After 50 hours, I finally completed AC: Origins.
There are major flaws with the story and pacing, but I absolutely love the way they portrayed Ptolemaic Egypt. The map is so detailed and varied, and there are a lot of little nice touches that I was able to catch. Some of the locations were gorgeous
Now reading:
“The Architecture of Alexandria and Egypt: 300 BC - AD 700” - J. McKenzie
A thorough examination of the visual and architectural landscape of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty through Late Antiquity, particularly the city of Alexandria, the most renowned in the Hellenistic period
Obviously the late Green published this over 30 years ago, but as recently as 2024, L. Llewellyn-Jones’ “The Cleopatras” states that all the Seleucids “resembled a family of hard-edged mobsters” (p. 46).
A silver coin of King Pharnaces I of Pontus
One amusing thing I’ve noticed with British classical studies is the pervasiveness of physiognomy, esp. in numismatics.
Peter Green in “Alexander to Actium”:
“The early kings of Pontus resemble nothing so much as a family of escaped convicts: Pharnaces I has the profile of a Neanderthal…”
119: The Rise of the Parthian Empire - From Arsaces to Mithridates I
As Rome consolidated the Mediterranean under her hegemony, the Parthians were poised to conquer Iran and Mesopotamia. This episode explores how the Arsacids forged their empire that they'd rule for 500 years.
tinyurl.com/sr6hkcrx
I had this gem on my Greco-Bactria compilation video last month, classic
Hope you enjoyed our newest episode!
Next time, we return to Syria, as the recently enthroned Demetrius II Nicator contends with another usurper, Diodotus “Tryphon”. Meanwhile, the instability in the west allows Mithridates I of Parthia to launch an invasion of Media and Babylonia
Stay tuned!
119: The Rise of the Parthian Empire - From Arsaces to Mithridates I
As Rome consolidated the Mediterranean under her hegemony, the Parthians were poised to conquer Iran and Mesopotamia. This episode explores how the Arsacids forged their empire that they'd rule for 500 years.
tinyurl.com/sr6hkcrx
One year ago today, I was exploring the ruins of Petra in Jordan, one of the greatest and awe-inspiring experiences of my life.
No major trips are on my immediate horizon, but perhaps at the end of the year I’ll be somewhere with a little more…pyramids
Looks like the pretense of protecting Iranians from the abuses of their government has gone fully out the window by this point.
Even if this is the president blustering, it is utter madness, no matter whether you’re right or left. My heart goes out for the people of Iran affected by this chaos.
Hope you enjoyed our newest episode!
Next time we’ll turn back east to chronicle the earliest years of the Arsacid Parthian Empire, which by 141 BC was poised to conquer the Iranian Plateau and Mesopotamia in the face of Seleucid civil wars.
Stay tuned!
118: Graecia Capta - The Roman Conquest of Greece
The Achaean League seeks to assert its autonomy by waging war against Sparta. The frustrated Romans intervene in the Achaean War of 146 and sack Corinth, making it clear that they will be the only ones to determine the destiny of Greece.
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Now reading:
“Beyond Alexandria: Literature and Empire in the Seleucid World” by M.S. Visscher
Overshadowed by their Ptolemaic rivals, the Seleucid dynasty was just as committed to the patronage of the literary arts, using poetry and historical works to help articulate their imperial vision
I hope you all enjoyed our newest episode!
Next time we meet, we’ll cover the final days of an independent Greece as the Roman Republic and Achaean League butt heads, leading to the destruction of Corinth and a permanent Roman presence.
Stay tuned!
117: Antigonid Macedon - The Vergina Sun Never Sets...
Fifteen years after the death of King Perseus, a man named Philip VI Andriscus claims to be a lost Antigonid prince and invades Macedonia in 150 to re-establish the monarchy. Rome does not approve, and takes permanent measures to stop it.
117: Antigonid Macedon - The Vergina Sun Never Sets...
Fifteen years after the death of King Perseus, a man named Philip VI Andriscus claims to be a lost Antigonid prince and invades Macedonia in 150 to re-establish the monarchy. Rome does not approve, and takes permanent measures to stop it.
Now reading: “Polybius” by F.W. Walbank
A concise but illuminating landmark study of Polybius of Megalopolis, the greatest historian of the Hellenistic period and among all Greek historians perhaps only second in rank among Thucydides, written by one of his foremost experts.
I hope you enjoyed our newest episode!
Next time, we return to Greece to learn that Macedonia, having been deprived of a king for seventeen years, is taken over by a pretender named Andriscus who claims Antigonid heritage and briefly restores the monarchy. Understandably, Rome does not approve.
116: The Third Punic War - Dido's Lament
While the Romans expect an easy victory, the Carthaginians valiantly defend their city for nearly three years. Through the command of Scipio Aemilianus, the Romans finally eradicate the once-mighty Carthage.
tinyurl.com/4wv6mwbp
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
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