On Content material Folks, Meredith Farley interviews artistic professionals and leaders to get a behind-the-scenes take a look at their profession experiences and switch that into actionable recommendation for listeners. Tune in to listen to from specialists in varied media, and get impressed to search out contentment in your personal artistic profession.
Episode #12 Abstract
Liv Albert is the creator and host of the podcast “Let’s Speak About Myths, Child!” She chats with Meredith Farley on this episode about analysis, studying, Greek mythology, podcasting, the facility of an amazing story and extra. Pay attention alongside to search out inspiration on your personal artistic endeavors.
Content material Folks: Analysis, Greek Mythology and The Energy of Podcasts
On this episode of Content material Folks, I chat with Liv Albert, creator and host of the podcast “Let’s Speak About Myths, Child!”. Along with her diploma in English Literature & Classics, she tells historical tales in a enjoyable, witty method. She not solely writes, produces and hosts her podcast, however she’s additionally an writer of two Greek mythology books.
Liv fell in love with Greek mythology round seventh grade, when she noticed a ‘90’s miniseries on “The Odyssey.” Since then, she’s explored historical sources and honed her analysis expertise to deliver these timeless tales to life.
“Let’s Speak About Myths, Child!” began out as a enjoyable thought, however Liv rapidly realized that it had a lot extra to supply — each to her listeners and her life.
Listed here are just a few extra issues we discuss in between all of the myths and magic:
- The significance of giving your self time to observe and enhance.
- Dealing with feedback and not-so-constructive criticism.
- Discovering and understanding tales that matter.
Thanks for listening!
– Meredith Farley, Host of Content material Folks
Extra Content material for Content material Folks
Liv’s podcast: Take a look at “Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!”
Liv’s guide: Get your intro to the greats in “Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook.”
Brafton: We will not be mythological Greek heroes, however we are advertising and marketing heroes. Discover out why in our digital marketing newsletter.
Meredith’s e-newsletter: Take a look at Meredith’s newsletter (additionally known as Content material Folks).
Podcast Transcript:
Meredith: Hey, everybody, and welcome to Content material Folks. Tune in to listen to from creatives, leaders, and specialists in varied media. I’m your host, Meredith Farley.
Ian: And I’m the present’s producer, Ian Servin.
Meredith: Hey, Ian.
At the moment, we talked to Liv Albert. Liv’s the creator, host, and producer of the highly regarded Greek and Roman mythology podcast, Let’s Speak About Myths, Child. I like Liv’s present. I used to be actually glad to speak to her. When you’re not conversant in it, it’s a twice weekly podcast during which Liv dives deep into the main points of historical Greek and Roman myths and the historical past that surrounded them. She brings a very cool perspective, loads of humor, sarcasm, and a contemporary lens to those tales. And he or she’s constructed up a very enormous listener face. The present will get thousands and thousands of downloads per 12 months. We talked to Liv in regards to the origins of the present and what she’s discovered constructing such a profitable podcast from the bottom up.
Ian: Clearly, podcasts have been round for some time, however I really feel like so many different issues, they actually blew up through the pandemic. So it was tremendous cool to speak to somebody who actually constructed a present from the bottom up and grew an viewers and a group round it. Podcasts are clearly a brilliant fascinating format for content material. And with the entire consideration it’s been getting these days, it’s one thing that lots of people are . And Liv had so many nice issues to say, not nearly what makes a podcast particular, but additionally what makes good content material and how one can take your personal ardour and enthusiasm to make one thing that’s going to attach with an viewers.
Meredith: Yeah, it was nice to listen to from her on that. So with out additional ado, we hope you prefer it. Right here’s our convo.
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Meredith: Thanks a lot for becoming a member of content material folks and being on this episode.
Liv: Thanks a lot for having me. It’s very good.
Meredith: I’m so excited. I do know we have been simply chatting a second in the past about this, however I’ve been a very long time listener of your podcast. My good friend Brianna really turned me on to let’s discuss myths, child. And he or she was really additionally on a later episode of this podcast.
So for listeners who aren’t conversant in you, may you share just a little bit about who you’re and what your podcast is about?
Liv: Yeah, so I’m Liv Albert. I created and host the podcast, let’s discuss myths, child, which is a factor I nonetheless dislike saying in entrance of different folks and simply the identify, not the podcast, clearly. Yeah, I began it about 5 and a half years in the past. I discuss Greek mythology. I retell tales and over the previous few years, I’ve taken to talking with like teachers and specialists and authors and all these completely different unimaginable folks in regards to the historical world and mainly each side at this level. I’ll take something if it options the traditional Mediterranean in any respect. That’s simply mainly my complete life at this level.
Meredith: When did your love of Greek mythology start and what do you suppose drew you to it?
Liv: So humorous, I get requested this like actually on a regular basis and I by no means have an amazing reply as a result of it’s mainly that like I’ve cherished it since I used to be a child, however I don’t keep in mind like the place that got here from particularly apart from I used to be a toddler. I do keep in mind in grade seven and I say grade seven as a result of I’m Canadian. That’ll come out fairly fast.
I had this instructor who not solely taught us Greek mythology, but additionally he had us watch the there’s like this mini sequence from the 90s that like I’m of an age the place after I was in grade seven and for him to point out us, it meant that he had like a VHS recording that he needed to roll a TV into the room and play this and we needed to quick ahead the commercials as a result of it was recorded from TV and all that.
However yeah, it was like this mini sequence of the Odyssey and that’s all I keep in mind is like having to observe that. I barely keep in mind what’s in it. I simply keep in mind watching that and have it’s like if it wasn’t the catalyst, it simply drew me deeper into Greek mythology
Meredith: For positive. I believe we’re of the identical age, so just like the previous recollections. I believe I watched that. What’s the identify of the man that’s in it? It’s like Armand.
Liv: Sure, yeah, precisely Armand, one thing in loads and like I don’t keep in mind what elements of the odyssey it featured, I simply know, we watched it.
Meredith: Oh my, I yeah, I completely do not forget that one and I believe that was my intro to Greek mythology as effectively, though I didn’t keep it up in the identical method. That’s actually that’s fascinating.
So all proper, myths, I consider it as the unique content material and I’m actually tempted to dive proper into questions on myths as a result of I do know you’re such an skilled, however as a result of this podcast is about artistic work and loads of creatives are listening, I need to one, acknowledge that you’ve achieved a big success via your content material and two, guarantee that as we go, I’m doing my finest to mine your experiences for actionable recommendation for listeners who additionally would possibly need to create one thing for themselves.
And so first, one factor I’m very interested by is to ask you to share just a little bit in regards to the daily work of me teaming equivalent to profitable and it could appear to me actually labor and analysis heavy podcast, like what goes into an episode and what’s per week or two in your life typically like?
Liv: Yeah, so first I’d suggest to anybody wanting to do that to not do it the best way that I’ve finished it, which is that I’m now incapable of relinquishing management on so many issues. And whereas I do have an assistant now, she mainly simply does the stuff that I’d have by no means had time to do if I didn’t have her.
