Knowledge from the Ancients

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Alexander's Sack of Thebes, w/ Victor Davis Hanson
A conversation with American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson.

Caesar 3: Divus Julius
Part 3 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. Did Caesar want to be a King? A God? What was his vision for Rome? Was there a way he could have prevented his assassination?
Explore Our Podcast Episodes

Lysander 1: Death of Democracy
A Spartan; first Greek honored as a god during his lifetime; destroyer of Athenian naval supremacy. In this episode: his rise to power, how he pulled off the greate...

Socrates on Public Shaming
A story about how Socrates reacted when he got publicly shamed.

Harry Truman on Plutarch
Harry Truman was a great admirer of Plutarch's lives, and recommended them often. He discusses why. Quotes taken from Miller's oral biography of Truman, "Plain S...

How to Learn Free Speech
How do we translate the advice Plutarch gives on free speaking, with the example of Pericles, into the world of modern media?

The Sovereign Mind
What combination of habits produces both strength and peace? How do we become more sovereign over our lives, over ourselves? With some references from a famous, clas...

Aristotle's Quadrivium; Season 2 ANNOUNCEMENT!
Why do we work? How should we spend our leisure? Also, announcing the next biography subjects!

Comparison
What did Pyrrhus and Marius had in common, what lessons can be drawn for leaders?

The Joy of a Humorless Stoic
A transcript of an article from Antigone Journal. Read the article here: https://antigonejournal.com/2022/03/publius-rutilius-rufus/

Marius Aftermath and Takeaways
3 Lessons for Leaders from the Life of Marius. Also, what happened after Marius died?
History Contains Power
My name is Alex Petkas, and in The Cost of Glory, I present you with the best stories, analyses and takeaways, from the greatest and most influential figures from Greco-Roman antiquity.