Creepy Classics

An Icelandic farmer gets a new shepherd in to his haunted farm, but the cure may turn out to be worse than the disease... This story is adapted from Grettir's Saga, 32-35, and is followed by a discussion of revenants riding the roof, Yule and Christmas, and ancient Norse Hel.

A Serbian village is plagued by an epidemic of vampires; medical doctor Flückinger wants to be skeptical, but can't deny the evidence of his own eyes... Based on Johannes Flückinger's 1732 report 'Visum et Repertum', this story is followed by a discussion of early modern Eastern European vampires and how their folklore made its way into Western Europe. Content warning: Contains detailed discussion of dead bodies and brief references to stillbirth, neonatal death, and maternal mortality.

Olaf's new homestead is plagued by an angry ghost, and his father seems to know something about it... From Laxdaela Saga, 10-24, this story is followed by a discussion of the medieval Icelandic undead, Viking and Christian burial practices, and cultural memory.

Euthymus the boxer comes across a weird ritual of human sacrifice at the coastal town of Temesa - why do the locals sacrifice a maiden to a monster every year? Based on Pausanias, Description of Greece, 6.6.7-11, this story is followed by a discussion of Greek history and folklore including human sacrifice in ancient Greece, the ancient Olympic Games, and the Delphic Oracle. Content warning: brief references to sexual assault.

The Athenian army fight and win a famous victory at Marathon, but Tolmis finds himself living the battle over again and again in an endless loop... This story is inspired by Pausanias, 1.32.3-5 and based partly on Herodotus, 6.112-117. It's followed by a discussion of the Battle of Marathon, battlefield ghosts, and the history of the site itself.

Rome is at war, and strange ships accompanied by men in shining white are seen in the sky... This story is inspired by Livy, History of Rome, 21.62.5 and 24.10.10, and is followed by a discussion including ancient UFOs, dream interpreters, and dream books.

On New Year's Eve, a mysterious Green Knight rides into King Arthur's Christmastide feast and challenges Arthur and his knights to a deadly game... Adapted from the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, this story is followed by a discussion including medieval Christmas, Green Men, and the history of Father Christmas - and exactly what colour robes he "traditionally" wore!

The night before battle, a nervous young officer consults a witch, who promises to raise the dead to prophesy for him... Adapted from Lucan, Civil War, 6.413-830, followed by a discussion of Roman witches, zombies, and a lengthy digression on horse rearing! Content warning: The story is a lot gorier than usual, and there are references to suicide and to abortion and birth trauma in the commentary.

A young girl has a strange dream about a conversation between famous historical women, including her own mother, which takes a turn into the macabre towards the end... Based on the 1798 unpublished manuscript 'Ithuriel, the Angel of Truth, Thus Restateth an Event of the Heavens' by Jane Porter and an unknown co-author. Followed by a discussion about the history behind the text and the women featured; Mary Wollstonecraft, Lady Jane Grey, Aspasia, Sappho, and Boudicca. Content warning: The commentary following the story discusses miscarriage, maternal and infant mortality (in some detail, especially on death in childbirth, and including SIDS), suicide, and mentions rape.

A group of strangers tell stories about the mysterious White Island (now called Snake Island, Ukraine) where the spirit of Achilles lives eternally, but they can't quite agree on the details... This story is based on Pausanias, Description of Greece, 3.19.11-13, Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea, 32-34, and Philostratus, On Heroes, 54.1-56.4. Followed by a discussion including Trojan War stories, ancient Greek hero cult, and conflicting folklore tales. This episode is dedicated to the Ukrainian defence forces. Content warning: war and warfare, including reference to the current conflict in Ukraine.

Brutus and Cassius lead a conspiracy to murder Julius Caesar to save Rome from a tyrannical king, but Brutus finds himself confronted by a mysterious spirit that may or may not represent his Fate... This story is adapted from Plutarch, Life of Brutus 36 and 48, and Life of Caesar 69. It's followed by a discussion of the death of Julius Caesar and his relationship with Brutus, the ways in which Shakespeare adapted Plutarch's biography for his play Julius Caesar, and exactly what kind of "spirit" it was that Plutarch claims Brutus saw. Content warning: violence, a very brief reference to sexual abuse.

A troubled soul in life, Emperor Gaius Caligula's spirit remains restless in death... This story is adapted from Suetonius, Life of Caligula, 59 and is followed by a discussion about Caligula, King Herod Agrippa, and Roman funerary rites. Content warning: Some gory details, descriptions of fire, brief reference to infanticide, discussion of mental health including use of a term some may find uncomfortable in the commentary.

On New Year's Day 1091, the priest Walchelin has an experience that will leave its mark on him forever... This story has been adapted from Orderic Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica, 8.17, and is followed by a discussion of medieval faith and belief, ghostly armies and wild hunts.

Do you dare set foot in the Emperor Augustus' childhood nursery? They say anyone who does is seized by shuddering and terror... This story has been inspired by Suetonius, Augustus, 6 & 94, and is followed by a discussion of the Emperor Augustus, his life and achievements, and ancient poltergeists.

Hamlet's friends have seen something that looks like his late father stalking the castle at night, but what is it, and what does it want? This story has been adapted from Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1 and is followed by a discussion of Catholic, Protestant and Roman themes in the play and of Shakespeare's relationship to Catholicism. Content warning: Discussion of suicide and brief reference to baby loss

Propertius' girlfriend Cynthia has died suddenly, but he hasn't seen the last of her... This story has been adapted from Propertius, Elegies, 4.7 and 4.8, and is followed by a chat about Latin love elegy, Roman funerary customs, and the geography of the underworld, including the famous Gates of Sleep.

Christmas 1323 is a sad season for the widow of Gui de Corvo, but it's made even more difficult when it seems her late husband hasn't quite left yet... This story is adapted from medieval texts attributed to Jean Gobi, translated into French by Marie-Anne Polo de Beaulieu. It's followed by a few words on purgatory in medieval ghost stories, and on medieval Christmas traditions.

Khonsuemheb, High Priest of Amun, has an unexpected encounter at an ancient tomb with a spirit who needs his help... This story is based on an ancient Egyptian ghost story found on ostraka and translated into English by W. K. Simpson. It's followed by a whistlestop tour through some of the highlights of ancient Egyptian afterlife belief and funerary practice.

A classic haunted house story for Halloween - a philosopher rents an old house with suspiciously cheap rent and the sound of clanking chains in the night... This story is taken from Pliny the Younger, Letters, 7.27.5-11. After the story, Dr Tony Keen of the University of Notre Dame in London joins me for a chat about Pliny, urban legends, the fantastic in the ancient world, and about working for the Roman Emperor.

A desperate family become separated while fleeing a war zone in this famous story from Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid, 2.624-795. I'm delighted to be joined on this episode by Dr Olivia Knops, from the University of Birmingham, and Ed Harrisson, who has composed all the music for the podcast. We have a good old natter about ancient and modern music, different musical moods, what we know about ancient music and how this can be transformed for modern listeners. The story features a new arrangement of the ancient Greek Seikilos Epitaph, the earliest known musical composition including musical notation. Content warning: war, fire, urban destruction, references to sexual violence.