History of Persia

Intelligent Speech Online 2026 is almost here, and if I haven't yet sold you on attending the conference on February 28, 2026 (starting at 9am US Eastern Time), you might be interested in my presentation from last year's event. When he seized the Persian throne in 522 BCE, Darius the Great made a public declaration explaining his coup in the Bisotun Inscription. Details changed with each retelling, but that version of story is the only one that survived in ancient sources. Modern historians are pretty sure that it’s one of the most successful lies ever told. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! Watch the video version of this presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uAFcxdySfI Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Slightly delayed by world events, but planned and written for December 2025, History of Persia marks the Iranian and Zoroastrian holiday of Sadeh, a feast and fire to stave off the dark winter nights and celebrate light and warmth. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! The Gist of the Jashan Ceremony - https://www.avesta.org/antia/Gist_of_the_Jashan_R1.pdf The Atash Niyayesh - https://www.avesta.org/ka/niyayesh.htm#ny5 Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Unfortunately for the study of Seleucid philosophy, the Seleucid kings were not major patrons of the lovers of wisdom as their Hellenistic neighbors were, and the works of the philosophers they did patronize have not survived. However, somewhat more can be said of Seleucid patronage of ancient medicine. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're taking a break from the narrative for a brief introduction to Ancient Greek Philosophy. From Thales to Epicurus, it's time. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! The Hellenistic Age Podcast - https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/ History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps - https://historyofphilosophy.net/ Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

After chasing his brother out of Asia, but still beaten by the Parthians, Seleucus II returned to Antioch to face the family drama royals are best known for and to prepare for another round of war. In a speed round family episode, we'll cover the Seleucid extended family, the death of Seleucus Callinichus, and the reign of Seleucus III Ceranaus. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

During the Third Syrian War, Seleucus II Callinicus discovered treachery. His younger brother, Antiochus Hierax and their royal relatives in Anatolia attempted to usurp the throne. Seleucus was forced to make a hasty peace with Ptolemy III and return to the north to face his brother in open civil war. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

With Babylonia and the Seleucis of Syria under Ptolemaic occupation, it's entirely possible that the only thing that saved Seleucus II was an Egyptian famine. Free to go on the offensive, Seleucus turned the tide of the Third Syrian War. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com – Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Antiochus II Theos was dead and his wives, Laodike and Berenike, were both trying to get their sons on the Seleucid throne. Both sides called on their relatives, the Achaeids and Ptolemies, to plunder and retake the vulnerable Empire. IntelligentSpeechOnline.com - Intelligent Speech Online 2026 Tickets available now! Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We take a break from the Seleucids to discuss their western neighbors: Egypt under Ptolemy II and Macedon under Antigonus II. . The Hellenistic Age Podcast - https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/ . Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! . Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We've covered 300. We've covered Rise of an Empire. We've covered all sorts of Achaemenid historical fiction. So now, we cover Xerxes, with a shockingly positive review of Frank Miller's sequel graphic novel. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to get the full episode and support this show! Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Thank you all so much for supporting History of Persia. In this bonus episode, I wanted to try out something a little different than usual. Today, I'm pitching my ideas for movies and series set in the Achaemenid Empire. If you've ever wanted a spaghetti western set in the 5th Century BCE or an animated musical where Cambyses is Prince Charming, I've got some thoughts. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to get the full episode and support this show! Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's time to wind down Antiochus II Theos and talk about his extended royal family, from his various siblings spread out across the Hellenistic world to the powerful cousins entrenched in Anatolia. Then we'll wrap up with his two wives, Laodike and Berenike, and their three sons, Seleucus, Antiochus, and Antiochus. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Book of Daniel is a fascinating combination of genuine history, folk tale, historical inaccuracy, and prophecy. Let's talk about it. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show and HEAR THE FULL EPISODE! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

During and after the Second Syrian War, Antiochus II was involved in many ongoing events with his smaller neighbors and subordinates. Whether it was intervening in the Cappadocian monarchy, being kept out of Bithynia by threats of a wider war, or granting autonomy to Parthia and Bactria to fight the Parni, the Seleucid Empire was a busy place in the mid-3rd Century BCE. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trevor's WiFi is back, and so is the History of Persia. Although he started in a relatively strong position, the new Seleucid king Antiochus II's reign was immediately derailed by the Second Syrian War. Rebellions, invasions, and alliances ensue. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

To wrap up our series on Orphism and its connections to Hellenistic Iran, it's time to discuss Zurvan, the Zoroastrian yazata of Time, and his growing cult in the Hellenistic Age. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Ancient Greeks had many ideas about the origins of the universe and humanity over the centuries. The best known is probably Hesiod's Theogony, but the Orphics developed many of their own versions of the story. Today, we explore some of those competing ideas about the dawn of Time. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Continuing the story of Orphic religion, we take a break from mythology to talk about theology in one of ancient Greece's more unique mystery cults. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com * Check out Warpath: https://bit.ly/4ixJCm3 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're taking a break from the historical narrative to focus on a mythological one: the life and times of Orpheus the Bard, from his many origin stories to the travels of the Argonauts to his eventual journey to the underworld. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com * Check out Warpath: https://bit.ly/4ixJCm3 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Like any good king, Antiochus I Soter had a royal family, and as his reign comes to an end, it's time to talk about them, from his brother in Anatolia to troublesome sons and wide ranging in-laws. He's in his Seleucid Era. Visit https://HoPfulMedia.com.co to support this show! Support | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram Our Sponsors: * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-of-persia/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy