Derek | The Hellenistic Age Podcast

Now reading:
“Berenike and the Ancient Maritime Spice Route” - S.E. Sidebotham

A survey of Berenike Troglodytica, one of the most important Ptolemaic (and later Roman) ports situated along the coast of the Red Sea, famed for its role in the Indo-Roman trade network that emerged in the 1st cent BC

115: The Third Punic War – Delenda Est “Carthage must be destroyed” – and with these words Cato the Elder doomed his North African rival by helping spark the Third Punic War, the last in a century of conflicts between …

115: The Third Punic War - Delenda Est

And with the words "Carthage must be destroyed", Cato the Elder dooms Rome's North African rival in a final war of annihilation. In this episode, we look at the causes and events leading up to the Third Punic War

tinyurl.com/4z5wk4a9

Now reading:
“Party Politics in the Age of Caesar” - Lily R. Taylor

A landmark text about the (mis)understandings of factions and parties during the Late Roman Republic, going beyond the dichotomy of “optimates” and “populares”.

[Ptolemy] could hardly keep up with them in walking because of his inactive life & his pampering of his body,⁠ and Scipio whispered softly to Panaetius, "Already the Alexandrians have received some benefit from our visit. For it is owing to us that they have seen their king walk"
- Plutarch

It is rather interesting (sobering?) that for Polybius and most thinkers in his day, aggressive imperialism is not only acceptable, it’s desirable. Nobody in antiquity criticized Rome’s destruction of Carthage, only the justification of how they did so (a minority at that)
[Polybius, 36.9]

Now reading:
“Nubia: Lost Civilizations” - Sarah Schellinger

I know very little of Northeast/East Africa outside of Egypt, so I have been looking to broaden my horizons a bit with the Nubians. This book has done a good job at doing so, and they’ll feature in an upcoming survey of the region

Many Carthaginians were slaves at Rome, and many Macedonians when Perseus their king was taken prisoner. I saw, too, when I was a young man, some Corinthians in the Peloponnese. They might all have lamented with Andromache...

- Cicero (Tusculan Disputations, 3.53)

Hope you enjoyed our last episode of 2025!

2026 begins with a bang as we start our two-part look at the Third Punic War. After five decades of peace, Carthaginian success terrifies the Republic, compelling the Romans and King Masinissa to provoke a final confrontation.

Stay tuned!

Thank you kindly! I am glad they got to you safe and sound

114: The Nabataean Kingdom

Most remembered for the stone-cut monuments of the rose city of Petra, the Nabataeans ruled much of the Levant for over four centuries, occupying a key position from the Sinai to the Hejaz that enabled the "Incense Road"

tinyurl.com/mb7fymvr

114: The Nabataean Kingdom

Most remembered for the stone-cut monuments of the rose city of Petra, the Nabataeans ruled much of the Levant for over four centuries, occupying a key position from the Sinai to the Hejaz that enabled the "Incense Road"

tinyurl.com/mb7fymvr

Now reading: “The Seleucid Army of Antiochus the Great: Weapons, Armour and Tactics” - J.C. Du Plessis

A worthy successor to Bar-Kochva’s landmark 1976 study, this books provides an updated account of the Seleucid army at the height of its prowess under Antiochus III.

108: The Seleucid Empire – The Maccabean Revolt The tension between the various factions vying for power in Jerusalem leads to a crisis, when Antiochus IV retaliates by attacking the city and plunders its famed Temple in 168. A wave of persecuti…

With Hanukkah less than a week away, I suggest listening to my episode on the Maccabean Revolt. We analyze the potential causes of its outbreak, the complex nature of our biblical sources, and its context within the broader history of the Seleucid Empire.

tinyurl.com/5brmxtbm

Now reading: “The Satyricon” by Petronius

A Roman novel written in the Neronian era by one of his courtiers named Petronius, this work is principally known for its vulgar and explicit content, but it provides us with a rare glimpse into the social life of lower class Romans.

Not without precedent: Bethesda teased TES VI: Hammerfall *7* years ago without a peep of further development since. At this point I am just grateful when developers pop out a game without much fanfare and it's a pleasant surprise.

Reposting due to faulty DOI

This issue has an open access article by Nicholas Sims-Williams on #Bactrian:

Sims-Williams, Nicholas. 2025. Bactrian in two scripts: Greek and Kushan. Indo-Iranian Journal. Brill 68(3). 185–214.

brill.com/view/journal...

