My Alexander-Ammon cufflinks for my upcoming wedding have finally arrived. I had to add my own little flair to the wedding, my fiancée approved wholeheartedly.

Now reading: “Temples of the Last Pharoahs” - D. Arnold A survey of Egyptian temples from the Nubian pharaohs to the Roman emperors, including famous Ptolemaic examples at Philae, Dendera, Kalabsha, among others. An invaluable resource for my plans later this year… 🇪🇬

I hope you've enjoyed the latest episode! Next time we will take a detour from the main narrative to focus on the history of Ptolemaic activity in the Red Sea and East Africa, including elephant hunts and the Eastern Desert trade routes, but also a survey of the Meroitic Kingdom of Kush Stay tuned!

According to the geographer Strabo (16.4.15) the extent of Hellenistic exploration of East African coastline took them into the Gulf of Aden, with the Ptolemaic commander Charimortos establishing an altar in "Notuceras", modern Cape Guardafui in northeast Somalia in the late third century B.C.

I rode a horse for the first time ever this past weekend while exploring Colorado. This huge SOB (I’m 5’11, 230lbs) spontaneously chose to gallop at breakneck speed, but somehow I managed to get him to stop. I have a newfound respect for the people rode these things without stirrups into battle

I hope you've enjoyed the newest episode! Next time, we will turn back to Egypt to see out the final years of Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II (~129-116 BC), bringing an incredibly dysfunctional period to an end, but one that sets the stage for the continuing decline of the Ptolemaic dynasty

Now reading: “Julius Caesar and the Roman People” Rejecting the image of Caesar the ever-aspiring autocrat, Morstein-Marx presents a man working within the traditional (mostly functioning) framework of the Republic, but whose successes also conflicted with other powerful actors in that same system.

As per my latest episode, I’m happy to announce that I have collaborated with Imperial Wares to produce a shirt inspired by the podcast and the Seleucid Empire! You can find the shirt available via ImperialWares.com and the link to the store page below: www.etsy.com/listing/4514...

Saganaki across the board

Now reading: “Creating a Hellenistic World” - Ed. by A. Erskine and L. Llewellyn-Jones A collection of essays focusing on the early Hellenistic Age, from the development of Koine Greek to the cementing of court life and monarchy. Thank you to my anonymous donor for the book!

Every once in a while, Facebook Marketplace produces something unexpected and magical, like Miss Piggy as “Cleopigtra”

I hope you enjoyed our latest episode! Next time, Demetrius II returns to Syria after ten years in Parthian captivity, much to the chagrin of his (former) wife Cleopatra Thea. As civil war grips the realm once again, Thea is determined to keep her long-held position at any price Stay tuned!

Now reading: “Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt” - G. Pinch An introductory but comprehensive account of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon, worshipped from the time of the first pharaoh Narmer (3100 BC) until Late Antiquity (400 AD).

It’s the summer of Egypt: Tonight’s first film is “The Mummy” (1999), and while highly fantastical, I’m sure has inspired as many Egyptologists as “Gladiator” did for ancient historians. Such an awesome movie.

You know, with Ptolemy VIII Physcon, the more I learn about that guy, the more I don't care for him

Now reading: “A Noble Ruin” by W.J. Tatum This recent biography tackles the life of Mark Antony, one of antiquity’s most controversial figures, whose battles with Octavian and union with Cleopatra VII fascinated later writers for centuries. So far it’s a great read, really delves into the period

Hope you enjoyed our latest episode! Next time, Ptolemy VIII returns to Egypt after his brother’s death in 145, enacting a wave of political violence and a ménage à trois with the mother-daughter pair of Cleopatra II and III. Is it any wonder that civil war followed suit? Stay tuned!

Now reading: “Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell Into Tyranny” - E.J. Watts A recent introductory overview of the Late Roman Republic from the Gracchi to the rise of Augustus. We’ve finally reached the Late Republic in the podcast, time to do a deep dive this summer

"Your courage and drunkenness have ruined you, O Antiochus; for you hoped that, in your great cups, you would be able to drink up the kingdom of Arsaces.” - Athenaeus, 10.439d-e A silver tetradrachm of Antiochus VII Sidetes (r. 138-129) Episode 121 is slated for release in the next few days!

Now reading: the Poems of Propertius One of the great poets of the Augustan period, Propertius composed works lauding Augustus’ achievements, but is more well known for his dramatic love poems centered around his mistress and muse, Cynthia Thank you to my anonymous donor for gifting me this book!

Now reading: “Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire” - P.J. Kosmin A study on one of the most novel inventions of the Seleucid dynasty: the creation of the Seleucid Era, the world’s first continuous linear calendar, inspiring the Christian Anno Domini and Islamic Hijri systems

We’ve still got a hundred years left to cover in the podcast, meanwhile I’ve spent a lot of my recent walks planning the last episodes in my head. Even though her story has been done to death, I think the episodes around Cleopatra VII’s life are going to slap. There’s too much good material not to.

I hope you enjoyed the newest episode! Next time, Antiochus VII "Sidetes" takes the stage as he attempts to wrangle the chaos in Syria by battling the usurper Diodotus Tryphon and the Hasmoneans in Judea, before setting his sights on recovering Babylonia and Iran from the Parthians. Stay tuned!

The latest known copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh dates to 130 BC, made by a Babylonian scribe-in-training named Bel-ahhe-usur. Coincidentally, this would also be during the last year a Seleucid was recognized as king in Babylon, before it fell permanently to the Parthians.

Now reading: “A History of the Ptolemaic Empire” - G. Höbl Perhaps the best single-volume account of Ptolemaic Egypt, one I’ve relied upon for years, covering the dynasty’s 300 year history from Ptolemy I to Cleopatra VII. It’s nice to finally have a copy as I plan the messy end of the 2nd cent. BC

Now reading: “Cleopatra’s Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen” by J. Draycott (@jldraycott.bsky.social) This biography covers the life of Cleopatra Selene II, who despite being overshadowed by her famous parents enjoyed successful reign as queen of Mauretania in post-Hellenistic world.

Heracles of Behistun: a stone carving on the face of Mt. Behistun in Iran. Dating to June/July of 148, the statue and inscription are in honor of Cleomenes, a Seleucid satrap who battled the Parthians in Media. Ironically, the region would be conquered by Mithridates I of Parthia in the next year.

After 50 hours, I finally completed AC: Origins. There are major flaws with the story and pacing, but I absolutely love the way they portrayed Ptolemaic Egypt. The map is so detailed and varied, and there are a lot of little nice touches that I was able to catch. Some of the locations were gorgeous

Now reading: “The Architecture of Alexandria and Egypt: 300 BC - AD 700” - J. McKenzie A thorough examination of the visual and architectural landscape of Egypt from the Ptolemaic dynasty through Late Antiquity, particularly the city of Alexandria, the most renowned in the Hellenistic period

Obviously the late Green published this over 30 years ago, but as recently as 2024, L. Llewellyn-Jones’ “The Cleopatras” states that all the Seleucids “resembled a family of hard-edged mobsters” (p. 46).