Garner's Greek Mythology

She Who Holds The Door Hera is fed up with Zeus’ dalliances. She takes it out on Leto and other young conquests, using the goddess Eileithyia as a secret weapon. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

This is the story of Aristaeus, Apollo's son. To the Greeks, bees represented life, law and order. When hives failed, so did cities. Listen to how Apollo's son saves the day. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

The tale of The Golden Bough startled people in 1890 when mythologist Sir James George Fraser claimed human sacrifice was practiced in the heart of the Roman Empire. In this episode, we take our time machine back to 15 AD to see for ourselves! Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

What happened to the Greeks after death? What did other people in 500 BC believe? In this episode, we look at the afterworld of Greeks, Jews, Egyptians, Persians, Buddhists and Chinese. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

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

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

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

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

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

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

Engaging one night with an old Ouija board, podcaster Patrick Garner conjures up the ancient goddess Artemis. Over the course of many hours, the goddess remembers Athena, Poseidon, Hecate, her brother Apollo and other divinities. The episode is largely narrated by a new voice, Lily, an urbane English woman who has long been enthralled by mythology. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

Nyx. the goddess of night, appeared before the Olympic gods, even before the Titans. Her progeny were almost all beings of terror and dread, and included Doom, Death, Sleep, Dreams, Blame, Misery, The Fates, Retribution, Old Age and Strife. Yet as terrifying as her family was, civilization may have resulted from their enforcement of the natural order. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

When Zeus Came Knocking A visit by Zeus and Hermes to an old couple’s home in ancient Greece sparked a tradition that goes on even today. All ancient Greeks knew that hospitality to strangers could bring fortune. Inhospitality could lead to divine punishment. Violation of this tradition led to the Trojan war. Its unusual name — philoxenia — was one known to all Greeks. Listen as we encounter Hermes, Athene, Zeus, Demeter, Dionysus, Poseidon and the great hero Odysseus. If you love...

What happens when Eros, the mischievous son of the goddess Aphrodite, sees Psyche, the most beautiful woman in the world? Star-crossed love, of course! Travel in our time machine back to ancient Greece and follow the timeless story of these two lovers. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

EP 60: Thebes, The City That Gods & Heroes Forsook Of all the Greek city-states,Thebes was the one most soaked in blood and ancient curses. There, the hero Heracles had killed his wife and children. There, the god Dionysus punished the city’s king. There too the infamous Oedipus played out his grim fate. These events defined the city’s past. Then in 335 BC, Alexander the Great surrounded Thebes and brought it to its final end. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner...

In this latest episode, we revisit the towering goddess Artemis, who reveled in the hunt, yet also protected girls, women and young animals. Of all the divinities, she was the most paradoxical. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novels about the gods, The Winnowing and Homo Divinitas, available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

In this latest episode, we listen to a portion of the greatest speeches of all time, Pericles’ famous funeral oration. Inspired by the goddess Athene, it was given by this Athenian statesman at the end of the first year of the war between Athens and Sparta. As citizens assemble to bury their sons and fathers — warriors lost in defense of the city — Pericles recites all that is great and good about their immortal achievements. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible...

For almost 60 episodes, I’ve talked about the glory of the Greeks during the golden years of ancient Greece. I’ve also talked about when worship of the gods ended. In this new episode we go back to the beginning, to the so-called Dark Ages of Greece, to the time when the gods first revealed themselves to humans. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the...

EP 56: Do this to live a good life The Greek world centered around Delphi for two reasons. One — the world’s most famous oracle resided there. Two — the secrets to a good life were carved into the marble sides of Apollo’s temple. One had only to walk the temple grounds to gain the priceless insights. In this episode we look at some the 147 maxims, including Know Thyself and Everything in Moderation. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo ...

In the politics of Athens' new democracy, one goddess reined supreme: Peitho. She was the unheralded goddess of persuasion. Her influence brought down the philosopher Socrates. She could make any man silver-tongued, and all of her favorites became powerful orators. Join us as we meet this powerful — and divine — female. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, now available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Suppo...

