Classical Wisdom Speaks

What does the story of Demeter really tell us about loss, power, and the human experience? 
In this episode, renowned translator and classicist Diane Rayor unpacks the Homeric Hymn to Demeter: one of the most powerful and enduring myths from ancient Greece. 
Far more than just a story about gods, this hymn explores grief, motherhood, identity, and the fragile balance between life and death. Diane Rayor brings her deep expertise and fresh translation work to the conversation, revealing layers of meaning that are often missed in traditional readings. 
Together, we explore how this ancient text speaks to universal human emotions, and why it still resonates thousands of years later. 
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 
The core story of the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and its significance 
How Demeter’s grief shapes the natural world and human experience 
The role of Persephone and what her story represents 
Why this hymn was central to ancient Greek religion and ritual 
How translation choices affect our understanding of ancient texts 
What this myth can (and can’t) tell us about life today 
TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 Introduction & Diane Rayor 
01:30 What is the Homeric Hymn to Demeter? 
04:10 The story of Demeter and Persephone 
08:45 Themes of grief, loss, and motherhood 
12:20 The Eleusinian Mysteries and religious context 
16:00 Translation choices and interpretation 
20:10 Why this myth still matters today 
If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about ancient texts and their meaning, subscribe for more episodes with leading scholars and translators. What does this myth mean to you? 
LINKS 
👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
👉 Diane's Translations of the Homeric Hymns: https://www.amazon.com/Homeric-Hymns-Translation-Introduction-Literature/dp/0520282116 
👉 Audio Recordings of Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works: cambridge.org/sappho 
👉 No Reply Press: https://www.noreplypress.com/ 
Featuring guest Diane Rayor: 
Diane J. Rayor, Professor Emerita of Classics, Grand Valley State University, Michigan and acclaimed translator known for her accessible and poetic translations of ancient Greek works, including Homer and Sappho. 
#AncientGreece #GreekMythology #Demeter #Persephone #Classics #DianeRayor

What is the point of studying Classics today? 
Mary Beard explains why the ancient world still shocks, challenges, and reshapes how we think. Discover how Greek and Roman history can change your perspective, without offering easy answers. 
In this conversation, renowned classicist Mary Beard explores how ancient Greece and Rome remain deeply relevant today, not as a guidebook for life, but as a way to see modern problems differently. You’ll learn how to approach classical history without intimidation, why “the shock of the old” still matters, and how anyone can join the conversation.
If you’ve ever wondered how ancient history connects to today’s world, this episode will change how you think about the past and the present. 
KEY IDEAS: 
• Why studying Classics isn’t about finding “answers” 
• The idea of “The Shock of the Old” and why it still matters 
• How ancient texts like Medea continue to unsettle us 
• The danger of over-revering Greek and Roman history 
• How Classics helps challenge modern “presentism”
• Can the ancient world teach us anything useful today? 
• How to get into Classics without knowing Latin or Greek 
• Why Classics has no single political agenda 
• How the past has been used by both left and right movements 
• Finding wonder (“thauma”) in ancient history
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Mary Beard & Talking Classics 
00:23 Why the Classics still matter 
01:24 Why we should revere the ancient world less 
02:39 The “shock” of ancient culture (Medea example) 
04:48 Wonder and awe in the ancient world 
05:44 The Egyptian bread story (first encounter with history) 
07:29 Making Classics accessible to everyone 
08:43 Do the Greeks and Romans offer life lessons? 
10:06 Using Classics to rethink modern problems 
11:37 Presentism vs learning from the past 
13:22 How to start engaging with Classics 
15:04 Podcasts, media, and entry points into history 
16:20 Seeing the classical world all around us 
19:08 Technology (VR) and experiencing the past 
21:05 Is Classics political? 
22:25 How different ideologies use ancient history 
24:48 Classics and democracy, revolution, and reform 
25:38 Who “owns” the past? 
26:18 Final thoughts 
If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe for more deep dives into history and ideas. 
Learn More! Check out these LINKS 
👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
👉 Watch the full episode: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/mary-beard-why-you-should-argue-with 
👉 Mary Beard's "Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old:: https://profilebooks.com/work/talking-classics/
What do you think: can the ancient world still teach us something today? Let me know in the comments. 
GUEST Mary Beard – One of the world’s most influential classicists, Professor Emerita at Cambridge, and bestselling author of SPQR and Twelve Caesars. Known for making ancient history accessible, relevant, and thought-provoking. 
#Classics #AncientHistory #MaryBeard #GreekHistory #RomanHistory

An age of apocalyptic thinking, a clash of empires, and a legacy that still shapes the world today... 
Today Anya is joined by Professor Barry Strauss to discuss the Jewish Revolts against the Roman Empire. Discover what fueled these uprisings, and how their dramatic outcome has shaped centuries. 
Barry Strauss is the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University as well as the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he is the former Chair of the Department of History as well as Professor of History and Classics. 
He is the author of many bestselling books, including most recently Jews Vs Rome, which you can buy HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Jews-vs-Rome-Centuries-Rebellion/dp/1668009595 
Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ 
An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. 
Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 
And access the extended version of this episode HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/jews-vs-rome

Barbarian, witch, murderer… and mother.
Today Anya is joined by author and broadcaster Natalie Haynes to discuss one of Greek mythology’s most famous and dramatic characters, Medea. 
Discover the complex legends and legacy of Medea, from her daring love story with Jason to its dark aftermath… and how the Greek tragedian Euripides transformed her how her story is told, forever.
Natalie Haynes is the author of several acclaimed books about women in Greek mythology, including Divine Might, Stone Blind, and most recently No Friend to This House, her own much-anticipated retelling of the myth of Medea. 
You can buy a copy HERE: https://www.amazon.com/No-Friend-This-House-Novel/dp/0063258447 
Natalie Haynes is an author and comedian as well as a broadcaster for the BBC, and she has written for The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, and The Observer. Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. 
To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/

What were the secrets of Roman warfare?
What is the best way to defeat an enemy… and what does all this have to do with aqueducts?
Today Anya is joined by George Thomas to discuss the life of Frontinus, an ancient Roman general and governor of Roman Britain. In particular, they’re looking at Stratagems, his manual for war, which looked to ancient history to distil key lessons in military strategy and leadership. 
George Thomas, also known by his pen name, Quintus Curtius, is an acclaimed translator of ancient texts, including those by Cicero, Sallust, and Cornelius Nepos.
He is an MIT graduate, a former officer in the US Marine Corps, a founding partner of the law firm, Phillips and Thomas.
His most recent work is a translation Frontius' Stratagems, of which we speak about today.
You can buy it HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Stratagems-Translation-Sextus-Julius-Frontinus/dp/B0FPBTNCY5
Hosted by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom. To learn more about Classical Wisdom, and sign up for our free newsletter, please go to https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/ 
An extended version of this podcast is available to Members of Classical Wisdom. 
Become a Member HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe
And access the extended version HERE: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/a-forgotten-roman-masterclass-in