So like hiring her simply gave us extra stuff. It didn’t take a lot off of my plate as a result of I’m a large number. However that’s all to say, yeah, it’s extremely labor intensive. I typically simply continually search for ways in which I could make it simpler on myself and I’ve but to search out them. However mainly, I launch two episodes of the podcast each week on Tuesdays. I do what I name a story episode. It’s the place it’s simply me telling tales from Greek mythology. Or on this case proper now, I’m within the midst of this huge historical past sequence on Sparta, which is much more analysis intensive in a method that makes me query every thing I’ve ever finished. However for the common episodes, for the Greek fable episodes, it does require loads of analysis.
Fortunately, I’m fairly good at analysis now. And one of many issues that’s humorous is I can’t even actually surrender the analysis facet to my assistant as a result of every thing I do in analysis, I do like concurrently whereas writing it. So I’ll have eight books open round me, like 10 completely different web sites. And I’m simply studying this stuff and typing the script as I’m going. And so these episodes at all times have a script. It sounds actually off the cuff loads of the time, I prefer to suppose no less than, however it’s fully scripted for probably the most half. It’s similar to a stream of consciousness scripted. So it nonetheless feels like an individual rambling. However these are like 5 to 6 thousand phrases that I’m writing and researching each week.
After which Friday episodes are both like, I’ll simply learn one thing from the traditional world that’s like a translation that’s within the public area. And thus is like copyright free, or I will probably be talking to 2 teachers, specialists, authors and issues like that. In order that requires me to schedule and document and edit these conversations, which is why I generally do the studying episodes, as a result of they’re significantly simpler. So after I must make my life just a little bit nicer in per week, I’ll do a kind of as a substitute. However typically I don’t as a result of I’ve too many superb those who I’ve already recorded with or need to document with. And it simply finally ends up like that. So like I’m recording with any individual tomorrow. And so it, I yeah, it’s loads of work, mainly, if that solutions the query. But it surely’s clearly finished me effectively.
Meredith: Yeah, that’s actually fascinating. As you’re speaking, it’s reminding me just a little little bit of possibly like startup founders who’ve created one thing that’s like wholly of them. And even determining easy methods to in any method divide and delegate feels completely not possible. So what it feels like is such an fascinating course of.
So you’re researching and writing in actual time. And that’s for the not, however the scripted, however the simply you Tuesday episode. And then you definitely’re additionally coordinating, researching and enhancing the dialog episodes. And that’s occurring in actual time each week. Or do you do a number of forward of time? Like, how do you’re employed that?
Liv: I attempt to do a number of forward of time. However clearly, as a result of they’re so labor intensive, it’s typically not likely attainable as a result of there’s solely so many phrases you’ll be able to write in per week. And when one episode is 5 to six,000, additionally they continue to grow. Prefer it was extra like three to 4,000. And I simply preserve getting wordier and having an excessive amount of to say in each episode. In order that’s partially on me.
However I’m additionally actually acutely aware, like I’ve adverts in my present and that’s how I pay the payments. However I additionally by no means need the episode so quick that the adverts are overwhelming. So whereas I used to do what I known as mini myths have been like quick, temporary episodes. Now I don’t actually suppose that I’ve the flexibility to be that temporary anymore as a result of I’m too obsessive about the entire intricacies within the historical world, like that’s simply include what number of years I’ve been doing this. But additionally I by no means need to launch episodes which are so quick that the adverts develop into excessive. So it’s at all times like a juggling act with that as effectively, which wasn’t actually the query that you simply requested. However yeah, it’s all occurring in actual time for probably the most half. And I do attempt to batch put together so typically I’ll do this with if I’m doing a studying episode, as a result of I can do these just a little simpler. So if I’m having a day the place I can simply bang out a few of these, I’ll, or if I’ve a bunch of conversations, I attempt to edit them in order that they’re able to go. As an example, like all my Sparta conversations are able to go now. And I’m working extra on the analysis ones as we go. Sorry, my, I’m attempting to not breathe immediately into my microphone, however I’m speaking an excessive amount of, my respiratory is troubling.
In order that’s mainly how I deal with these. My purpose is at all times to have like no less than a month ready prematurely. However as a result of they’re so labor intensive, and I battle with ADHD, that was not an issue till I grew to become full time with the podcast. And now it’s very arduous to do issues prematurely as a result of I would like the deadline to be able to drive my mind to do them. So it turns into, yeah it’s tough, however that’s at all times a purpose. It’s to work forward.
Meredith: Wow, that’s actually fascinating. I’m listening to the Sparta sequence for what it’s price. And I completely adore it. It’s so fascinating. And I really feel like while you hear, you’ll be able to really feel like they really feel like laborers of affection and like a real dedication to you being as thorough and complete and considerate as attainable about this. These are actually fascinating ideas. And I’m like, what do you, why do you even use sources? How do you discover your sources for these very complicated and in-depth tales?
Liv: The Sparta ones for one, thanks. I’m glad to listen to individuals are having fun with the Sparta ones. I’ve heard it from just a few folks and it really, prefer it makes a very huge distinction as a result of these are like a whole, like me stepping out of all of my consolation zones and speaking about not solely historical past, however this a part of historical past that I’m not that conversant in. I did my BA, however I’m 10 years previous now. And what do I keep in mind from it? Not almost sufficient. And so the historical past ones are rather more daunting for me and I’m questioning whether or not I’m simply rambling and sounding like I make any sense. However to date, so good.
However so for the analysis of the Sparta sequence, the one method I used to be in a position to do it’s that the assistant that I employed final 12 months, Michaela Smith, is one superb, however two, she is learning classics in college. And so she not solely has a more energizing grasp on all of this, however she additionally has entry to school publications and college libraries and every thing. So fortunately, like the entire analysis, basically she pulled every thing that we may need after which put it into a method by which I may then use it. And we’ve been engaged on the scripts collectively loads in a method that we don’t for the mythology as a result of I, it’s simply me storytelling for the time being. However for these ones, there’s much more she’s been writing a ton primarily based on her personal analysis and information.
After which I’ll go in and make it extra my voice, my humor, all these various things and like flesh it out with what I need to say and make it rather less educational as a result of she’s caught in that headspace, which is de facto useful for me. And I’ll simply choose via it and alter what I would like. So for the Sparta one which’s been totally primarily based on her, however with regards to the mythology, like I’ve now spent so a few years doing this, just like the analysis strategies I take advantage of now versus 5 years in the past are unbelievably completely different. So the place I used to simply Google issues and see what I may discover and piece stuff collectively or I had one guide of Greek myths that I used to be doing that and it was like, a retelling guide, like a guide, a scholar wrote of Greek myths fairly than the unique sources. And now I’m like, it’s very uncommon that I’ll use something that’s not a main supply like from the traditional world. And when it’s, it’s this two quantity set that I’ve, which is totally ineffective to anybody who’s simply coming at mythology from a interest standpoint.