There’s nothing like divine intervention to ensure success. Of course, things can go badly when it ends. Follow Alexander’s 10-year military career that earned him the moniker “Alexander the Great.” If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, now available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Support the show

Orpheus, Apollo’s son, became famous for his extraordinary music and poetry. As talented as he was, he was unable to find love. But one golden afternoon he saw Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. The two fell in love. But their love was fated to be short. When Eurydice died, Orpheus descended to Hades’ underworld to bring her back. There he succeeded — and failed. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, now available on Amazon.com and Audibl...

The goddess Persephone was queen of the Underworld. To the amazement of the other divinities, she became the wisest of them all. On rare occasions she would invite humans to visit her in that dark place. In this episode we recount her visit with Parmenides, the pre-Socratic philosopher who influenced modern thought. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, now available on Amazon.com and Audible.com. Feedback? Send me a text! Suppor...

One goddess alone ruled in the ancient underworld. She was Persephone, although the Greeks dared call her only The Goddess. She had been dragged unwillingly into that gloom by Hades, but she quickly adapted to her circumstances. Mysteriously, she, among all the gods, became the treasury of dark knowledge, the sole portal into universal truths. Today’s Wiccans, neopagans and witches look to her as a touchstone into all mysteries. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible nov...

2,500 years ago Delos was the most sacred island in Greece. As the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, it was destined to become both the holiest of sanctuaries and a wealthy trading center. Its downside was that it was also the region’s largest slave market. Amidst all the temples and sanctimony, traders became immensely rich by selling slaves captured by roving pirates. That wealth became, in the end, the island’s ruin. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel...

How many of us know about the Goddess Tyche? Today this powerful divinity is largely forgotten. But 2,500 years ago, she was believed to determine the day-to-day fortunes of every Greek. If your ship was tossed against rocks as you steered through a storm, it wasn’t your fate as much as your fortune. Tyche was at play. If you stumbled across a hidden treasure, you could thank the goddess. She alone dished out fortune, chance and luck. It’s time to become reacquainted with the divinity who det...

In this episode Garner takes the listener on a pleasant hike in the countryside. But the city dweller stumbles upon a strange scene that may involve Athene, Artemis or Aphrodite. Upon returning to the city our hiker encounters the same woman in a coffee shop. Yet within minutes she vanishes. Intrigued and stunned by the encounters, our hiker returns to the countryside and once again witnesses a scene that seems to be a re-creation of worship and sacrifice from thousands of years ago. If...

Novel 4 of The Naxos Quartet sums up the most important things in life — love and belonging. In this episode Garner reads a brief selection from the book, focusing on a dramatic moment in the return of Inanna, Gaia, Timessa and Dionysos. The Naxos Quartet includes The Winnowing, Cycladic Girls, Homo Divinitas and All That Lasts. All the novels are available on Amazon. If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, ...

In 1976 an obscure psychologist from Princeton University published a book titled, “The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.” It was a sensation, not in small part because Jaynes postulated that before modern consciousness occurred, the voices humans heard in their head were considered those of the gods. He pinpointed the date of this shift to around 1200 B.C. After this date, humans became self-aware, yet the Delphic Oracle remained relevant because sh...

EP 45: Interview with Greek AF Radio In this episode we join hosts Ari and Foti of Greek AF Radio as they interview Patrick Garner on a wide-ranging array of mythology topics. Garner discusses his creative background, his novels and the inspiration for the podcast itself. Greek AF Radio is the world’s largest platform for all thing Greek. Check them out at www.greekafradio.com ... If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel about the gods, Homo Divinitas, now avai...

When Greece became part of the Roman empire in 146 B.C., the Olympic gods were still dominant. But the gods had begun to drift away even then. This episode tracks their willful retreat from the lives of mankind. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek history series. Here these divine beings are viewed as if they were anything but mythical ... If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy Garner's audible novel ab...

In Episode 43 we analyze the impact of violence on the ancient Greeks. It was everywhere — the product of men constantly warring with each other and the result of gods randomly exerting their power. Far too often the gods precipitated war solely for their own enjoyment … Men waged war to replenish slaves. The Olympic gods fought with each other. Mortals who thought too highly of themselves were punished. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology...

Episode 42: The Divine Voice Welcome to Episode 42 where we hear a divine voice — or rather, we hear about how Socrates was guided throughout his life by a spiritual voice called a daimon. This daimon accompanied him from his cradle to his death. Socrates was hardly alone in hearing a divine voice. The pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus makes reference to his own daimon. And centuries later, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius writes extensively about being guided throughout his life by a pers...

