Episodes
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They're digging in the right place? We take another look at the most famous archaeologist of all as we revisit the first three Indiana Jones movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Temple of Doom (1984) and The Last Crusade (1989). Joined by super special guest, author and archaeologist David West Reynolds, we look back on our own experiences with Indy, enormous impact on the public perception of archaeology and what these films, namely Raiders, gets remarkably correct about the field.
You can follow David West Reynolds on Facebook, Instagram as well as through his work on projects with Lucasfilm, the Explorer's Club and his new kickstarter, Chasing Raiders.
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In this episode we utilize our amazing artistic abilities to *checks notes* stop time(?) and discuss Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, a modern retelling/allegory of the Catilinarian Conspiracy that took place during the late Roman Republic. Here to help analyze this fever-dream of a film is Dr. Hannah Čulík-Baird, Associate Professor of Classics at UCLA, co-editor of Res Difficiles, and last but not least, a self proclaimed “unrepentant Adam Driver stan”. Join us in our attempt to make sense of a film that fights all attempts to do so.
Is it bad? Probably. Is it brilliant? Probably not. Does the random QR code actually provide insightful information? We may never know.
Be sure to read Hannah's insightful take on the film via her blog o pietas animi and follow her on social media under the handle @opietasanimi.
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In this episode we learn that your hosts do not know how to behave themselves without an awesome guest to keep them in line! That being said, Colin, Elijah, and Christie delve into the latest iteration of Tomb Raider from the new Netflix animated series. It has a fully realized Lara, beautiful animation, and a plot that actually requires the heroine to intervene in order to save the world. Yet it feels a little too late for it to make the same impact as Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider. We unpack this, Netflix's unintelligible renewal method (this series was renewed for a second season), and weird franchises we'd all like talk drunkenly about one day.
With a new month comes a new opportunity to help support the podcast! Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts! And if you want to know about our upcoming plans and episode releases, be sure to follow us on all our social media platforms, which you can find here.
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Your favorite Tomb Raider is back, and this time she taking a beating. With the help of archaeogaming specialist, Julie Levy, we take a look at the rebooted version of Lara Croft introduced in the 2010s. Considering the film is supposed to be based on the 2013 game, it is wild to see how drastically different the two mediums present Lara Croft's new origin story. Let's just say, we end up loving the game more than a film, even with its supernatural AND super-gorey elements. Will Lara ever put down her tomb raiding ways and become a real archaeologist? Probably not. But the franchise does allow us to consider the role myth-making plays in the field of archaeology, and it's problematic offshoot of pseudoarchaeology.
Speaking of, if you want to learn more about #RealArchaeology, be sure to check out all the new archaeology-related content be shared this weekend at real-archaeology.com! The site brings together a collective of online creators whose goal is to collaborate in creating, promoting, and sharing entertaining and educational media with the wider public on the wonders of our shared history.
Along with that, check out the Save Ancient Studies Alliance which likewise aims to break barriers to education about humanity’s diverse past in order to advance intercultural empathy, equity, and cooperation today.
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As the old adage goes, "Well-behaved women seldom make history" and Tomb Raider takes that to a whole new level. Based on the popular late 90s action-adventure video games, Angelina Jolie plays the titular Lara Croft in these high-energy films released during the early 2000s. To help us unpack the early inspirations for this character and her initial film adaptations, we are joined by Egyptologist (and sometimes Lara Croft cosplayer), Dr. Marina Escolano-Povdeda. While these films definitely fail the Bechdel test, one must marvel at this cinematic world in which no one questions Lara's capabilities as a Tomb Raider. Even if she probably destroys more tombs than not, her importance as an icon for young girls and women who wanted to enter the male-dominated field of archaeology cannot be overstated. That's got to count for something, right?
If you are interested in learning more about #RealArchaeology and the people who do it, be sure to check out https://real-archaeology.com/index.html. And if you would like to learn more about Marina and her work, check out her Twitter and Instagram pages.
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If you've been hankering for a good modern take on ancient myth, then this is the show for you! We join forces with super-special guest Amy Pistone to talk about Netflix's new take on the Greek gods in Kaos (2024). We talk about how this show adapts oft- and less-oft-seen stories to its unique world and its novel takes on many familiar characters. Does everything in the end come back to Romeo + Juliet?
Disclaimer: We didn't know about its impending cancellation when we recorded (though we had a Cassandra-like premonition that it might happen). We still highly encourage you go check out the show. Who knows? Perhaps another platform will pick it up and continue this excellent adaptation of Greek myth. Only the Fates know;) #Justice4Dennis
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We're back with the second part of our promo-preview for the newest season of Movies We Dig: Archaeology on Film. We round out our discussion of the previous season on Rome on TV with some trivia games, make predictions on the films we're about to review and reflect back on what brought us to our fields, in some cases literally.