And for any individual like me, it’s deeply so useful. It’s known as early Greek myths by Timothy Gantz. And it’s like a supply guide. Mainly this educational went via and picked out each reference to each character in each historical supply. And he places all of them collectively and talks about what’s the identical and what’s completely different and what these bizarre issues are and who mentioned what and when and he typically has sources which are fragmentary or partially misplaced in a method that it’s typically arduous to search out that as effectively. In order that’s fully invaluable. There’s additionally a web site that’s like a lifesaver as a result of it compiles loads of historical sources as effectively. So mainly I’ll say I’m fairly acquainted now with the place to search out historical sources. I’ve so many books and so many alternative locations the place I can discover them.
So it’s simply loads of piercing via one million completely different sources attempting to stay to authentic sources or historical sources fairly or, students writing about these sources and it’s fairly wild. However I’ve simply turned it into an artwork at this level and might just about discover something.
Meredith: Yeah, sounds prefer it. Someplace associated to the trailer for the present or no less than it was after I first began listening, which was just a few years in the past, you referenced, you mentioned, Hey guys, like begin at this episode quantity. And I believe the message was one thing to the impact of round this episode is while you really feel such as you honed in on easy methods to inform a narrative and the way we wished the podcast to be.
And one, I discovered that even simply fascinated by it now as somebody who’s finished like 10 episodes of a podcast, I discover that basically comforting as a result of it’s like, yep, you bought to do loads of these earlier than you actually determine easy methods to do it. However you’re so good at it. Are you able to inform me just a little bit about what you discovered about storytelling and podcasting from these early days?
Liv: Oh, God, yeah. The factor about podcasts that’s each superb and so irritating is that they simply dwell without end, regardless of while you recorded them. Episodes I recorded and put on the market 5 and a half years in the past, individuals are coming to them as in the event that they’re a model new factor they’re listening to for good or unhealthy. It may be troubling. What you’re referencing is definitely the very first episode of the present has a disclaimer up on the prime. It says round this episode, I acquired higher at what I’m doing, I acquired higher at researching, I acquired a greater microphone, blah, blah, blah. And so I do have that on the very starting of the primary episode. And does it persuade folks?
No, everybody begins with the primary episode. My first episode is at all times the primary downloads of my complete present, together with I believe it was about one tenth of my whole downloads for this 12 months, which is sort of a reference. So yeah, like 2022, I had a complete of 400 episodes, clearly not launched in 2022. However by the tip of the 12 months, my present had 400 episodes accessible within the feed. And out of these 400, like our whole, I acquired one thing over 10 million, I believe downloads final 12 months. And a million of these downloads was my first episode.
Why are you doing this to me? It will get so a lot better. As a result of lots of people cease after the primary one too, or depart me opinions the place they’re like, she’s unhealthy at researching. And I’m like I advised you that I acknowledged it. I’m higher now. It’s nearly like I’ve been doing this for 5 years, and there’s 400 episodes, like possibly the primary 5 aren’t one of the best reference factors. Anyway, I really feel very strongly about it. But additionally, they get probably the most downloads, in order that they’re not getting deleted.
However that’s all to say I began this podcast as a interest, explicitly, as a result of I used to be actually depressed, and I hated my job. I’d gone via a full blown quarter life disaster and stop my profession that I’d labored every thing for and moved throughout the nation residence ish, however not residence. And so it was similar to I used to be in a deeply messy place, and I used to be tremendous depressed, and lonely, and all I did was hearken to podcasts. And even like we talked about earlier than we began recording, such as you develop these sorts of relationships with the podcasters that you simply hearken to, they usually’re like buddies. And that was simply my entire factor. And I began one purely as a result of I used to be like this might be my factor too, like I may simply do that as a solution to go the time to really feel much less depressed, what have you ever.
And that’s 100% why I began the present. And so it was actually piecemeal, it was like, I explicitly do not forget that most likely the primary three or 4 episodes, I wrote the script primarily in my cellphone’s notes app whereas I used to be not doing the job that I hated, whereas I used to be sitting in my workplace typing and like I used to be so I used to be studying on like Wikipedia and like different no matter different web sites I may get on my cellphone, on my cellphone whereas I used to be like additionally writing within the notes app. So that they have been very simply they have been a stream of consciousness, however in a really completely different method from what I do now. And it was simply thrown collectively and simply no matter got here to me.
And so I believe they’re good. And I don’t suppose that they have been unhealthy by way of like storytelling, however they weren’t as correct as I would really like, as detailed, they glossed over loads of issues. All of the misogynists on the market who hate my present would say that I discussed the patriarchy an excessive amount of. I didn’t actually change that, however I acquired higher at it.
And I believe it’s only a matter of the extra you’re doing it and the extra sources you get to I believe the episodes the place I made a decision I acquired higher at it was after I began the Iliad. And that’s as a result of I used to be studying the Iliad, whereas earlier than I had been studying like books of Greek myths which are written by folks at the moment, versus the traditional sources. However with the Iliad, I needed to inherently go to the traditional sources and I believe that sort of switched one thing for me. And I spotted the worth of being completely or wherever attainable, completely with historical sources, and what that did each for my element and accuracy and so many alternative issues.
And so yeah, I believe it’s only a matter of it’s simply observe, proper? It’s simply with podcasts, observe stays within the feed without end. Whereas for those who’re writing a novel, you’re going to undergo 10 completely different drafts and nobody’s ever going to see these. However a podcast, particularly while you’re not beginning it with an organization backing you with producers with editors with all these various things, such as you’re simply beginning it with nevertheless you’re going to begin it. And yeah, like the primary most likely 20 episodes of my present or observe that everybody will get to hearken to without end.
Meredith: One million folks a 12 months hearken to and perpetuate.
Liv: Yeah. I really simply heard from a professor at a college who was like, I simply need to let you already know that I assigned your first episode to my class they usually actually cherished it. And he or she mentioned all these extremely form issues. However I used to be like, Oh, God, no, not my first episode. Choose a unique one. I’m so a lot better now.
Meredith: I ponder, do you suppose that okay, do you suppose they are surely that unhealthy? Or do you suppose you have been, have been you arduous in your set more durable on your self within the early days?
Liv: So I believe unhealthy is the flawed phrase to make use of by way of how I actually really feel. I don’t suppose that they’re unhealthy. I simply suppose that they’re not illustration of what my present has been for the final three to 4 years. And I’m happy with what the present is now. I’m happy with what it was again then too. But it surely was a unique present. It was leisure. It was similar to, right here’s a enjoyable and quippy fable. It’s going to be 20 minutes lengthy. It’s going to be actually floor stage. You’re going to have enjoyable. It’s advantageous.
And I don’t suppose there’s something flawed with that. However what my present is now’s an actual deep dive into the traditional world, the traditional sources, the context, the nuance, the historical past, every thing in a method that I like. And I believe lots of people additionally simply favor storytelling. So most likely these early episodes are finest for them. However I like every thing I’ve discovered and the main points I can go into now and the nuance and the historical past of actually every thing like I’m obsessive about that. And so to me, like I’m simply far more proud. And I believe that my present present is simply higher in all of these respects, but it surely is sort of a choice factor, most likely greater than something.
Meredith: If you say historical sources I don’t I’m, are you able to clarify precisely what that’s? I don’t know. I actually know.
Liv: That’s honest. Yeah. I’m going to make use of loads of phrases which are completely regular for me. So please ask about something. However historical sources, I, so what I imply by that’s the sources that truly come from the traditional world. So I learn them in translation, however they’re from the traditional world. So I’m speaking in regards to the Iliad, the Odyssey, Homer’s works, quote unquote Homer, he most likely wasn’t an actual man. However these are the works that now we have his identify on. Or the traditional performs, the performs of Euripides and Aeschylus and Sophocles.
These are a few of my favorites to cowl. Euripides is my favourite. He’s the best possible. So these are performs that have been written within the historical world, written within the fifth century BCE carried out within the fifth century. They usually simply survive for us to learn at the moment. So the comparability between one thing that was written in historical Greece and survives for us to learn in translation, like the choice is say books of Greek fable which are written by folks within the final 100 years. So Edith Hamilton is probably the most well-known, I’d say. However there are such a lot of, I wrote one, mine is a, is an instance of this, folks writing in regards to the Greek myths, however from our, from now, simply during the last 100 years.
And sometimes what they’re doing is a bunch of various historical sources, they usually’re placing all of it collectively. However typically, they’re doing that, after which they’re inserting their very own narratives and generally biases, just like the guide that I had that I used to be utilizing on the early days of the podcast, I simply discovered, it’s simply known as the Greek myths and prefer it was on sale at a bookstore and I used to be actually broke and doing this only for enjoyable. In order that’s the one I purchased and that’s the one I learn. And I’ve seemed again on elements of it now. And it has all of those fully invented issues which are typically tremendous misogynist, and it presents them as if that’s precisely what was mentioned within the precise Greek, the traditional sources, the Greek mythology.
Whereas that is completely a person inserting his personal wild insults to girls which are like not within the historical sources in any respect. So typically while you’re studying these ones, and sadly, they’re probably the most accessible, they’re probably the most complete, they’re the best method so that you can discover the entire tales similar to an on a regular basis particular person accessing them. However they will typically be tremendous inaccurate by way of what we do know in regards to the historical world. They usually can typically be, as a result of for probably the most half, every thing’s been written by males up till very not too long ago, they will typically be actually misogynistic. And also you don’t know while you suppose like the traditional world was tremendous misogynistic, but it surely wasn’t that unhealthy. Like this man may even make it worse, which is saying one thing. Yeah, so it’s like that’s the massive distinction and why I’m so particular now the place I’m going to be referring to the traditional sources wherever attainable.
Meredith: So you’re taking what I understand as a really intentionally intersectional lens when telling and deciphering these myths. And I’m curious if, and also you’re answering it, however a query I got here into this eager to ask you was, do you suppose that these myths initially spring from a patriarchal heterosexual lens? Or is {that a} extra latter day retelling that we’re nonetheless disentangling ourselves from? I don’t know if that’s clear. Mainly, I’m questioning, I used to be eager to ask you for those who thought the myths began off as sexist as they appear.
Liv: The primary phrasing or query I believe is even higher. And I fully get it. So I’m completely going to reply that as a result of it’s just a little little bit of each in a method that I believe is de facto fascinating. So there’s going to be loads right here. Mainly, the traditional sources as now we have them now have been completely developed in a patriarchal society. Patriarchal, sure, heterosexual, no, which I believe is fascinating. So the time during which these items like say the Iliad and the Odyssey, I’m simply going to make use of these as one of the best instance as a result of they’re additionally the earliest surviving sources now we have from historical Greece. So that they’re from in regards to the eighth or ninth centuries BCE, among the oldest.
So that they have been developed in a patriarchal society. They have been developed round that point. They may not have been written down till later as a result of every thing comes from an oral storytelling custom. So round that eighth, ninth century, these have been oral tales that have been advised by touring bards. For this reason we predict Homer was most likely not an actual particular person. It was most likely various touring bards that may journey the Greek world. They’d inform these tales, however they might sing them their songs set to music.
So it’s not even simply poetry, like they’re completely songs set to music, they might sing them in entrance of a bunch of individuals, night time after night time, issues would change as a result of there have been completely different folks singing them. So all of them sung in regards to the Iliad, all of them sung in regards to the wrath of Achilles, however they might insert issues, change issues, alter, probably primarily based on the place they have been telling the story to whom, all of this stuff they might need to like function that area extra closely or there’s all these completely different connections that might make and why this stuff have been continually altering as a result of it was solely ever spoken aloud. After which ultimately they have been written down into issues that now we have survived at the moment. So that they have been each developed and written down in a patriarchal society. Nevertheless,
the teams that existed in the identical areas earlier than and influenced the gods that exist within the Greek mythology that we all know have been, nevertheless lengthy, far again, most likely 1000 years earlier than, they have been matriarchal in a method, or we predict that they have been, we don’t have writing, however now we have loads of collectible figurines which are girls which have breasts and every thing. We have now loads of people who counsel that they have been typically pretty matriarchal, if not fully, like they have been, they worshiped goddess far more than they did by the point of the works that now we have, if that makes any sense within the Bronze Age and earlier, they worshiped girls much more.
And on their very own there’s loads of goddesses that have been most likely developed in that point after which handed all the way down to develop into the goddesses of Greek fable, Athena, Aphrodite, Gaia. They initially most likely have been extra goddess-based after which they simply grew to become these lesser characters that they’re within the works that now we have. Numerous it’s simply primarily based on archaeology, not textual content, as a result of we don’t have, we don’t have tales from that point. We solely have if now we have any writing, it tends to be, like, actually sensible what existed within the palaces on the time.
And so all to say, like, all to say they have been all developed in that world, however additionally they have these leanings of goddesses. And you may really feel the place these goddesses are available in. Aphrodite is extremely sturdy. She is extremely sexually transgressive. She will get to do no matter she needs. And he or she’s married, however she doesn’t, she’s not along with her husband very a lot. She has children with a bunch of different folks. She is a very good instance of this goddess that most likely got here to us via an initially matriarchal society and became what we all know of Aphrodite at the moment. And so there’s loads in there. However with regards to the heterosexual aspect, that’s, for probably the most half, one thing that happened extra when Christianity took maintain and that we’re nonetheless pulling aside at the moment. The traditional Greeks weren’t notably heterosexual, however additionally they weren’t gay in the best way that we consider it now. They, loads of completely different city-states, primarily Athens and Sparta, or Sparta was just a little bit completely different. I’m going to speak about it with regards to Athens, as a result of they’d this observe known as pederasty, which is tremendous gross.
