The great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius kept a private diary during his endless military campaigns against the empire’s invaders. A new translation of this important text is now out and prominently features the Greek gods. Feedback? Send me a text!Support the showEmail any suggestions to patrickgarn

The hero of the Odyssey and the Trojan War has to navigate treacherous waters and deities on his 10-year journey home. We join Odysseus for part of it. Meet Circe, the Sirens, and the sea monsters that slow his passage. If the trip had been ranked on a travel website, it would have gotten a negative

A shaman suddenly appears in ancient Greece to proclaim that Pythagoras, the founder of philosophy, is divine. Behind the scenes, Apollo lurks.Listen as the Greeks are shocked at what unfolds!Feedback? Send me a text!Support the showEmail any suggestions to patrickgarner@me.com

EP 67  — Strange & Obscure TalesFour tales in one episode, all little known. Each focuses on the relationship between gods and men. One may well reveal the origin of werewolves.Come play with Zeus, Demeter, Artemis and Hermes.Feedback? Send me a text!Support the showEmail any suggestions to patrickg

This episode looks at the infamous Judgment of Paris, which sounds like a French court decision, but was actually a beauty contest between Greek goddesses! Join Hera, Athene and Aphrodite for the lead-up to the Trojan War and all the chaos that followed.And we re-introduce the goddess Eris, a nasty

This episode looks in depth at the unexpected themes of Greek pottery and how gods and heroes are depicted. We also examine the strange effigies of the god Hermes. You’ll meet a Hermes unlike any you’ve encountered. This episode is also unusual in that it is not suitable for underage listeners. Feed

Engaging one night with an old Ouija board, podcaster Patrick Garner conjures up the ancient goddess Artemis. Over the course of many hours, the goddess remembers Athena, Poseidon, Hecate, her brother Apollo and other divinities. The episode is largely narrated by a new voice, Lily, an urbane Englis

Nyx. the goddess of night, appeared before the Olympic gods, even before the Titans. Her progeny were almost all beings of terror and dread, and included Doom, Death, Sleep, Dreams, Blame, Misery, The Fates, Retribution, Old Age and Strife. Yet as terrifying as her family was, civilization may have

 When Zeus Came KnockingA visit by Zeus and Hermes to an old couple’s home in ancient Greece sparked a tradition that goes on even today. All ancient Greeks knew that hospitality to strangers could bring fortune. Inhospitality could lead to divine punishment.Violation of this tradition led to the Tr

What happens when Eros, the mischievous son of the goddess Aphrodite, sees Psyche, the most beautiful woman in the world? Star-crossed love, of course! Travel in our time machine back to ancient Greece and follow the timeless story of these two lovers.If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garn

EP 60: Thebes, The City That Gods & Heroes Forsook Of all the Greek city-states,Thebes was the one most soaked in blood and ancient curses. There, the hero Heracles had killed his wife and children. There, the god Dionysus punished the city’s king. There too the infamous Oedipus played out his grim

In this latest episode, we revisit the towering goddess Artemis, who reveled in the hunt, yet also protected girls, women and young animals. Of all the divinities, she was the most paradoxical.If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novels about the gods, The Winnowing and Homo

In this latest episode, we listen to a portion of the greatest speeches of all time, Pericles’ famous funeral oration. Inspired by the goddess Athene, it was given by this Athenian statesman at the end of the first year of the war between Athens and Sparta. As citizens assemble to bury their sons an

For almost 60 episodes, I’ve talked about the glory of the Greeks during the golden years of ancient Greece. I’ve also talked about when worship of the gods ended. In this new episode we go back to the beginning, to the so-called Dark Ages of Greece, to the time when the gods first revealed themselv

EP 56:  Do this to live a good lifeThe Greek world centered around Delphi for two reasons. One — the world’s most famous oracle resided there. Two — the secrets to a good life were carved into the marble sides of Apollo’s temple. One had only to walk the temple grounds to gain the priceless insights

In the politics of Athens' new democracy, one goddess reined supreme: Peitho. She was the unheralded goddess of persuasion. Her influence brought down the philosopher Socrates. She could make any man silver-tongued, and all of her favorites became powerful orators. Join us as we meet this powerful —

There’s nothing like divine intervention to ensure success. Of course, things can go badly when it ends. Follow Alexander’s 10-year military career that earned him the moniker “Alexander the Great.”If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, now

Orpheus, Apollo’s son, became famous for his extraordinary music and poetry. As talented as he was, he was unable to find love. But one golden afternoon he saw Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. The two fell in love.But their love was fated to be short. When Eurydice died, Orpheus descended to Hades’ unde

The goddess Persephone was queen of the Underworld. To the amazement of the other divinities, she became the wisest of them all. On rare occasions she would invite humans to visit her in that dark place.In this episode we recount her visit with Parmenides, the pre-Socratic philosopher who influenced

One goddess alone ruled in the ancient underworld. She was Persephone, although the Greeks dared call her only The Goddess.She had been dragged unwillingly into that gloom by Hades, but she quickly adapted to her circumstances. Mysteriously, she, among all the gods, became the treasury of dark knowl

2,500 years ago Delos was the most sacred island in Greece. As the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, it was destined to become both the holiest of sanctuaries and a wealthy trading center.  Its downside was that it was also the region’s largest slave market. Amidst all the temples and sanctimony, tr

How many of us know about the Goddess Tyche? Today this powerful divinity is largely forgotten. But 2,500 years ago, she was believed to determine the day-to-day fortunes of every Greek.If your ship was tossed against rocks as you steered through a storm, it wasn’t your fate as much as your fortune.

In this episode Garner takes the listener on a pleasant hike in the countryside. But the city dweller stumbles upon a strange scene that may involve Athene, Artemis or Aphrodite. Upon returning to the city our hiker encounters the same woman in a coffee shop. Yet within minutes she vanishes. Intrigu

Novel 4 of The Naxos Quartet sums up the most important things in life — love and belonging. In this episode Garner reads a brief selection from the book, focusing on a dramatic moment in the return of Inanna, Gaia, Timessa and Dionysos.The Naxos Quartet includes The Winnowing, Cycladic Girls, Homo