The Maritime History Podcast Maritime History Podcast

Welcome, crew. This is a temporarily unlocked member episode, open to everyone for the remainder of March since I was unable to record a regular episode this month. It will revert to subscriber-only access on April 1.
Today we depart slightly from a focused look at ships, and branch out to consider mythology that has some loose ties to ships. The Greek mythological king and hero Theseus of course slew the Minotaur, but today we explore the ties of that story, and others, to Athenian naval ambition. Later politicians like Pisistratus and Cimon used the myths of Theseus to help promote the spread of the Delian League, and today we consider this evolution. We also consider the myths, and ties they might have to sacred ships in Athenian history. We also discuss a philosophical question that is known as 'The Ship of Theseus,' although we really don't find any answers. But it's fun to think about.

Welcome, crew. Today we depart slightly from a focused look at ships, and branch out to consider mythology that has some loose ties to ships. The Greek mythological king and hero Theseus of course slew the Minotaur, but today we explore the ties of that story, and others, to Athenian naval ambition. Later politicians like Pisistratus and Cimon used the myths of Theseus to help promote the spread of the Delian League, and today we consider this evolution. We also consider the myths, and ties they might have to sacred ships in Athenian history. We also discuss a philosophical question that is known as 'The Ship of Theseus,' although we really don't find any answers. But it's fun to think about.

Today we continue following the evolution and exploits of the Delian League. In the 450s BCE, they become embroiled in two theaters of conflict. The first saw them begin to more squarely meet Sparta and many other allied cities of the Peloponnesian League in what is called the First Peloponnesian War. At the same time, Athens and the Delian League answered the call of a rebel leader in Egypt and there the League got tangled up fighting Persia yet again. A siege at the White Castle (no, not that one) ensues, and in the end the Delian League suffers some pretty heavy losses in a foreign land.
Show Notes / Transcript Support the Podcast

Welcome, crew. This is basically a mixture of shop talk about why I sometimes cut particular pieces of discussion from the regular episode narratives, along with a specific look at this specific piece and why it happened in this case. We discussed the Battle of Eurymedon at length in regular member Episode 042, and today we look at a passage from Diodorus Siculus to examine why it may be a bit erroneous and why that matters. I hope you find it worthwhile, and let me know if more such "shop talk" would be something to hear more of in the future.

Now that we have witnessed the birth of the Delian League, in today's episode we trace their exploits in the 470s BCE. The league does a good job landing more blows against the Persian Empire, but at the same time they begin to more strongly resemble an empire, and some league members are not amused. A new military leader named Cimon emerges to lead the Delian League. He suppresses some piracy, and his trireme fleet is overhauled to more better suit their campaign objectives. We consider all of this, and more, as the Delian League's navy expands and then defeats a Persian fleet at the Battle of Eurymedon River.
Show Notes / Transcript Support the Podcast

Welcome back crew to our latest subscriber episode. In the main series we have been discussing how Athens turned their role in Greece's victory over Persia into what later became a true naval empire. The economic aspects of that transition have been a big focus, and while we have paid some attention to the political aspects, we've not discussed the perspective of those who did not think naval empire was a good idea.

Today then, we consider the political theories of the philosopher Plato. Coming from a decidedly aristocratic angle, he argues that naval empire (and navies in general) are bad because they allow too many ideas to flow into the city, and they allow democracy to get too strong. The common man isn't cut out to rule himself or to profit from a navy and all that comes with it, basically. Plato takes some shots at Themistocles, and then some other oligarchic perspectives are considered as well.

We conclude by reconsidering Plato's myth of Atlantis, but this time in the light that it may be a revealing allegory where Plato shared his opinions about naval empire, imperial ambition, and what it could do to a city like Athens. Or Atlantis.