As a result of what it’s that older males would have a younger man slash boy who they might mentor, but it surely was additionally an inherently sexual relationship. And it was, like, it was undoubtedly affection-based and romantic at instances as effectively. They normally had wives as effectively. So there’s this actually, they simply didn’t take into account sexuality like we did. There’s no notion of homosexual, straight, bi, no matter. There’s simply nothing. It’s simply no matter is occurring. They didn’t marry the identical gender or issues like that. However they undoubtedly had sexual relationships. And if girls did, amongst different girls, we don’t actually have it clear as a result of they didn’t actually consider it that method.
They most likely wouldn’t have seen it as intercourse. So it didn’t are available in, but it surely was most likely occurring loads. However as a result of it wasn’t penetrative, they didn’t see it as intercourse. And so we don’t hear about it. It’s actually fascinating. We do have the poet Sappho from the Island of Lesbos. She is why now we have the phrase lesbian as a result of she wrote love songs to girls. And he or she was a lesbian as a result of she was from the Island of Lesbos. And that’s actually the place the phrase comes from. So there may be that. However she’s a one-off. And lots of people will let you know that her love poem songs weren’t about girls, that she was writing them for a person to offer to a girl as a result of they prefer to fully erase her sexuality, no matter it
was. It’s actually fascinating. However, yeah, mainly, the heterosexuality that we assign to all of that’s undoubtedly Christian slash trendy. But additionally it’s simply it’s a must to ignore every thing you already know about gender and sexuality. With regards to the traditional world, in an interesting method, I may go on without end.
So I’ll cease myself now.
Meredith: Now, that’s so fascinating. I need to be sure I’ve it proper. As you’re speaking, I’m nearly picturing a chemistry set. That sounds bizarre. But it surely’s like these historical prototypical myths are, this liquid that then via these completely different lenses of the tradition of the time will get distilled in numerous methods.
So it’s if I find yourself, I believe I’ve the order proper, however right me if I’m flawed. So Bronze Age, most likely extra matriarchal, among the Greek goddesses that we all know have been most likely greater gamers and worshiped a bit greater than it’s into the traditional Greeks, the place there’s not essentially a heterosexual lens, however there’s definitely a patriarchal lens utilized to the mores of the tales. After which we sadly lose a ton of the traditional texts. After which there’s these Bards in additional like darkish, round, did you say round 800 BCE?
Liv: So the Bards are literally like actually early historical Greece. Oh, okay. And yeah. So and I’ll make clear too, it’s most likely earlier than the Bronze Age, the place it was matriarchal. However the Bronze Age has just a little bit extra of it leftover. However the Bronze Age is the place we first get, like, all the most important stuff that we take into consideration. However there is no such thing as a, or there’s minimal writing that comes from that point. So there’s loads of completely different intervals in historical Greece. The Bronze Age is like 2000 BCE to 1200-ish. After which there’s this huge decline. Lots of people debate loads of various things about what occurred.
So I gained’t strive to try this. However then there may be like this early Iron Age interval, the place it’s actually transitional. We’re coping with a whole change in writing programs. So the writing that now we have from the Bronze Age there are like parts that come into the traditional Greek that we all know now, but it surely’s fairly completely different. After which that’s when now we have this emergence of the oral storytelling custom. So we’re speaking like nearly proper after the Bronze Age. After which there’s the Archaic interval, which comes after that, which is like among the historical Greece that we consider, just like the Persian Wars. That’s just like the sixth, seventh centuries. After which we transfer into the Classical interval, which is what you actually consider. That’s when all of the philosophers are round. That’s when all of the playwrights are round. That’s when Athens goes to conflict with Sparta. After which from there, it’s just like the hellenistic interval, which comes after Alexander the Nice and all of this, after which the Roman interval. So mainly, like all of that’s patriarchal. Beforehand, there are these goddess collectible figurines that we predict counsel a matriarchal society, no less than in some areas.
However yeah, the storytelling is definitely like oral storytelling of the touring bards is just like the earliest writing or tales that now we have now. Additionally, I spotted, so the early Iron Age is typically known as the Darkish Ages. It’s a brilliant problematic time period although, really, as a result of Darkish Ages counsel one thing in regards to the folks when really what it simply means is a scarcity of sources, which is why now we have the Darkish Ages, the time interval I don’t even know, like extra not too long ago, I’m actually unhealthy with every thing after BC. But it surely simply refers to a scarcity of sources, but it surely suggests one thing in regards to the those who finally ends up being dangerous. However in Greece, they name it the Darkish Ages, but it surely’s really the early Iron Age interval as a result of it’s not darkish. We have now writing, now we have proof, like all these various things clarify it’s not really a Darkish Ages. However folks do generally name it that also. However yeah, that’s just like the early Darkish Ages. It’s just like the Greek Darkish Ages versus a thousand years later, when there’s one other quote unquote Darkish Ages.
Meredith: In order that is sensible. Sure. So the oral custom is going on. And that’s occurring earlier than the extra classical period. Is that proper?
Liv: Yeah. Yeah. In order that’s once we acquired just like the Iliad and the Odyssey and a lot extra that we don’t that has been misplaced or by no means written down within the first place. After which the classical interval is the place we get a number of writing as a result of it’s when the philosophers are coming in, they’re writing a lot stuff. Plato wrote method an excessive amount of. He was excessive. After which the playwrights the place now we have so lots of their performs surviving and lots of that we all know are lacking. After which there’s additionally like we solely have three surviving tragedians. So writers of tragedy, once we know there have been so many extra, however solely three like work from three of them survive.
After which there are the comedy writers too, of the classical interval. So there’s simply a lot content material from the classical interval. Whereas within the archaic interval, there’s much less and within the early Iron Ages, there’s even much less. So yeah, it’s simply sort of the development of that. However one factor that’s actually necessary to consider is that every thing we have a tendency to speak about with regards to historical Greece from the philosophers to the playwrights to simply this common thought of what we consider for the classical interval broadly. And like that sort of influences how we see historical Greece typically tends to come back from Athens. Athens was a significant participant in that interval. However they weren’t as huge earlier.
They usually definitely weren’t just like the be all and finish all of historical Greece is simply that’s the place the writing that not solely the writing that survives to us at the moment tends to come back from, however notably additionally the writing that folks have been learning for the final 1000 years. And over the previous few many years and centuries, I’d say, individuals are beginning to take a look at issues from different areas. However up till this level, we’re actually closely influenced by Athens. So every thing comes via this actually sturdy ethnocentric lens that influences what we predict. And so Athens was tremendous patriarchal. Athens, girls in Athens, their lives sucked. However we are able to’t say that with certainty about the remainder of Greece. Their lives have been completely different in Sparta, like marginally higher, however largely simply completely different. After which elsewhere, there’s like much more sorts of query marks. So loads of what we are inclined to say about historical Greece, particularly within the classical interval and archaic too, to an extent, is rather like Athens.