Here are just some of the books I am using for my upcoming episode on the Nabataeans.

I’ll also be publishing a whole host of photos I took while in Petra and Jordan, which will help guide you along as you listen to my episode.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the newest episode!

Next time, we’ll end 2025 by covering the history of the Nabataeans, an Arab-speaking peoples who came to prominence during the late Hellenistic period, and are most known for the awe-inspiring ruins of their capital city of Petra.

Stay tuned!

113: The War of the Three Kings Civil war continues to grip the Seleucid Empire, as Alexander I Balas is challenged by the young Demetrius II for the throne of Syria. Things come to a head when Ptolemy VI, tied by marriage to Bal…

*New Episode*
113: The War of the Three Kings

Civil war continues to grip the Seleucid Empire, and a final confrontation at the Oenoparus River in August 145 between the armies of Alexander I Balas, Demetrius II, and Ptolemy VI ends in quite the surprise for all involved.

tinyurl.com/yvedd27d

I hope you’ve enjoyed the newest episode!

Next time, we’ll end 2025 by covering the history of the Nabataeans, an Arab-speaking peoples who came to prominence during the late Hellenistic period, and are most known for the awe-inspiring ruins of their capital city of Petra.

Stay tuned!

113: The War of the Three Kings Civil war continues to grip the Seleucid Empire, as Alexander I Balas is challenged by the young Demetrius II for the throne of Syria. Things come to a head when Ptolemy VI, tied by marriage to Bal…

*New Episode*
113: The War of the Three Kings

Civil war continues to grip the Seleucid Empire, and a final confrontation at the Oenoparus River in August 145 between the armies of Alexander I Balas, Demetrius II, and Ptolemy VI ends in quite the surprise for all involved.

tinyurl.com/yvedd27d

Interestingly, “Alexander” (2004) has the phalangites at Gaugamela marching to the phrase of Enyalios (Ἐνυάλιος) which I think comes from Xenophon. Even Hollywood did it better!

I hope you've enjoyed the latest episode!

Next time will be the last episode of the Levant and Egypt for a while, as we look at the reign of Alexander I Balas, the civil war between him and Demetrius II, and the intervention of Ptolemy VI culminating in a showdown at Oenoparus in 145 BC
Stay tuned!

I understand that people have to earn a living, but pimping yourself out for a mediocre subscription service or some tacky one-and-done device feels so soul crushing. Its even worse when it is done “ironically” which itself is totally played out.

I hope you've enjoyed the latest episode!

Next time will be the last episode of the Levant and Egypt for a while, as we look at the reign of Alexander I Balas, the civil war between him and Demetrius II, and the intervention of Ptolemy VI culminating in a showdown at Oenoparus in 145 BC
Stay tuned!

Now reading: “The Fall of Carthage” - A. Goldsworthy

With the show fast approaching the Third Punic War, I wanted to refresh myself with this excellent account to trace the history of Romano-Punic relations from start to finish. Goldsworthy is an excellent author, as per usual.

The holiday season is fast approaching once again, and for those looking to feel inspired while reading your new history or classics books while supporting the podcast, consider picking up a bookmark from the Hellenistic Age Etsy page:

www.etsy.com/shop/Helleni...

Now reading:
“The Ancient Shore” - P. Kosmin

A study of the shoreline and seas in antiquity, from the treatises of Hellenistic explorers to ancient frameworks of the inhabited world and these “transition” zones.

Kosmin is one of my favorite authors, I’m really enjoying it so far.

The next #AntigonidNetwork seminar is on Tuesday 11th November, 5pm (UK). John Holton presents his two books: 'Alexander’s Successors and the Creation of Hellenistic Kingship' and 'Royal Traditions and the Consolidation of Power by Alexander’s Successors'. #AncientBluesky
To join, please register:

112: The Seleucid Empire – Breaking the Hammer The newly enthroned Demetrius I Soter managed to instill a degree of order throughout the Seleucid realm, crushing the would-be king Timarchos in Babylonia and the rebellion of Judas Maccabee. Yet …

112: The Seleucid Empire - Breaking the Hammer

Demetrius I Soter instills order by crushing the rebellions of Timarchos in Media and Judas Maccabee, but his behavior causes his enemies abroad to conspire against him and bankroll another usurper, Alexander Balas.

tinyurl.com/yh3z5y2b