Author: Trevor Culley

I'm Trevor Culley. My personal experience with both Persian history and podcasts began with a college extra credit assignment to listen to the first Hardcore History history episode on the Achaemenids. I was instantly enthralled with the stories of the Kings of Kings and coming a little late to the party, started listening to podcasts. On one hand, I started heading down the road toward PhD that will let me study ancient Persia for a living. On the other, as I binged my way through both the History of Rome and early episodes of the History of Byzantium I was always excited for the episodes dealing with the Parthians and Sassanids. I'm sure some of you shared my surprise and disappointment to discover that there was not a similarly dedicated podcast dealing with the great empires east of Rome. So that brings us here. I've decided to personally create that dedicated podcast.

Episode 31: The Naxos Incident

On By Trevor CulleyIn Episode PostLeave a comment
Illustration of Histaeos and the Ionians meeting the Scythians by John Steeple Davis, 1900

At the end of the 6th century BCE, a group of exiled aristocrats from the island of Naxos inadvertently set off a chain of events that would eventually lead to such famous battles as Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis. They asked the Milesian Tyrant, Aristagoras, to help them retake their home island after being kicked out. Aristagoras went to the Satrap of Lydia, who in turn asked Darius the Great. When Darius gave the go ahead, a Persian fleet invaded, and subsequently retreated from Naxos. Out of money and out of options Aristagoras and the rest of the Ionian Greeks in western Anatolia began hatching a plan to launch an Ionian Revolt against the Persian Empire.
Stream
Download

Patreon
Audible
Sticker Contact
Support Page

Ad: Audbile

Achaemenid Nowruz! 2020 Holiday Special

On By Trevor CulleyIn Episode PostLeave a comment
A lion attacking a bull, looking back on the lion. Possibly a symbol of eternity or cyclical time at Persepolis.

To celebrate the Persian New Year’s festival of Nowruz, check out the 2nd Sort-of Annual Holiday Special, exploring the New Year’s celebrations of the Achaemenid Empire. Called Navasarda at that time, many of the traditions associated with the modern holiday were still developing during the Achaemenid period. The origins and original purpose of the holiday season are hazy and changed and developed as Iranian society evolved over centuries.
Stream
Download

Patreon

Episode 30: Persia City

On By Trevor CulleyIn Episode PostLeave a comment
History of Persia podcast logo, taken from the Apadana north staircase at Persepolis

This time it’s just one episode for a different kind of tour. Explore the early phases of construction at Susa and Persepolis under Darius the Great. The grand Apadana audience halls with their splendid columns. The lavishly decorated palaces built to house Darius throughout the year. The famous works of art and architecture that define the middle Achaemenid period are featured in this episode.
Stream
Download

Patreon!
Support Page!

Sticker Giveaway Contact

Inscribed Door Handle
Avesta.org Old Persian translations

Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004) on the Hellenistic Age Podcast

On By Trevor CulleyIn Crossover, Episode Post1 Comment

Hey everyone! My first collaborative episode is up! I spent some time chatting with Derek of the Hellenistic Age podcast about Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004 and all the subsequent re-releases). You can check that out on the Hellenistic Age podcast feed (links below)! .

iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hellenistic-age-podcast/id1377920930?mt=2

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3OVlqzoNg4KW987igfhskd

Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=225541&refid=stpr

RSS
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:439067766/sounds.rss

Episode 29: The Grand Tour, Part 4

On By Trevor CulleyIn Episode PostLeave a comment
Administrative Divisions of the Achaemenid Empire, 490 BC by Ian Mladjov on Ian Mladjov’s Resources

It’s the final stage of the tour! Our trip through the Persian Empire wraps up with three central provinces of the empire, located in western Iran. This time it’s Susiana, Media, and Parsa itself. We’ll traverse everything from rundown ancient kingdoms, hostile mountain tribes, royal capitals, and one of the wonders of the ancient world. For some of them, we won’t even have to leave the same city. These are the provinces that ruled and defined the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Stream
Download

Patreon

Audible

Legion vs Phalanx
Audible | Print

Ad: Audible

Episode 28: The Grand Tour, Part 3

On By Trevor CulleyIn Episode PostLeave a comment
Administrative Divisions of the Achaemenid Empire, 490 BC by Ian Mladjov on Ian Mladjov’s Resources

The tour of the Persian Empire continues. This time I’m going through the empire within the empire to dissect Assyria and Babylonia. Within these two satrapies, there were many important administrative districts and geographic divisions including Judea, Palestine, Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Akkad in addition to Assyria and Babylon themselves. With hindsight’s 20/20 this was obviously one the most important parts of the empire, and we’ll go through it in detail.
Stream
Download

Patreon

Oldest Stories
Website | Spotify |Google | Anchor | RSS