Whereas Athens is a small a part of the bigger Greece, which can also be reminder that historical Greece was not a unified place in any respect. They have been at all times preventing with one another. We name them historical Greece now, but it surely was like a bunch of small states that generally would workforce up with each other. However finally, they have been all like particular person folks, particular person like states, and doing their very own factor, writing their very own stuff, having their very own dialects of Greek, like all that. It was actually broadly unfold out. And we simply now put all of it underneath one umbrella of historical Greece.
Meredith: So for the sources that aren’t from Athens of that point, have they at all times been round and simply of much less curiosity? Or have been these different areas simply a lot much less prolific that now we have to attempt to surmise issues in regards to the tradition versus Athens?
There’s such a physique of labor we are able to actually dig in. Like why haven’t we centered extra exterior of Athens but?
Liv: I’m much less sure about that. That’s extra of a query for academia, I believe, and particularly additionally how a lot exists from past Athens. Broadly, as a result of I’m researching Sparta now, I’ve a greater thought of that. And with regards to Sparta, nearly every thing we find out about Sparta was really written not by Spartans in any respect. Most of it was by Athenians who have been their enemies. So it’s actually fascinating attempting to piece aside what occurred in Sparta. We have now writing from a few poets of Sparta, however simply poets. So now we have a little bit of poetry, but it surely doesn’t actually inform us something in regards to the society. So I’d say it’s most likely 90% that the work from Athens is what really survived, primarily as a result of Athens was a spot the place they have been extra keen on writing issues down for survival.
It wasn’t that they have been smarter or extra fascinating, it’s simply that they have been particularly extra keen on issues which are survivable now. They have been the massive place for the tragedies, the performs, and in order that’s what survives from there, that’s the place the philosophers have been. After which simply typically, loads of it’s not coincidence as a result of you’ll be able to see why, but it surely isn’t as a result of they have been notably particular. They have been like a powerhouse, however they’re additionally simply keen on stuff that occurs to outlive. But additionally the important thing to all of that is to ensure that one thing to outlive from the traditional world, lots of of various folks and teams need to make acutely aware selections for it to outlive, apart from just a few actually uncommon instances. As a result of the bodily work from, say the Iliad and the Odyssey, the place it was most likely written down within the seventh century, so like 600 BCE, to ensure that one thing to outlive from that point, it doesn’t simply survive within the type that existed again then, as a result of for probably the most half, except it was written all on clay tablets that someway survived, which is unlikely, this stuff could have fallen aside.
And so it tends to be like folks need to have copied them for posterity. Numerous that is available in through the Byzantine interval the place they’d all these libraries and the Byzantines have been copying loads of stuff. So now we have the Byzantine interval and that space to thank for many of what survives at the moment. And so like loads over time, so many alternative folks needed to make these selections to maintain copying these works in order that they survive. So it’s additionally prefer it was as a result of the Athenians wrote down loads of issues. After which it was as a result of these completely different folks have been within the Athenians writing. After which subsequent, like lots of of years later, these folks have been . So it’s only a sequence of various those who now we have no management over having to have determined that they prefer to preserve a factor excluding actually uncommon issues, however actually fascinating ones. So we all know that there have been a ton of Tragedians writing these Greek tragedies yearly, they’d this huge theater competition, they usually carried out a bunch of them yearly.
We have now a bunch, we all know a bunch of names of people that wrote them down, or who created these performs, however we solely have surviving performs from three completely different folks. East Coast and Sophocles, now we have, I believe it’s like between six and 9 performs that survive from every of them that we are able to learn now. And people gained’t survive. And the identical common quantity from Euripides survive as a result of they have been taught in Byzantine colleges. So the Byzantine faculty system used them to show their college students. And so now we have all these copies that have been in a position to survive as a result of the Byzantines, who have been most likely what they have been nearly a thousand years after, if not like near that, as a result of they have been selecting to review this stuff, they survived for us at the moment.
Aside from Euripides the place he had a bunch of performs the place they weren’t taught at school. So that they’re the performs that like loads much less folks cared about, they have been much less fashionable, folks most likely thought they have been unhealthy it’s like several filmmaker or artist artistic now, you’re gonna have works that aren’t ideally suited, and individuals are not going to recollect them or they’re, and it’s not going to be for good causes. And on your sake, for the opposite playwrights, we don’t know what their work was unhealthy, we don’t know the unhealthy ones as a result of they’re misplaced. By Euripides, now we have a bunch that survived as a result of this Byzantine collector had all of Euripides’ performs on these scrolls. And the scrolls every contained I don’t know, a handful, possibly 10 performs in a single scroll. They have been alphabetical. And one among his scrolls survives. So it’s like English letters H via Ok, I believe or one thing. It’s like just a few completely different letters within the alphabet that this one’s this one scroll survives.
And so we now have I believe it’s like possibly 10 of Euripides’ performs which are meh, they’re those that folks didn’t love within the historical world. We’re not learning in colleges. They’re simply the random performs on this letter group. They usually’re known as the alphabet performs now. And mainly, as a result of this one factor managed to outlive, not deliberately, it was random, now we have all these performs that we wouldn’t in any other case have. And now we have this indication that not every thing was excellent. However that mentioned, too, now we have these performs that weren’t beloved within the historical world, however are like, so fascinating to review now.
So one among them is Helen, which I’ve lined on the present. And Helen is so fascinating, as a result of it’s this alternate universe of the Trojan Conflict, the place Helen doesn’t go to Troy in any respect, this ghost model of her goes to troy. And as a substitute, she is dropped at Egypt, the place she simply likes residing, ready all of it out for all of that point. And we’d not have that play in any other case, as a result of no person cared about it within the historical world. However now we have it now. And it’s fascinating and bizarre and funky. And it’s simply fully random, dumb luck that we even have it to learn at the moment. I’m actually obsessive about the alphabet, if that isn’t apparent.
Meredith: So while you had Emily, of the Fuck Boys of Literature on, and that was the primary time that I actually heard about this. And also you have been speaking about the concept there’s actually solely like a handful of the best hits that have been actually preserved and survived. However there are such a lot of different texts from this time that we simply don’t have entry to.
And it actually blew my thoughts. However you speaking in regards to the various universe Helen of Troy play, it makes me give it some thought. And in 500 years, individuals are like learning our Netflix cues for all times claims about our tradition. And it’s yeah, these weren’t that good. Nobody was that into them. However we did watch them after dinner generally.
Liv: Yeah, no, there’s simply a lot. And I believe now we have this concept that every thing from the traditional world is sensible and engaging and funky. But it surely’s that’s as a result of that’s the stuff that sufficient folks determined was sensible and engaging and funky that it exists at the moment. And at the moment, we don’t take into consideration that as a result of every thing is inherently a lot extra preservable between the web and similar to the standard of books and all these various things, prefer it’s simply so completely different. However again then with the issues that they’d and the writing constructions and the final custom, which was like, particularly with artwork on this method, the custom was to not write it down.
