114
Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss
Episode Length:
64:50
A conversation with the bestselling author, classicist and the military and naval historian Barry Strauss about his latest book Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire.
We explore:
We explore:
- Why Julius Caesar became a key patron of the Jews and how his support shaped Jewish life in the Roman Empire
- The pivotal moment when Antipater (Herod's father) saved Caesar in Egypt, and how it changed Jewish-Roman relations
- Caesar's assassination: the personal ambitions and fears that drove the conspirators beyond Republican ideology
- Herod the Great's extraordinary political survival skills: switching allegiances from Antony to Octavian and always landing on his feet
- The ruthless pragmatism of Herod's reign, including the execution of his own talented sons
- The historical plausibility of the "slaughter of the innocents" story and what it reveals about Herod's character
For Barry's previous appearance, check out episode 81.
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Website: https://costofglory.com
X: https://x.com/costofglory
The Cost Of Glory Episodes
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108
Episode Length:
130:03
May 10, 2025
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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107
Episode Length:
113:52
April 8, 2025
Caesar 1: Man of Destiny
The much awaited series on Julius Caesar begins, with the inaugural episode: "Man of Destiny".
A tale of charm, audacity, and calculated risk as a young aristocrat from a modest branch of an ancient family navigates the treacherous waters of late Republican politics. Caesar—stylish, charismatic, deeply in debt, and dangerously ambitious—sets himself against the legacy of Sulla while methodically building a coalition that would eventually transform Rome forever.
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106
Episode Length:
51:17
March 23, 2025
The New Indiana Jones - w/ Dr. Brent Seales
A conversation with Dr. Brent Seales, professor of computer science at the University of Kentucky and a modern day Indiana Jones who has been using advanced technology to restore and redeem cultural and historical artifacts from the ravages of time.
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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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