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Before we dig our way through some of the most famous archaeologists found on screen, we figured it would be a good idea to reflect back on Season 4 of Movies We Dig. We talk about the season as a whole, our favorite and least favorite series, and...Demon Slayer? Come on, you should all know we're big nerds at this point. Come for the anime discussion, but stay for the bonus content on Spartacus!
Our friends and fellow podcasters, Dr. Rad and Dr. G of the Partial Historians have a new book coming out November 2024! In Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire, the authors provide a sneak peek behind Rome’s curtains to bring you some of the amazing feats of the Romans, their less than spectacular moments, and some tales they’re probably embarrassed that have survived in the evidence! If you enjoy learning about ancient Rome (We know you do!), then please support the Partial Historians by pre-ordering the book. Find the book here along with other merch and their first title, Rex.
And be sure to check back later this week for the second part of our discussion, where Colin, Lij, and Christie play some fun games and look forward to Season 5 focusing on Archaeology in Film. We hope you dig it!
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That's right, we did a thing! Our first-ever livestream crossover event with the hosts of Movies We Dig, Ancient History Fangirl, and Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! And if you want a chance to watch rather than just listen to the show, you can do so on our new YouTube channel! Here is the link for the recorded livestream: https://youtube.com/live/qtUMQm0no1c
To celebrate International Podcast Day your favorite podcasters on antiquity and pop-culture indulged in an evening of fun, frolicking and some light dismemberment! The show includes answering questions from fans and listeners, testing our knowledge of ancient myth and history, imbibing cocktails from Nectar of the Gods, and performing a live (slightly-tipsy) read-through of Euripides’ Bacchae.
Show your favorite podcasters some love by subscribing to their YouTube channels and social media pages. Feeling extra generous? Then leave comments and reviews wherever you listen (or watch) your podcasts. Here's some helpful links to get you there!
Movies We Dig- Find the website at https://www.movieswedig.com and all our socials at https://linktr.ee/movieswedig.Ancient History Fangirl- Find the website at https://www.ancienthistoryfangirl.com and all their socials at https://linktr.ee/ancienthistoryfangirl.Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!- Find the website at https://www.mythsbaby.com and of Liv's socials at https://linktr.ee/livalbert.
Special thanks to Genn, Jenny, and Liv for taking part in this special livestream event! Please be sure to support them, their podcasts, and all their other amazing projects!
We also want to thank Emma Pauly for providing their translation of the Bacchae for our live read-through of the play. To hear Emma speak about their work on the play, check out this episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/conversations-nonbinary-dionysus-a-look-at/id1264449047?i=1000527595570. You can learn even more about Emma on their website at https://www.emmapauly.com.
Finally, thank you to our listeners for being a part of this amazing community! These shows would not be possible without you!
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You already got a small taste of Season 5, but get hyped as we prepare to discuss all your favorite fictional archaeologists! We love that Hollywood makes us (Lij and Christie specifically) look like bad asses, but sometimes they miss out on what makes archaeology awesome. We have an amazing lineup of guests from both the academic and the public scholarship world, so grab a trowel and help us dig into the newest season of Movies We Dig!
And if you like what you hear, please be sure to rate, subscribe, and write a review! For more news about the upcoming season, be sure to follow us on social media. And stay tuned for a big announcement about International Podcast Day!
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/pop-and-crunch
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Elementary my dear Adso! We kick off our new archaeology-focused season with director Jean-Jacques Annaud's 1986 adaptation of Umberto Eco's medieval mystery thriller The Name of the Rose. Joining us are super-special return guests: Joel Christensen & Tim Gerolami. We host our own little ecumenical discussing everything from the poverty of Christ to the hotness of Christian Slater. Come learn how cult horror films inform medieval dogma.
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Ready your quardriga and place your bets as we race to the finish of Movies We Dig Season 4! We end the season with the most recent series depicting ancient Rome, Peacock's Those About to Die. Oddly enough, there's not a single Julio-Claudian in sight. That's right, new imperial family=new opportunities to plot and scheme your way to the top! And if anyone can pull it off, it's Ramsey Bol...excuse us, its Tenax and company. It's time to "Rise or Die!" (sigh). Anyone else getting a strong sense of déjà vu here?
And whenever we see a gladiator, you know we have the call in our good friend and Roman spectacle specialist, Alexandra Sills! Does a show about Roman entertainment manage to entertain a modern audience? Let's find out!
Want to learn more about gladiators in modern media? Then be sure to check out Alexandra’s webpage, writing, social media, and much more at https://linktr.ee/alexandrasills.