The custom was to simply go sing it to your folks. And so it needed to be actually deliberately written down as a result of there was like a function behind it. However what’s actually fascinating is how we all know all of the issues that we don’t know, as a result of there’s acquired to be loads that we don’t know existed, but it surely did, however we’ll by no means know. However there’s loads that we all know existed and it’s misplaced. And that’s simply because different folks would reference it of their writing and their writing survives.
So any individual can be like, so there’s this poet, there’s these two poets the place they wrote a ton, however not loads of it survives. Pherecrates is one and Simonides is one other. Pherecrates, I believe is the one I’m pondering of the place it’s we all know he wrote a lot mythology, however nearly nothing survives in full. Whereas as a substitute, it’s any individual like, say, Pseudo-Apollodorus was like, Pherecrates wrote this entire story about this and this. However we don’t have it, we all know it existed as a result of apollodorus wrote that it existed. So we like know that he learn it, however we are able to’t learn it. And I believe really it’d even be Pherecrates, any individual wrote a model of this story the place Helen doesn’t go to Troy, this ghost of her goes. We all know that it wasn’t invented by Euripides. He acquired the thought from an earlier poet, however not a lot of that poet’s work survives. We simply comprehend it existed in any respect.
Meredith: Oh my God. Have you ever seen the play Arcadia by Tom Stoppard? It’s my all time favourite performs and possibly one among my all time favourite works of literature. And there’s a, one of many important characters in it’s she’s within the 1800s. And he or she’s obsessed and so saddened to the, to distraction by all of those historical texts that have been misplaced and fires and it’s, and really in some methods the play is about like humanity coming to grips with the truth that we’ll lose and overlook issues on a regular basis and now we have to love reinvent it continually.
And this dialog is making me take into consideration that loads.
Liv: Yeah. I take into consideration this stuff the entire time. Like I’ve a operating listing of all of the Euripides performs that I do know existed, however I can’t learn and I’m mad about it on a regular basis. However there’s additionally so many huge query marks about like variations of tales or one factor that’s come up for me not too long ago is there’s this actually well-known fable of Cupid and Psyche and everybody thinks of Cupid and Psyche or definitely everybody in my circles. It’s a very main story, however the one model now we have that tells that story is written by a Roman novelist named Apuleus.
And I believe it’s fairly clear that he made most of it up, however we are able to’t make certain. There’s no proof that the story of their entire relationship existed in any comparable method within the Greek world. And so now we have to imagine that he made it up. But additionally he may have learn one other factor and developed his story primarily based off of that’s misplaced and we’ll by no means know. Or the little bit of the Trojan Conflict the place the Computer virus exists and the place Achilles, will get the arrow via his heel and we get all that, all of that stuff that’s like probably the most well-known elements of the Trojan Conflict. None of that truly exists in an historical Greek supply that survives. It exists in a Roman supply. And we all know that he was basing his work off of Greek sources that survived for him, however don’t survive for us now. So we all know the Computer virus and Achilles’ heel existed in Greek mythology and in Greek historical past, however we don’t even have that bodily work.
Meredith: I don’t need this to be a very gimmicky query. However I’d hate getting a query like this for the document. However for those who solely protect one Greek fable for the subsequent millennia have you learnt which one it could be?
Liv: Oh, I do know I’ve a solution. I don’t suppose it’s like an amazing reply primarily based on a ton of various components that most likely ought to be put into such an necessary query. However I’d simply say the Odyssey as a result of it’s nice. And I like the Odyssey. Yeah. In order that’s my favourite simple go-to. No, Greek fable, use a Greek fable. So I’m going to say the Odyssey. Yeah. As a result of in any other case, I’d have mentioned Euripides play, however performs are completely different. They don’t rely. It’s advantageous.
Meredith: And with out the Odyssey, you’d by no means have had your VHS mini sequence.
Liv: Precisely. Yeah, I’d have by no means develop into this. It’s nonetheless my favourite Greek epic. Odysseus is my problematic love. He does loads of unhealthy issues and I like him without end. Yeah, it’s all of the Odyssey for me. I do know we don’t have an excessive amount of time left. And I’ve, I’m sorry, I rant loads.
Meredith: I cherished it. And I presume. So I need to discuss just a little bit about Medusa with you. And I do know that it’s one thing that you simply talked a few bit. You’ve talked with different company and had actually fascinating questions and conversations round. And I additionally know I’m not on Twitter, however I do know you’ve talked about on the podcast that that is one which for you appears to mild up your Twitter everytime you’re tweeting about Medusa.
And I, I don’t know, I’ve at all times been actually drawn to it for some cause. And I shouldn’t say it for some cause. I believe there’s loads of complicated issues about girls’s energy in that fable. And it actually hits on some archetypal nerves in loads of methods. So possibly you could possibly give us a one minute abstract of Medusa. And like, why do you suppose it hits such a nerve with of us at the moment?
Liv: Okay, I’m going to do it actually, it’s going to be fast. And thus I’ll communicate loads of phrases very quick. So Medusa, oh gosh, there’s a lot. So the earliest type of Medusa is that this man named Hesiod. And he says that she was a Gorgon. He doesn’t describe what a Gorgon was. He says that she’s a Gorgon who was born to Forkis and Keto, who’re like sea monster goddesses or gods and goddesses.
After which he says that she suffered a woeful destiny. She was basically assaulted by Poseidon and like ultimately Perseus lower her head off. And in order that’s just like the earliest type of her story, like basically all of it. After which like a bunch of various issues change, there’s just a few completely different variations of it. However the huge one which will get picked up is Ovid, who’s a Roman writer, he’s writing most likely no less than seven or 800 years after Hesiod wrote that earlier bit.
And Ovid has this entire story the place really she’s this lovely lady and she or he’s a priestess of Athena and Poseidon once more assaults her however in Athena’s temple after which she will get punished by Athena for that her hair turns to snakes and she or he turns folks to stone. After which once more, Perseus comes and kills her. And so these are just like the fundamentals of it. However what folks I believe take maintain due to popular culture and so many alternative issues is this concept that she’s this terrifying monster who’s out to harm folks and deserves demise by Perseus. However none of that truly exists within the Greek fable. That was most likely a minute.
Meredith: No, that’s so just like the bizarre story in that within the telling of it, she’s punished for being assaulted basically.
Liv: In Ovid. Yeah.
Meredith: Okay. However then prefer it’s there’s this cultural understanding of her as this monster who loves turning folks to stone.
Liv: Yeah, none of that exists in Greek fable and actuality in historical Greek sources. So earlier than Ovid and never Ovid, she just isn’t ever proven as hurting anyone. We don’t know that she turned anyone to stone. We simply know that she may.
Yeah, like we don’t have proof that she ever did it. We simply know that like bodily she may and we actually solely know that as a result of her head afterwards turns issues to stone. However till her head is bodily caught from her physique, she doesn’t really hurt anyone. And Perseus just isn’t despatched to kill her as a result of she’s harmful.