Welcome to Episode 41 where we meet the ancient King of Cyprus, Pygmalion. The sculpture he creates of a beautiful woman changes his life — and provides inspiration for artists for another 3,000 years. King Pygmalion falls madly in love with the statue. Praying to Aphrodite to find him a woman as beautiful, the king is shocked to find that instead, the goddess breathes life into the statue itself. As Pygmalion gently kisses the carving, she steps off the base and into his arms. The king and h...

Welcome to Episode 40. Now we leave ancient Greece and shift to contemporary America. The old gods have come to the suburbs of Pennsylvania to play — and to save the world. The three Fates, plus Artemis, Athene, Aphrodite and the ancient goddess Nyx — all appear in order to thwart scientists who are on the verge of discovering immortality. This startling tale weaves morality, sensuality and seduction with a fast-paced narrative that ends in conflagration, and finally, rebirth … Narrated by my...

Welcome to Episode 39. In this episode we enter the city of Thebes with the god Dionysus, who returns to his mother’s home seeking revenge. There he converts the city’s women and girls to Bacchae, or followers of Bacchus, another name for Dionysus. He is arrested by the young King Pentheus and events goes downhill from there … Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek history series. Here these divine beings are v...

Welcome to Episode 38. In this episode we follow six cursed generations known as the House of Atreus. A classic Greek tragedy, the story involves gods and men, wives and daughters, and spans 800 miles of geography from Troy to Athens. Like so many of these tales, it begins with Zeus, who has a son who has a son. What follows? Murder, deceit, incest, matricide and suicide … Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek histo...

Welcome to Episode 37. Imagine beasts that are half-horse and half-man. They’re crude. Their weapons are broken branches and rocks. The ancient Greeks called them Centaurs. But among them was a unique and sophisticated being. A centaur named Kheiron (pronounced Sheer-roan) was so wise and wily that gods and men asked him to teach their children. He raised Asklepios, Peleus, Jason and Achilles. He was friends with the hero Heracles. Although immortal, after a long life he was wounded by a pois...

Welcome to Episode 36. Today we examine the difficult topic of sacrifice. The discussion of killing animals upsets many people. If you’re one of them, this may be an episode to avoid. Sacrifice was so common in the ancient world that no one thought twice about the practice. On the contrary, sacrifice was an essential means of communication between mortals and divinities. Every ceremony, every celebration, every festival and every battle included the practice. In fact, not sacrificing was unth...

Welcome to Episode 35. In this show we identify the most exalted and powerful mortal women in Greece. Who were they? ... Priestesses, serving goddesses, and in some cases, gods. These women were the equivalent of today’s superstars. Their names were known by everyone, they conducted sacrifices, and they led festivals and celebrations throughout the year. But their most important function was to act as intermediaries, connecting ancient Greek women to the divine ... Narrated by mythologist and...

Welcome to Episode 34! Here we take our inspiration from the Muses, nine goddesses and daughters of the mighty Zeus. 3,000 years ago they lit the fire behind every masterpiece. Many of us say they play the identical role today, inspiring songwriters, poets, playwrights and writers. They inspired artists and scientists alike. Pythagoras, the father of mathematics, was also a mystic and credited the Muses with many of his innovations. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patri...

Welcome to Episode 33 where we meet Pythagoras, a 6th century B.C. genius. Was he man or god? Not even his contemporaries were sure. Pythagoras himself once said, “There are gods … and there are men … and there is Pythagoras.” Avowedly the son of Apollo, he is known today as the father of mathematics. All modern science and logic sprung from his original insights. Yet he was also a mystic and the founder of a revolutionary society. Men and women were equals, and all followed Pythagoras’ stran...

Welcome to Episode 32. In this episode we hang with the mighty Spartans. Where did they come from? How did they grow to dominate the Greek world in all things relating to war? Their society was founded by a man named Lycurgus. Or was it…? Some say it was Apollo — others claimed their bloodline ran directly from the sons of Heracles. They rose and fell like all great heroes, their glory lasting a mere 300 years. But what a glorious roll for a city-state whose name became synonymous with ...

