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Knowledge from the Ancients

My name is Alex Petkas and it is my mission to bring the wisdom of Plutarch — historian, philosopher, literary artist — to modern audiences.
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Dive into the stories of ancient greatness.
109 - Civil War 1: Breakdown
109
Episode Length:
109:20
June 4, 2025

109 - Civil War 1: Breakdown

Part 1 of 3 of Caesar's Civil War series. The die is cast—Caesar crosses the Rubicon and plunges Rome into civil war. In this episode:The political crisis of 51-50 BCE as Caesar's enemies demand his recall from GaulCurio's shocking defection and proposal that both Caesar and Pompey lay down armsThe breakdown of negotiations and Pompey's fateful acceptance of command against CaesarHis lightning campaign through Italy as cities surrender without a fightThe siege of Corfinium and Caesar's revolutionary policy of clemency toward enemiesPompey's strategic retreat to Greece, abandoning Rome and splitting the RepublicThe brilliant Spanish campaign at Ilerda, showcasing Caesar's military geniusThe brutal siege of Marseille and Caesar's appointment as DictatorCaesar's own account reveals a man driven not by revolutionary ambition, but by wounded dignity and the desperate need to defend his honor against enemies who would destroy him through partisan prosecution. As Lucan wrote of this cosmic struggle: "Of civil wars and worse waged on Thessalian fields / Of crime made law we sing, how a powerful people / Turned on its own heart its conquering hand." The war that would transform Rome forever begins not with grand ideology, but with Caesar's refusal to submit to humiliation—and his enemies' fatal miscalculation of the man they sought to crush.Works CitedKurt Raaflaub (ed.), The Landmark Julius CaesarMatthias Gelzer, Caesar: Politician and StatesmanErich Gruen, Last Generation of the Roman Republic
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108 - Caesar 2: Law & Nature
108
Episode Length:
130:03
May 10, 2025

108 - Caesar 2: Law & Nature

Part 2 of 3 of the Life of Julius Caesar. In this episode:Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus, uniting Rome's most powerful menHis revolutionary consulship of 59 BCE bypasses Senate opposition through popular assembliesThe brilliant staging of the Gallic conquest, using allies and tribal conflicts as pretexts for expansionHis management of Rome through letters while commanding armies across GaulThe death of Julia and Crassus fractures the political alliance holding Rome togetherVercingetorix's rebellion culminates in the decisive siege of Alesia, securing Gaul for RomeCaesar transforms both Rome and Gaul forever through calculated strategy, personal magnetism, and relentless ambition—all while his enemies in Rome, led by Cato, plot his downfall and convince Pompey to turn against him, setting the stage for civil war.
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Gallic Wars 1: Caesar's Chance
91
Series
Episode Length:
86 MINUTES
June 18, 2024

Gallic Wars 1: Caesar's Chance

The beginning of a new series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic Wars (De Bello Gallico). It’s a world-history making story ...

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Heroes are Dangerous: Rousseau & Nietzsche with Johnathan Bi
90
Interview
Episode Length:
81 MINUTES
June 12, 2024

Heroes are Dangerous: Rousseau & Nietzsche with Johnathan Bi

Johnathan Bi left success in the startup world to focus on researching the deep ideas that power the world, and has recently launched his series on the Great Books of ...

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A Manual for Greatness — with Johnny Burtka
89
Interview
Episode Length:
60 MINUTES
June 7, 2024

A Manual for Greatness — with Johnny Burtka

An interview with Johnny Burtka, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. He is a graduate of Hillsdale College, and his mos...

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Mysteries of the Scrolls — with Nat Friedman
88
Interview
Episode Length:
57 MINUTES
May 30, 2024

Mysteries of the Scrolls — with Nat Friedman

An interview with Nat Friedman, former CEO of GitHub and creator of the Vesuvius Challenge, which aims to crack the riddles of the Herculaneum Papyri.In this episode:T...

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Pursuing Greatness — with Pano Kanelos
87
Interview
Episode Length:
51 MINUTES
May 21, 2024

Pursuing Greatness — with Pano Kanelos

An interview with Pano Kanelos, the founding president of the University of Austin and the former President of St. John’s College, Annapolis.In this episode:How foundi...

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Pompey: Aftermath, Comparison w/ Spartan King Agesilaus
86
Series
Episode Length:
40 MINUTES
May 8, 2024

Pompey: Aftermath, Comparison w/ Spartan King Agesilaus

In which we follow the lead of Plutarch and study Pompey's character and analyze what we can learn from the life of Pompey the Great, by comparing him to King Agesilau...

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Pompey III: Fields of Pharsalus
85
Series
Episode Length:
120 MINUTES
April 30, 2024

Pompey III: Fields of Pharsalus

Life of Pompey Part 3 of 3: Pompey's final rise to the heights of Roman power, his war with his friend Julius Caesar, and his final downfall.  People:(M. Tullius) Cice...

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Pompey II: Empire of Venus
84
Series
Episode Length:
109 MINUTES
April 9, 2024

Pompey II: Empire of Venus

Pompey becomes Rome’s greatest conqueror, and empire builder, but faces even greater trials back home in Rome.  People Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, "Pompey the Great"Sulla ...

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Pompey I: Kid Butcher
83
Series
Episode Length:
83 MINUTES
March 19, 2024

Pompey I: Kid Butcher

Pompey, the Great.  Part 1 of 3.  Pompey's rise to become one of Rome's greatest generals - before he's even old enough to hold office.  How he got the nickname of "Ki...

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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.

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Gallic Wars I - Caesar's Chance by @costofglory

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