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Rome wasn't founded in a season of television, but you can watch it on Tubi. Joined by super-special guests and experts of archaic Rome, Dr. Peta Greenfield and Dr. Fiona Radford (aka The Partial Historians), we dig into the first season of Romulus (2020), an Italian historical drama retelling the founding of Rome. Familicide, divine epiphanies, pre-agricultural wolf cults, eyeball-poking-masks, this show has everything. It's also the only piece of television (to our knowledge) spoken entirely in Archaic Latin. We also did the whole episode in Archaic Latin too.
You can find out more about the Partial Historians on their website and listen to their show on most streaming services. Pre-order their new book, Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire, now!
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What if you made a coming of age film, but it was about a Macedonian Prince who conquered Asia? Joined by super special guest and Alexander expert (*Alexpert) Jenn Finn, we psychoanalyze history's most famous military wunderkind as presented in Oliver Stone's 2004 historical epic Alexander. As we learn from the film, the secret to making a great conqueror is equal parts traumatic childhood and cave-based myth lessons.
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He's just a Big Guy who does Big Guy things! Joined by special return guest, Amy Pistone, we unpack this true gem of a Greek myth adaptation that's really just a delightful D&D excursion. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the titular hero, Hercules, it's no surprise that we all come away loving this quirky film produced at a time when every one else is trying to be gritty with their mytho-historical retellings. All it really needs is one more living-breathing female character and a good heist to make it the greatest film of all time! And maybe drop the random date. Just sayin'.
You can learn more about Amy and her research at https://www.amypistone.com/ or find her on Twitter under the handle @apistone.
And if you like what you hear, please be sure to like, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. For the latest updates on the show, check out our social media pages available here.
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Returning to our debut topic, we dig into the 2004 attempt to keep the Gladiator train going, Wolfgang Petersen's Troy. Joined by super-special guest Joel Christensen (of Sententiae Antiquae fame), we revisit this oddly situated film. Spurned by many, beloved by some, and forgotten by most, this film sits at an interesting crossroads in Hollywood and classical reception. Is it a secret masterpiece? Probably not. Is it an interesting mirror of what had and was yet to come? Definitely.
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Podcasters, what is your profession? If it's bragging about how you don't have a job, then you might be a Spartan! We return once again to the film that launched a thousand memes: Zack Snyder's 2006 adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel 300. Joined by super-special guest and military history extraordinaire, Roel Konijnendijk, we approach this film as the revealing study of masculinity it really is. Why did this movie stick in our collective cultural craw like it did? What does it's enduring appeal say about our own cultural ideals and aspirations? Why is something so beloved by self-described alpha-males so homoerotic? Listen now to find out.
Follow Roel on Twitter and read his posts as Iphikrates on r/askhistorians
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Straight from the Oracle's mouth! Once again, we have the great pleasure of chatting with the Parlapanides Bros about the second season of Netflix's Blood of Zeus. We discuss everything from the season's delayed production, themes of justice and forgiveness, and all our favorite mythological, archaeological, and Classics media Easter eggs! The Fates also offer a glimpse of a future spin-off...but we must all make a sacrifice the the God of Streaming (Hermes? Apollo?) in the form of watch-time to make it happen! Spoilers abound, so be sure to watch Season 2 if you have not already!
And show your love to Vlas and Charley by following the official Blood of Zeus social media pages:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodofzeus/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BloodofZeus
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Long awaited and much anticipated, we return for the second season of Netflix's anime fantasy series Blood of Zeus. We dig into this show's many references and Easter-eggs, both ancient and modern, along with its larger themes on godhood, humanity, vengeance and forgiveness. And the Hades+Persephone of it all. How could we leave that out?
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Pack your bags because we are headed to St. Louis for the Classical Association of the Midwest and South’s annual conference! That’s right, your hosts are not just nerds who really enjoy Classically-inspired media; they’re also serious scholars! Our host Christie talks to various participants (some of which are old friends of the podcast) to learn what they love about CAMWS. It’s not all serious academic talk though, because at the end of the day, we’re ALL big nerds that love to discuss film and Antiquity! Plus, you’ll get to learn a little more lore about your hosts!
Special thanks to everyone who sat down for an interview, including Christina Hotalen, Michael Hall, Sami Cronin, Andrea Stehle, Jeremy Swist, Amy Norgard, and Abigail Bradford! We have done our best to link their names with sites where you can learn more about them and their work. Be sure to let them know we sent you their way!
If you want to learn more about CAMWS, check out the website here: https://camws.org/
And if you would like to attend an online conference all about the ancient world in media, be sure to check out AIMS (Antiquity in Media Studies)! Maybe we’ll see you there;) https://antiquityinmediastudies.wordpress.com/
This special episode also required a little more ambience, so thanks to music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/light-patterns/grassland for helping to set the tone!
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