Welcome to Episode 31. In this episode we drill down into the world of ancient Greek healing. Was Hippocrates the father of medicine? Hardly. He was preceded by a demi-god, a son of Apollo named Asklepios. Asklepios, who flourished 800 years before Hippocrates, specialized in cures that reset a patient’s age. They were akin to today’s breakthroughs in anti-aging, which are typified by researchers such as Harvard’s David Sinclair ... Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patri...

Welcome to Episode 30 where we survey ancient war and how it formed the Greek notion of the ideal hero. Thousands of years ago heroes were, without exception, brave young men. They expected to die young, valiantly and with the bodies of those they’d slain lying at their feet. In this episode we contrast ancient war involving the gods to modern, secular war. Millennium ago, more frequently than not, Greek generals led the charge. Because they were first to leap toward the enemy, they inspired ...

Welcome to Episode 29 … Listen as we learn about the real Heracles, Greece’s indisputable superhero. A semi-divine being and the son of Zeus, Heracles experienced tragedies and triumphs. He never refused a challenge. In this episode we look at his 12 labors, his loves and his transformation from mortal to immortal god … Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek history series. Here these divine beings are ...

Welcome to EPISODE 28 -- The Proud, Audacious Amazons The Amazons were sired by the war god, Ares. They reflected their parentage well. As fighting machines they were almost unstoppable. That is, until they confronted Greece's greatest heroes. In this episode we look at their life style -- and their grandest conflicts. Over the course of almost a thousand years they opposed Heracles, Theseus, Achilles and even partied with Alexander the Great. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling au...

Welcome to EPISODE 27 -- The Dishonored Sky Gods Zeus did not have the sky to himself, and shared it with the sun god Helios, the moon goddess Selene, and others. This arrangement worked well until an even greater force than Zeus came on the scene. This episode tells the story of the sky gods who were bested by science. That was a new way to explain the workings of the world—one without the flourishes of divine powers and personalities—and it continues to this day. Narrated by mythologist and...

Welcome to Episode 26, THE THREE HELENS This episode features the story of Helen of Troy, also known as the woman whose "face launched a thousand ships.” She was beautiful, but ended up being a pawn of the gods in the Trojan War. The effort to rescue her actually changed Greek history by being the impetus to unite the Greek city-states. As often happens in these tales, nothing is as it seems. In this case, we learn there were at least three versions of the story, but ...

EP 25: You Tell Apollo He’s A Myth … Welcome to Episode 25. This episode explores whether the gods are real or -- as scholars state -- myths. In this unique podcast we take a different approach, daring to examine whether we’ve all been misled. What if the Greek gods simply walked? What if they tired of the affairs and the squabbling that was a constant background on beautiful Mt. Olympus? After all, they’re immortal. They can go anywhere and be anything ... Listen in as we examine the possibi...

… Welcome to Podcast 24. This episode excavates the story of Medusa. I say ‘excavate’ because today we think of Medusa as a monster whose glance could turn men to stone. But there’s much more to her story. It’s been buried. So first we shovel aside the stones and debris. What do we find? Before she was a monster, she was a beautiful girl. While a temple attendant, she was seduced by one of the gods. She was punished for the indiscretion, while the god who seduced her got away scot-free....

... Welcome to Episode 23, DEMETER - BEST GIFT EVER The Greek gods do everything humans can do, but on a grander scale. When Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, gives bountiful harvests, all rejoice. How do you top that? When her kidnapped daughter is returned, the grateful goddess gives Greeks the promise of a happy afterlife. Talk about the BEST GIFT EVER... This episode is narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner. His Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any o...

... Welcome to Episode 22, SATYRS & A CYCLOPES You’ve probably heard of satyrs, but not thought beyond their strange appearance. They are the combination of 4 or 5 animals, including humans. The big difference between satyrs and humans, though, is in their approach toward life. In this episode, satyrs collide with a one-eyed giant called a cyclopes--as well as encountering Greece's wily warrior, Odysseus. “Drink, dance & be merry” was the satyrs' motto. No wonder mo...

