demetri for this question. …

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Hannibal Invades Italy 38:34

2M ago38:34

38:34

Hannibal accomplished a great deal during his long and illustrious life, but no feat has captured the imagination more than his crossing of the Alps. In the teeth of an Alpine fall, Hannibal took tens of thousands of men, horses, and even several dozen elephants into the peaks, then descended on Italy and brought destruction to the heart of Roman t…

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214. 510s BC part 4: Wu Chu War! 24:16

2M ago24:16

24:16

The Vengeance of Wu Zixu: Blood Feud in the South The Spring and Autumn period just got personal. Wu Zixu watched his family fall at the hands of King Chu—and now, serving King Helü of Wu, he’s coming for payback. This episode dives into the explosive campaigns against Chu in the 510s BCE, with a certain strategist named Sun Tzu lurking at the edge…

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AW352 - Tiberius 1:22:45

2M ago1:22:45

1:22:45

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Marc De Santis talks to historian and author Lindsay Powell about his latest book, Tiberius: From Masterly Commander to Masterful Emperor of Rome, published by Pen and Sword. Often overshadowed by his predecessor Augustus and his notorious successor Caligula, Tiberius is one of Rome’s most enigmatic e…

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The Carthaginian Conquest of Iberia 42:23

2M ago42:23

42:23

The disastrous ending of the First Punic War could have destroyed Carthage for good, and it nearly did. But one man had a plan for how to bring Carthage back to prosperity and power: Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal, who took an army to Iberia to build a new Carthaginian empire. Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Ren…

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60 The Rise of Athens (Themistocles and the Persian Wars, Part 3) 1:06:40

2M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

During the Persian Wars, the city of Athens was completely razed to the ground by the Persian army. And yet, from its ashes, a new Athens was born, more powerful and magnificent than any other city in the Mediterranean. How did the Athenians pull that off? In this finale to our Persian Wars saga, we explore the final battles of the conflict and the…