Homer’s great poems that are left to us today, The Iliad and The Odyssey, describe the events of the Trojan War and its immediate aftermath, events which marked the descent of Greece into a Dark Age. Following the Trojan War, c.1190 BCE, the civilization of mainland Greece collapsed, written language was lost, and cities disappeared.
This is one to print and study. I recently read a few pieces on Akhnaten 1370 BC, so will be anxious to superimpose his amazing life on this chronology. Wow, again, Cynthia. Thanks.
Socrates was a teacher of Critias, one of the Thirty, the anti-democratic despots. Your article reminded me of this popular book "The Trial of Socrates" which I read when it came out. History repeats? https://www.famous-trials.com/socrates/821-ifstoneinterivew
Fascinating history! I start out my book with Solon and the Areopolis but this adds so much depth to my thinking. So relevant, the way that occult priesthoods were able to rule over kings and militaries. David Graeber talks about secret knowledge as one of the three sources of power in antiquity; I think there's a parallel in our time. Beautiful ending quote.
We have never learnt about the economic history of ancient civilizations. We dont have accounts of companys, enterprises, banks or real estate properties of those times, do we?
I find it a fascinating article, but in all honesty I think there are some inaccuracies or statements without historical basis:
-without doubting the conspiratorial nature it could have, there are some attributions to the oracle of Delphi that have no historical basis, such as that he spoke against King Agesilaus II.
-I believe that there is no evidence that Lysander participated in all the anti-Spartan actions attributed to him here, in fact he died defending Sparta.
-the victory of Agesilaus in 395 BC. was not so exaggerated, if referring to the taking of Sardis, he certainly defeated the Persians brilliantly but did not "completely destroy Artaxerxes' army."
-There is no record that any Egyptian navy helped unblock the Spartans in the Aegean, Agesilaus was able to return to Greece after the battle of Cnidus, which destroyed the Spartan fleet and caused the unblocking when the victors of the Persian and Athenian fleets withdrew.
-Sparta indeed had a treaty with Nepherites I, who sent supplies to Sparta, but it is known that these supplies were lost or were intercepted and stolen.
-I want to believe that Plato was with Eudoxus in Egypt and the stay was fruitful, but everything else that is mentioned about the political conspiracy from Egypt is conjecture, I think.
There are some other debatable points. I would like you to indicate your sources so I can compare them. Could you tell me where I can get the text you mention, "The Truth About Plato" by Charles Tate?
Yoni, I refer you to Michael Hudson’s “And Forgive Them Their Debts” to show the extent of our knowledge of Sumerian and Babylonian economics, particularly to debt jubilees and the constant struggles between the sovereign and private lender oligarchs.
This is one to print and study. I recently read a few pieces on Akhnaten 1370 BC, so will be anxious to superimpose his amazing life on this chronology. Wow, again, Cynthia. Thanks.
Thank you for the in-depth historical narrative and links to other sources on Plato.
Thank you Cynthia, it is a fantastic piece.
interesting lecture
Fascinating
Socrates was a teacher of Critias, one of the Thirty, the anti-democratic despots. Your article reminded me of this popular book "The Trial of Socrates" which I read when it came out. History repeats? https://www.famous-trials.com/socrates/821-ifstoneinterivew
Cynthia, is Artaxerxes Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther?
What did the Babylonian oligarchs do to sabotage the Jubilee? Why did Rabbi Hillel undercut the Jubilee at Leviticus 25:10?
Are the Babylonian oligarchs private creditors? How did they resist central authority successfully?
Fascinating history! I start out my book with Solon and the Areopolis but this adds so much depth to my thinking. So relevant, the way that occult priesthoods were able to rule over kings and militaries. David Graeber talks about secret knowledge as one of the three sources of power in antiquity; I think there's a parallel in our time. Beautiful ending quote.
Eureka!
We have never learnt about the economic history of ancient civilizations. We dont have accounts of companys, enterprises, banks or real estate properties of those times, do we?
Glad to see this article, thanks. A good deep dive into a very important part of our collective history.
Wrote a post not long ago loosely based on Trojan Horses but never made it as far as this relevant history:
https://kwnorton.substack.com/p/trojan-horses-tyranny-and-american?r=boqs0&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I find it a fascinating article, but in all honesty I think there are some inaccuracies or statements without historical basis:
-without doubting the conspiratorial nature it could have, there are some attributions to the oracle of Delphi that have no historical basis, such as that he spoke against King Agesilaus II.
-I believe that there is no evidence that Lysander participated in all the anti-Spartan actions attributed to him here, in fact he died defending Sparta.
-the victory of Agesilaus in 395 BC. was not so exaggerated, if referring to the taking of Sardis, he certainly defeated the Persians brilliantly but did not "completely destroy Artaxerxes' army."
-There is no record that any Egyptian navy helped unblock the Spartans in the Aegean, Agesilaus was able to return to Greece after the battle of Cnidus, which destroyed the Spartan fleet and caused the unblocking when the victors of the Persian and Athenian fleets withdrew.
-Sparta indeed had a treaty with Nepherites I, who sent supplies to Sparta, but it is known that these supplies were lost or were intercepted and stolen.
-I want to believe that Plato was with Eudoxus in Egypt and the stay was fruitful, but everything else that is mentioned about the political conspiracy from Egypt is conjecture, I think.
There are some other debatable points. I would like you to indicate your sources so I can compare them. Could you tell me where I can get the text you mention, "The Truth About Plato" by Charles Tate?
Thanks for the article and best regards.
Yoni, I refer you to Michael Hudson’s “And Forgive Them Their Debts” to show the extent of our knowledge of Sumerian and Babylonian economics, particularly to debt jubilees and the constant struggles between the sovereign and private lender oligarchs.