... Welcome to Episode 21, Oedipus & the Sphinx.. This episode features the story of Oedipus, an extraordinarily tragic figure in Greek mythology who tries to do his best, but is bested by the Fates. He meets the Sphinx—not the Egyptian version but the divine sphinx that terrified the Greeks in the city of Thebes. She killed man after man by posing impossible riddles. All who failed to answer correctly were promptly eaten alive. Although Oedipus prevails, he canno...

New stories about the gods! Homo Divinitas, by podcaster Patrick Garner, is now available on Amazon as an audible book! ... Welcome to Episode 20. We’re taking a short break from our usual episodes to hear Chapter 1 of the audible book, Homo Divinitas. It has the same Greek gods you love, but they show up in the modern world where they meddle and maneuver as they always have. Homo Divinitas is the third book of The Winnowing trilogy. All three novels are about the Greek go...

... Welcome to Episode 19. This episode focuses on a woman who was, perhaps, the most powerful in all of Greece. The daughter of the sun god, Helios, Medea was a sorceress and the infamous wife of Jason, the hero and leader of the Argonauts … Medea was really the mastermind of all of Jason’s heroic acts. Without her he would have been nothing. With her he became one of Greece’s most famous warriors. But he made a terrible mistake. He betrayed her for another woman and the cunning Medea ...

... Welcome to Episode 18. Here we open Pandora’s Box, and inside, to our horror, we find ... the Fates and the Furies. All divine, the Three Fates and the Three Furies were daughters of the ancient being Nyx, who was herself the daughter of Chaos … The Fates presided at every birth, determining a mortal’s lifespan and occupation. The Furies were enforcers of natural laws and enacted vengeance on anyone who committed an unforgivable crime. Some say that the Furies were the original vampires...

... Welcome to Episode 17. In this podcast we enter the extraordinary world of nymphs. These semi-divine beings were young girls who populated and protected every waterway, spring and sacred grove. They were not deathless, but could live for centuries, and were found throughout Greece, Sicily, Crete and on all the Cycladic islands of the Aegean sea … Because they appeared as young girls, eternally beautiful, many of the stories surrounding them were erotic in nature. Many remained...

... Welcome to Episode 16, where we linger on the mysterious island of Aeaea with the goddess Circe. She trafficked in herbs and magical spells, and became infamous for turning sailors who stumbled onto her beaches into wolves, and wolves into swine, and swine into snakes … Circe’s lasting fame arose during the year the wily Odysseus spent in her company. He had hoped to swiftly return home as the Trojan war ended, but was constantly delayed — and when he encountered Circe, he hardly ex...

... Welcome to Episode 15, where we travel back to Athens in our mythology time machine for one grand purpose: We seek to experience the famous Eleusinian Mysteries. The Mysteries were a must-attend, life-or-death ritual. Those who participated successfully were assured of a pleasant afterlife. And those who did not attend were herded by Hades into a dismal place equivalent to Hell … A gift to mortals by the goddess Demeter, the Eleusinian Mysteries were held in the town of Eleus...

... Welcome to Episode 14 where we look at the adventures — and the strangely modern travails — of the wine-god, Dionysos, whom the Romans called Bacchus. An ancient being, he was the exotic god of ecstasy and dance. The inventor of theater and wine, he was alternately celebrated and feared. Whereas many of the Olympic gods exploited women, he was their liberator. And his marriage to the princess Ariadne was as celebrated in Greece as that of Romeo and Juliet in Italy 3,000 years later ... Na...

... Welcome to Episode 13. How many of us know the god Hephaistos? You may think of him as Vulcan… but that's the Roman rebranding of the god who was known by the ancient Greeks as the fire-god. He was the god who turned his disability into a genius that wowed the gods and men alike. His seemingly endless creations were almost unimaginable. Robots called automatons roamed his workshops & Zeus constantly called on him to craft thunderbolts ... Narrated by mythologist and best-selling aut...

... Welcome to Episode 12. We start with everybody's friend, the winged-foot god Hermes... He's the god of fertility and guide to the underworld… the patron god of thieves and dreams. Then we shift to the queen of the heavens, Hera, who was married to Zeus and takes the crown as the most vindictive wife in history... and to her counterpart, Hestia, the goddess of home and hearth who chose to be nobody’s wife. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garne...

