Legacies of Ancient Persia

UCLA Pourdavoud Institute
Legacies of Ancient Persia

Legacies of Ancient Persia explores the multiplicity of legacies left by ancient Persia through interviews and round-table discussions with leading scholars and experts to discuss the impact ancient Iranian civilization has had on other ancient cultures and modern global patrimony. Legacies of Ancient Persia is brought to you by the UCLA Pourdavoud Institute for the Study of the Iranian World. The show is hosted and produced by Lexie Henning and features original music by Brent Arehart.

  1. MAY 29

    Episode 30: Dr. Jeffrey Spier

    Dr. Jeffrey Spier, a former Senior Curator of Antiquities at the Getty Villa, joins Lexie to discuss the intricacies of museum work, particularly the challenges of displaying small artifacts such as coins and gems, the impact of the Getty’s 2022 exhibition 'Ancient Iran in the Classical World', the role of artifacts in understanding historical interactions between cultures, and the evolving field of museum curation. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Find Dr. Spier’s publications on Academia: https://getty.academia.edu/JeffreySpier Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    52 min

  2. MAY 8

    Episode 29: Grad Student Interview with Dr. Jenny Rose

    Dr. Jenny Rose, a former professor of Ancient Iranian Studies at Claremont Graduate University, is interviewed by Charlotte Howley – a 3rd year PhD student in UCLA’s Program of Iranian Studies. They discuss the historical and contemporary significance of Zoroastrianism, including its underrepresentation in popular culture and scholarship, the evolving role of women and gender dynamics within Zoroastrianism, and the reception of Zoroastrian figures like Zoroaster and Cyrus the Great in European history and culture. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Rose: https://www.cgu.edu/people/jenny-rose/ Check out her publications on Academia: https://claremont.academia.edu/JennyRose Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    1h 7m

  3. APR 17

    Episode 28: Dr. Elizabeth Carter

    Dr. Elizabeth Carter, professor emerita of Iranian Archaeology at UCLA, joins Lexie to discuss how backyard digs sparked her early love for archaeology, her experience working in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, the intricacies of understanding the cultural significance of artifacts, and the difficulties young scholars face today due to the political restrictions on archaeological fieldwork in Iran. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Carter: https://nelc.ucla.edu/person/elizabeth-carter/ Check out her publications on Academia: https://ucla.academia.edu/CarterhumnetuclaeduCarter Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    48 min

  4. MAR 27

    Episode 27: Marco Ferrario

    Marco Ferrario, an ancient historian specializing in the longue durée of the Eastern Iranian world, joins Lexie to discuss how influential mentors and serendipitous opportunities pushed his interests from Classics into studying Ancient Persia and Central Asia, Bactria’s rich history and the challenges of studying the region, and the importance of interdisciplinary research to gain a more wholistic appreciation of antiquity. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Check out his publications on Academia: https://unitn.academia.edu/MarcoFerrario Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    1h 6m

  5. MAR 6

    Episode 26: Dr. Nikolaus Overtoom

    Dr. Nikolaus Overtoom, a professor of Ancient History at Washington State University, joins Lexie to discuss the significance of Parthian warfare, the strategic use of cavalry and the logistical challenges of utilizing war elephants, and examining Parthian interactions with the Greco-Roman world to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient Mediterranean world. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Overtoom: https://history.wsu.edu/nikolaus-overtoom/ Check out his publications on Academia: https://wsu.academia.edu/NikolausOvertoom Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    59 min

  6. FEB 13

    Episode 25: Dr. Jason BeDuhn

    Dr. Jason BeDuhn, a professor of Religious Studies at Northern Arizona University, joins Lexie to discuss the history of Manichaeism, exploring its dualistic cosmology and its connections to various religious traditions, including Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Platonism, the challenges Manichaeism faced, including its eventual decline due to persecution in both the West and East, and archaeological discoveries related to Manichaeism, particularly in Egypt and China. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. BeDuhn: https://directory.nau.edu/?person=jdb8 Check out his publications on Academia: https://nau.academia.edu/JasonBeDuhn Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    53 min

  7. JAN 23

    Episode 24: Dr. Rolf Strootman

    Dr. Rolf Strootman, a professor of Ancient History at the University of Utrecht, joins Lexie to discuss the complexities surrounding the Persian identity after Alexander the Great's conquests, Alexander's unique approach to governance and cultural integration, particularly through his marriages to Persian women, the role of women in his life, and the aftermath of Alexander's death. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. Strootman: https://www.uu.nl/staff/RStrootman Check out his publications on Academia: https://uu.academia.edu/RolfStrootman Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    1h 4m

  8. JAN 2

    Episode 23: Dr. Eve MacDonald

    Dr. Eve MacDonald, an ancient historian and archaeologist at Cardiff University, joins Lexie to discuss the often-overlooked technological advancements of the Carthaginians and the importance of understanding their narrative beyond the Roman perspective, her work on the Sasanian Empire and the significance of borderlands and how local identities evolved in response to the shifting powers of the time, and the role of monumental structures and the impact of monumental architecture on historical narratives. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like what you hear, please give our show a 5-star rating, and review us on Apple or Spotify. Don't forget to follow the Pourdavoud Institute on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.pourdavoud.ucla.edu! Learn more about Dr. MacDonald: https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/macdonaldg1 Check out her publications on Academia: https://cardiff.academia.edu/EveMacDonald Follow her on Bluesky: @gevemac.bsky.social Recorded & edited by Lexie Henning, original music by Brent Arehart, and artwork by Hadley Leasman.

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Legacies of Ancient Persia explores the multiplicity of legacies left by ancient Persia through interviews and round-table discussions with leading scholars and experts to discuss the impact ancient Iranian civilization has had on other ancient cultures and modern global patrimony. Legacies of Ancient Persia is brought to you by the UCLA Pourdavoud Institute for the Study of the Iranian World. The show is hosted and produced by Lexie Henning and features original music by Brent Arehart.

Information

  • Creator
    UCLA Pourdavoud Institute
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Legacies of Ancient Persia UCLA Pourdavoud Institute
  • Show Website
    Legacies of Ancient Persia

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