The story of Helen of Troy, her remarkable birth and her infamous love affair with Paris, the Trojan prince, resounds across the centuries. A figure of condemnation, pity and tragedy, her beauty set in motion the most legendary literary conflict of all time: the Trojan Wars. Yet, Helen’s story reaches far beyond Homer and the Iliad. From her godly parentage ... Show More
Today
620. The Nazis at War: Hitler Strikes West (Part 1)
What was Adolf Hitler’s next move, after occupying Czechoslovakia in March 1939, and brutally invading Poland that September? Why did the Allies fail to act, despite the Nazis shocking offensive? And, would an assassination plot from within Germany itself prove to be Hitler’s und ... Show More
1h 12m
Nov 20
619. Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Part 4)
How was Elizabeth I finally crowned Queen of England, after long years of perilous waiting? Why was her early reign so fraught with danger? Who was William Cecil, Elizabeth’s new secretary, and the key political player of her rule? And, why was she so determined to remain the unm ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 17
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)
Why did Elizabeth I’s brother, Henry VIII’s heir, Edward VI, choose his cousin Jane Grey to succeed him, rather than either of his wily Tudor sisters? Later, how did Elizabeth survive the reign of her once dear Catholic sister, “Bloody Mary”, given Mary’s growing resentment? And, ... Show More
1h 12m
Aug 2016
EPISODE 6 “HELEN OF SPARTA”
THE STORY: (37 minutes) This episode has it all! A kinky story about an amorous swan, a disturbing story about a butchered horse, a cautionary story about a foolish husband, and a too-familiar story about a corrupt politician. And in the midst of all the stories, well, Helen ... Show More
1h 3m
Dec 2023
RE-AIR: We Love a Complex Woman Living Through the Trojan War, Euripides' Helen
With Iphigenia Among the Taurians so fresh in our minds, I want to revisit another odd, foreign, mistaken identity, escape plan play... What if Helen of Sparta was never taken by Paris, never brought to Troy at all? Euripides' Helen explores a "ghost theory" of Helen, an eidolon ... Show More
1h 59m
Dec 2021
The Most Infamous Woman of Greek Myth, Helen of Sparta (Part 1)
Helen is simultaneously the most well known mortal of myth and a complete and utter enigma. What do we actually know about her, and the choices she did and did not make that lead to the Trojan War?CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically ... Show More
34m 39s
Dec 2021
Beyond the Face That Launched A Thousand Ships, Helen of Sparta (Part 2)
Helen of Sparta, later of Troy, is so many things... it all depends on where you're looking. In this episode we examine the Helen of Homer, and of Sparta itself.CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm n ... Show More
36m 50s
Jul 2022
What If Helen Was a Ghost, Though? Euripides’ Helen (Part 1)
What if Helen of Sparta was never taken by Paris, never brought to Troy at all? Euripides' Helen explores a "ghost theory" of Helen, an eidolon theory. Check out the podcast's curated Spotify playlists or visit the (in progress) categorized stories on mythsbaby.com.CW/TW: far too ... Show More
34m 6s