... Welcome to Episode11. Listen as we wander in the shadows of ancient crossroads with the goddess Hekate, the patron of today’s witches. She was as close a friend to Hades as she was to the divine huntress, Artemis. We finish the second half of the episode in the company of the god of war, the remorseless Ares. Hekate easily slipped between the world of the living and the dead. And whereas Hekate moved through the shifting dark of mysteries, Ares drove men into the darkness of death. ...

... In our 10th episode we meet The Pythia, perhaps Greece's most astonishing figure. She served as Apollo's voice of prophesy. And unsurprisingly, she was never wrong. You may have heard her referred to as the Delphic Oracle, because she lived in Delphi, which the Greeks considered the center of the world The Pythia was considered infallible, and indeed, for a period exceeding 1,000 years, she is never recorded as making a wrong prediction. Generals, politicians, tyrants ...

... In our best installment yet (and our 9th episode) , we meet Aphrodite. You might think of her as Venus, but the Greeks knew her as Aphrodite, the eternal Goddess of Love. Her origins are amazing, and her decision to devote herself to the arts of love are an amazing decision, as you will see. What happened to this seductress? Reassuringly, nothing. Of all the gods and goddesses, Aphrodite remains the most engaged in the modern world. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling...

... In the 8th episode of Garner's Greek Mythology , we meet Zeus' two brothers, Poseidon and Hades. The first was the Lord of the Sea, and the second? The dark Lord of the Underworld. Poseidon, known to the Romans as Neptune, ruled all waters. When crossed he could create earthquakes and rake shorelines with mighty tsunamis. Sailors sacrificed to him to ensure calm seas and safe passage. Urged on by his sister, Demeter, to create the world's most beautiful animal, he imagined the ho...

... This is episode 7 of Garner's Greek Mythology. Apollo was the god of prophesy and healing. Known as the sun-god, he founded the famous temple in Delphi from which the Pythia issued warnings and prophesies for more than 1200 years. Apollo also established centers for healing throughout Greece. Yet like his sister Artemis, he was a god of contradictions. For instance, if infuriated he could spread plague with a single arrow. In this episode we travel through Greece and then into R...

... This is episode 6 of Garner's Greek Mythology. What a journey! Here we discuss Artemis, the protector of girls, women and all things that suckle--yet, we learn that she was also a skilled hunter. Like Athene and the gods, this goddess was riddled with contradictions. The Romans in their infuriating way renamed her Diane ... She was a proud virgin goddess. Whereas Aphrodite--the goddess we know as Venus--loved song and dance and seduction, Artemis was stern. She was also a tra...

... This is episode 5 of Garner's Greek Mythology. Here we discuss Athene, the so-called rational goddess of war. Was she? Hardly. Like all the gods she was complex and riddled with contradictions. Her stories are frequently those of passion and outrage. Reason was often set aside by this goddess who was considered the most intelligent of all the Olympic gods. Her sternness masked her fierce ardor. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek ...

... In this episode 4 of Garner's Greek Mythology, we look at Zeus, the greatest Olympic god. He's best revealed through his many stories--and the episode is filled with them. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek history series. The series views these divine beings as if they were anything but mythical... In this episode we meet Danae, Perseus, Demeter, Hera, Io, Persephone, Athena, Sisyphus, Herakles, Prom...

... You‘ve heard of Zeus, Apollo and Aphrodite. In episode 3 we explore the Greek creation story and learn of a divinity who has made the world and has the power to kill gods at her whim. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek history series. The series views these divine beings as if they were anything but mythical... In this episode we travel waaay back in time, in fact four to five billion years. We ...

... Episode two examines what really happened to the revered Greek gods and where they are today. Historians treat them as fantasies, as "myths." Here we suspend our disbelief and explore why the gods were never myths; here, too, we follow them as they slowly retreat during the collapse of the Roman empire--and wander into other pursuits as a new religion slowly subverts the old. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is ...

In Garner's Greek Mythology, we discover that the Greek gods never left! They’re here, now and operating in our modern world. It’s a wildly entertaining exploration that makes today’s world come alive. Narrated by mythologist and best-selling author, Patrick Garner, Garner's Greek Mythology is unlike any other Greek history series as the podcasts view these divine beings as if they were anything but mythical ... If you love this podcast, you'll also enjoy new stories about the gods in...