That’s a very frequent false impression. Like he’s not despatched there as a result of she’s inflicting hassle or like she’s harming folks. He’s despatched there as a result of this king of Seriphos needs him useless in order that he can marry Perseus’s mother. And the best way that he thinks he can kill off Perseus with out angering the mom is to simply be like, hey, go get me her head, show that you simply’re a hero, go deliver me Medusa’s head. So it’s purely that he wants the top. It’s not like stopping any hurt or saving anyone. Prefer it’s simply completely randomly picked as a result of he, like this king, thinks that it’s going to kill Perseus to get her head.
However yeah, so like this entire thought develops that she’s like folks on Twitter have advised me by folks, I imply males, have advised me that like the explanation she needed to be killed is as a result of she was terrorizing the lands and like her demise alleviated a strain on the earth. And it’s all in your head, dude. And I can see your misogyny exhibiting like what are you speaking about? Nothing about that exists in Greek fable. The worst now we have is in Ovid the place she is surrounded by statues and the implication is that she turned folks to stone. However once more, that’s solely an Ovid and he’s already made her a sufferer of assault. Like he already makes her a sympathetic character. So it doesn’t even add something to the argument that she hurts folks.
Meredith: All proper, possibly it is a good solution to wrap it up is that I like the Greek myths. I’m a really linear thinker. And one factor that I discover complicated about them is I’m like, the place do I begin? Like, how do I, proper now, it typically appears to me like, it’s like attempting to grasp an eight season TV present by beginning in season 4. So if somebody was like, I actually desire a foundational understanding of the who’s who and the fundamental narrative right here, the place would you set them?
Liv: Oh so the primary factor I inform folks while you’re coming to Greek fable is you’ll be able to’t have that viewpoint. If you wish to really perceive it from the traditional world, if you wish to perceive it via a very trendy perspective, however lose the entire historical nuance, then you’ll be able to choose up any guide of Greek myths. I’d suggest one written by a girl as a result of we have a tendency to have the ability to push apart loads of the misogyny. Edith Hamilton is fairly good. It’s very previous. So it does have extra of that.
I wrote one, but it surely’s very floor stage. So there’s books. However the factor about Greek fable is that again to the oral storytelling I discussed, that’s the method that they meant the tales to be understood. And it was by no means about linearity. It was by no means about narrative construction. It was by no means about mainly it’s a must to overlook every thing you suppose you already know about what a narrative or a story ought to be. As a result of that was not the intention of any of those. Like they have been advised to similar to share tales round a fireplace or to elucidate one thing within the pure world or to elucidate the significance of sure areas and cities.
Like each space of historical Greece has some story related them to Heracles as a result of he was just like the hero for all Greece. And they also would all make up their very own tales of how he was related to their tradition. And sometimes it’s 5 phrases. And that’s like an entire story. As a result of it didn’t, it wasn’t about what we consider as tales. It was in regards to the general like function of what was being shared. So I believe one of the simplest ways to grasp it by way of the traditional world is to disregard every thing you suppose you need to find out about tales and to simply choose up something actually. However I perceive that that’s tough.
So there are like, gods, I don’t know, there’s simply there’s an excessive amount of to know to place it into one simple factor. I believe my present is an efficient reference level as a result of you’ll be able to nearly begin on any episode, so long as it’s not one that claims like half two of three in, within the title. And I’m going to offer you sufficient background and stuff. However I believe that the important thing and what I believe makes the best way I’m coming at these myths, notably related for the myths themselves, is the best way that they initially have been meant to be advised, which is that it wasn’t about this construction, it wasn’t about understanding all of it. You can’t have in your head a timeline as a result of timelines didn’t exist.
As a result of these tales have been advised over 800 years. Lots adjustments over 800 years. So it’s simply not about, it’s not about dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s as a result of that they didn’t care. It was like 800 years of tradition melded into these tales. And so the best way I do it’s story primarily based. So you’ll be able to simply click on a narrative you need to hear. But additionally, I give sufficient background and historical past and all these completely different variations and why and every thing. So I believe, yeah, I’ve loads of episodes to hearken to it’s daunting. However I believe that’s a great way to grasp the way it labored and why as a result of it’s a lot extra fascinating for those who perceive the why.
Meredith: All proper. That’s fascinating. Is there a specific episode of yours that you simply play for those who simply need to dip your toes and begin right here?
Liv: Let’s say the Theogony, not my first episode, which can also be in regards to the Theogony, however I did one final 12 months or the 12 months earlier than the place I went again and I did a way more detailed take a look at the Theogony. And I ought to clarify what the Theogony means. It actually simply means just like the start of the gods.
So basically, it’s just like the origin story of the entire gods. So it introduces a bunch of individuals and the place they arrive from and why and yeah, I don’t know. There’s simply, there’s a lot. There’s an excessive amount of.
Meredith: No, we are able to discover that Theogony and put it within the present notes for positive. And I’d additionally say I like your guide. So I’ve your guide. It’s known as Greek mythology, the gods goddesses and heroes handbook. Illustrations are beautiful.
I discovered it a useful reference level. I’m undoubtedly like at instances like, wait, who is that this particular person? And so I, for what it’s price, I’d actually suggest that to you. It’s actually been useful and simply so enjoyable to web page via for me.
Liv: Thanks. I believe it’s most likely, I consider it as being so floor stage and no matter. Additionally, I used to be commissioned to put in writing it. However that’s why I discuss it like that. And I adore it to be clear. However yeah, I do suppose it most likely is a very good start line as a result of additionally the entire commissioning facet of it from the writer was that they wished a guide that additionally connects in like the place you would possibly know sure characters from popular culture, which is an efficient solution to get a grip on what you’re studying and what names you would possibly keep in mind or acknowledge and issues like that. So all of that’s within the guide.
And it does cowl loads of type of the introductory stage myths and just like the gods and, why you have to be and what their sort of main tales have been. So yeah, possibly my guide is an ideal introduction.
Meredith: All proper thanks a lot, Liv. We’ll hyperlink within the present notes every thing you gave us a trillion nice references. We’ll attempt to get in there. And I really feel like I may have picked your mind about these items for hours. You’re such a font of knowledge. Thanks for a way beneficiant you’re along with your information and your expertise.
Liv: Thanks a lot. Thanks a lot. I hope I talked sufficient about content material fairly than Greek myths, however I may most likely discuss Greek myths without end.
Meredith: Thanks.
Liv: Thanks.
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Meredith: Okay, everybody, we hope that you simply loved our dialog with Liv as a lot as we did.
Ian: Subsequent week, we’ll be speaking with one other podcaster and YouTuber Caroline Winkler.
Meredith: Caroline has a very artistic, great YouTube channel with greater than 400,000 subscribers. We talked to her about what it’s prefer to have a profitable profession on YouTube and her new podcast, Not For Everybody.
To assist this present, you’ll be able to price, evaluation and subscribe. These issues make an enormous distinction. And for those who’d like at the moment’s dialog, you’d most likely just like the content material folks e-newsletter, subscribe on the hyperlink within the present notes.
Ian: And that’s it of us. Thanks a lot for listening.
