logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
58 m

Troy: everything you wanted to know

IMMEDIATE MEDIA
About this episode
The story of the Trojan War – featuring the daring Achilles, beautiful Helen and one very deceptive horse – is a classic of western literature. But did this famous war ever really happen? And was Troy even a real place? On today’s ‘Everything you wanted to know’ episode, Professor Paul Cartledge answers listener questions on these ancient mysteries. Speaking ... Show More
Up next
Nov 6
The WW2 nurses who saved lives in the skies
You might be forgiven for thinking there were no women on the frontline in the Second World War. But, that's not the case. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Lauren Good speaks to historian and author Leah Garrett about the unseen work of so-called 'flight nurses' at Iw ... Show More
39m 46s
Nov 4
King Harold: tragic hero of the English
King Harold II of England – otherwise known as Harold Godwinson – famously died at the battle of Hastings, with his demise at the hands of Duke William of Normandy ushering in a new Norman era. Speaking to David Musgrove, historian Tom Licence draws on his new biography of the An ... Show More
41m 9s
Nov 3
Ancient goddesses: love, violence and ecstatic experiences
What do goddesses of love have in common with goddesses of war? Historian Ronald Hutton argues that some of the ancient world’s most powerful female deities were united by a potent combination of sex, violence and ecstatic experience. Speaking to Danny Bird, Hutton traces a linea ... Show More
29m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
The Trojan War
The Trojan War was a time of heroes. From the swift-footed Achilles, and the hot-headed Prince Paris, to the beautiful Queen Helen, and the all-powerful gods, Zeus, Athena, and Aphrodite. In these early days of what we now call Ancient Greece, the story of Troy was already a saga ... Show More
54m 20s
Nov 2020
6. Troy
It’s been described as the most legendary story ever told. But did the Trojan War actually happen? And was it really fought over a beautiful woman? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss an enduring tale that still resonates to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ... Show More
38m 42s
Sep 2018
The Iliad
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the great epic poem attributed to Homer, telling the story of an intense episode in the Trojan War. It is framed by the wrath of the Greek hero Achilles, insulted by his leader Agamemnon and withdrawing from the battle that continued to rage, only ... Show More
48m 2s
Oct 2023
History of Everything: The True Story of Troy
Troy is an ancient city and archaeological site in modern-day Turkey, but is also famously the setting for the legendary Trojan War in Homer's epic poems the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey." In legend, the city of Troy was besieged for 10 years and eventually conquered by a Greek army ... Show More
1h 9m
Mar 2024
The Ancient City of Troy
Explore the captivating story of Troy, the legendary city of the Trojan War. Learn how it transformed from myth to archaeological reality and how its discovery changed history. 
2m 36s
Jul 2023
Helen of Troy with Natalie Haynes
<p>Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships - but is there more to her than a beautiful face? Commemorated throughout history in ancient epics and modern adaptations, Helen of Troy is known as one of the most beautiful women to ever have lived. But was Helen of Troy ... Show More
43m 56s
Mar 2025
The Iliad
<p>A story of war, honour, and destiny, <em>The Iliad</em> is one of the greatest epics in history. Written by Homer and featuring legendary figures like Achilles, Hector, and Agamemnon, it captures the drama and devastation of the final days of the Trojan War.</p><br><p>In this ... Show More
53m 28s