logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
57m 20s

The Trojan War

NOISER
About this episode

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 from a bygone age, re-imagined by Homer, and told around the world ever since.


But was any of it true? Did those legendary heroes ever exist? How did Helen’s beauty launch a thousand ships? And could the Greeks really have breached the city walls by hiding inside a giant wooden horse?


This is a Short History Of The Trojan War.


A Noiser Production, written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Professor Armand D’Angour, a classical scholar at Jesus College, Oxford, and presenter of the podcast It’s All Greek (And Latin) To Me.


Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Jul 6
The Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin is a length of linen, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. Its most famous feature is the blurry imprint of a man’s face, which resembles the pictures of Jesus that have passed down to us over the centuries. Revered by millions, the Sh ... Show More
58m 7s
Jun 29
Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle, a doctor, war volunteer, campaigner for justice, politician, and believer in the spirit world, created one of literature’s most famous characters. In his lifetime, he wrote ghost stories, political pamphlets, historical novels, and fantastical adventures. But ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 25
Introducing: Fidel Castro - Real Dictators
This is a taster episode of the Fidel Castro story. To hear episodes 2-10, head over to Real Dictators and hit follow. Fidel Castro - a revolutionary turned strongman dictator, beloved by his supporters and loathed by his enemies. The bête noire of the United States who pushed th ... Show More
1h 6m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
The Trojan War (Encore)
Sometime about 3,200 years ago, one of the most famous wars in ancient history took place. Maybe.It has been the subject of some of the greatest works of Western literature, and it has given us some of the most enduring cultural references. It was also the subject of one of the g ... Show More
13m 23s
Jun 15
The Amazons
What makes the Amazons one of the most captivating myths in ancient Greek culture?Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. David Braund, Emeritus Professor at the University of Exeter, to explore and celebrate the legends of the Amazons in ancient Greek culture. From their portrayal throu ... Show More
1h 10m
Oct 2024
Pyrrhus: Warlord of Ancient Greece
It’s 279 BC. On a large plain in Southern Italy near the town of Asculum, a famous Greek warlord likened to Alexander the Great faces down the legions of the Roman Republic. His name was Pyrrhus of Epirus. And the victory that he won at Asculum would come to define his legacy. In ... Show More
1h 7m
Feb 2025
The Persian Wars: Darius, Athens and the Battle of Marathon
490 BC. On the plains of Marathon, Athens faced down a mighty army of the Persian Empire - the superpower of the time It was an underdog clash that would echo throughout history. But how did it all begin? In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes kicks off an epic two-parte ... Show More
58m 21s
Nov 2024
RE-AIR: Wandering Across the Ancient World, the Mesopotamian & Phoenician Origins of Aphrodite
This episode originally aired in July of 2023. Before she was Aphrodite, she was Kypris, and before she was Kypris, well, she was Astarte and Inanna/Ishtar. This is the story of Aphrodite's origins in ancient Phoenicia and Mesopotamia. You can submit your questions or comments or ... Show More
39m 21s
Aug 2024
The Sirens
The word 'Sirens' conjures up many images, possibly of beautiful mermaid-like creatures luring sailors to their watery deaths. These ancient Greek mythical creatures, linked to the Queen of the Underworld Persephone, feature in well known myths such as Jason and the Argonauts and ... Show More
39m 58s
Feb 2025
The Golden Age of Athens
While the Roman Republic was still in its infancy, the Greek city-state of Athens rose from the ruins of war with the Persians to become the most beautiful and powerful in the region. During this Golden Age, many Athenian citizens enjoyed unprecedented freedoms in the world’s fir ... Show More
55m 50s
Nov 2024
The Minotaur
Half man and half bull, the Minotaur is one of the most famous, and scariest, monsters of Greek mythology. The story goes that it was trapped in a great labyrinth beneath Knossos on the island of Crete and feasted on human flesh until it was slain by the hero Theseus with the hel ... Show More
50m 58s
Dec 2024
The Thracians
They were ancient masters of cavalry, creators of dazzling treasures, and the ancestors of the legendary Spartacus, but who exactly were the Thracians? Join Tristan Hughes and Dr. Zosia Archibald in today's episode of The Ancients as they uncover the fascinating world of the Thra ... Show More
48m 29s
Feb 2025
La guerre de Troie a-t-elle vraiment eu lieu ?
La guerre de Troie, immortalisée par Homère dans l’Iliade, fascine depuis des siècles. Mais s’agit-il d’un mythe littéraire ou d’un véritable conflit historique ? Depuis longtemps, les historiens et archéologues tentent de démêler la réalité de la légende. Les sources antiques : ... Show More
2m 24s