Ancient Art Podcast (audio)

Two tales from the many lives of Buddha. The top scene depicts Buddha Shakyamuni meditating in the Indrashala cave awaiting his rebirth on Earth. The bottom scene shows Buddha Dipankara meeting the hermit Sumedha. Among other Gandharan works of art, this Buddhist carving might include representations of the Hindu gods Indra and Brahma. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. The big bombshell is that we have an honest to goodness cameo of the legendary Greek hero Hercules! Image: Relief with Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating in the Indrashala Cave (top) and Buddha Dipankara (bottom), Gandharan region, Kushan period, 2nd/3rd century, Art Institute of Chicago, 2015.447. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/67. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 66 of the Ancient Art Podcast picks up where we left off in episode 65 with the Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the Art Institute of Chicago. We briefly touch on some commonalities between Buddhism and Star Wars. We also learn more about the historic origin of the four pillars around the dome, discover what the deal is with those lion capitals, and revisit the Persians, Persepolis, Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, and Buddha humbly giving his first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath. And keep a sharp eye open for a passing nod to the great science fiction author H. P. Lovecraft. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/66. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 65 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores a Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The subdued appearance of this small reliquary belies its cultural and aesthetic significance at the crossroads of East and West, where great empires collide. Who were the Gandharans and what is their legacy? Walk in the footsteps of godlike leaders, like Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, Cyrus, and Darius. Discovery the cultural and historic mark they left on the land and its people. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/65. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Last time in our three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we explored the ancient hairless breeds of the New World and had a look at the popular ceramic funerary effigy of the Colima dog from a couple thousand years ago. We were also introduced to a young celebrity, Sputnik, my cute little hairless Xoloitzcuintli-Chihuahua mix. This time in episode 62 of the Ancient Art Podcast we're off to China to discover the prehistoric domestication of dogs and look closely at a 2,000 year old ceramic mastiff dog sculpture of the Han Dynasty in the Art Institute of Chicago! We also learn the roles dogs played in ancient China and try our lot with a cast of the Shang dragon oracle bones. And we might even bump into Loa Tzu! Music: A Concert of Classical Chinese Music by The Flowing Stream Ensemble. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/62. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

In my third installment of a three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we're back in our familiar stomping ground of the Classical World to consider the roles of dogs in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient writings give us the names of prized breeds in antiquity, which we match to magnificent examples in art. Classical authors like Arrian and Xenophon have much to say about the roles of dogs, from hunting and guarding to racing and companionship, but what about warfare? We meet Odysseus and his faithful hound Argos, rub elbows with Alexander the Great's canine companion Peritas, dodge the burning cinders of Patroklos's funeral pyre, and knock on the door to Hell guarded by sturdy Cerberus. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/63. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Just in time for Christmas, episode 64 of the Ancient Art Podcast spins a Yuletide yarn. All decked out for the holidays, this amazing, little, elvish sprite weaves us up a tall mountain pass on an enchanting journey through antiquity. The 5,000 year old horned striding figure from the ancient Near Eastern Proto-Elamite culture captivates our imagination of the enigmatic wild man of collective ancient lore. Herein we meet Gilgamesh's Enkidu, Egyptian gods and Pharaohs, the Greco-Roman Hercules, Olympian athletes, modern statesmen, and Europe's pagan renderings of an untamed, primal Santa Claus and companions Knecht Ruprecht, Perchta, Belsnickel, Zwarte Piet, the Julbocken, and of course Krampus! This video is just a short primer. For the big picture visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/64. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Dig in to this feast for the eyes as we discuss the role of dogs in ancient Mesoamerican civilization and art. This is our first in a three-part series on dogs in antiquity. This episodes serves up one of the most popular examples of canines in art, the Colima dog of ancient West Mexico, captured in an exemplary ceramic specimen in Art Institute of Chicago. Our lingua culinaria isn’t too off base, as the hairless hounds and pudgy puppies of ancient Mesoamerica were in fact a common food source. And with their rising popularity on the modern scene, the hairless xoloitzcuintli and Peruvian dog breeds might just be the new black! Music: Nunca Fui a Granada by GranadaDoaba. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/61. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

It's a cosmic collision of contemporary and antiquity on the Ancient Art Podcast! The prophesied comet of the century, Comet ISON, may have bit the dust, but that's no reason to pile dirt on our exploration of comets of past and present in the world of art. In two rare examples of auspicious comets in antiquity, Augustus Caesar and Mithridates VI of Pontus exploit coinage as vehicle for propaganda. We discuss the cameo of Halley's Comet on the Bayeux Tapestry capturing the Battle of Hastings in AD 1066, then trace Halley's Comet's apparitions back to 87 BC, 164 BC, ... no wait, 240 BC. Holy smokes ... 466 BC!? Chinese observers take the cake with the Comet Atlas of Mawangdui. And does the ancient, sacred, and much-maligned symbol of the swastika owe its origin to ancient comets? Lastly, has the ancient Egyptian demon serpent of chaos, Apophis, set his sights on Earth with a firestorm from above in 2036? Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/60. Connect at http://facebook.

Greetings gashlycrumbs! Enjoy this spooktacular free Halloween segment of the Ancient Art Podcast episode 59, "A Witches' Sabbath!" Meet the wicked witches, devilish denizens, and things that go bump in the night in the Art Institute of Chicago's painting "A Witches' Sabbath" by Dutch artist Cornelis Saftleven. Grab the complete episode at http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious. The complete episode explores the peculiar fascination Dutch and Flemish artists had with the proverbial "fire and brimstone," including the famous pioneer of the genre Hieronymus Bosch. A detailed examination of "A Witches' Sabbath" reveals various influences and motivations. We discuss the cultural context of Christian puritanism, the twisted history and legacy of the Witches' Sabbath a.k.a. Walpurgisnacht, and its relationship with legend of Faust. For detailed image credits and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/59. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston. Photography © The Art I

A short announcement about some changes to the Ancient Art Podcast. The Ancient Art Podcast and Curious.com have teamed up to host episodes of the podcast at Curious.com. Episodes now include quizzes, handouts, discussions, and more. Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious to see more! You can now help support the Ancient Art Podcast. Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/ and click on the "Donate" link. Thanks for the support and for 7 great years and counting! Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Raise your glass to the most incredible chalice from antiquity. The Lycurgus Cup in the British Museum is truly exceptional for its exquisite beauty, delicate craftsmanship, magnificent detail, and a seemingly magical ability to transform colors before your very eyes. Discover the myth of the doomed Thracian king, Lycurgus, driven mad by Dionysus and ensnared by the wine god's creeping vines. Explore the wondrous curiosity of Roman cage cups found in collections across the world, including the Corning Museum of Glass and the Cologne Cup in the Römisch Germanisches Museum. http://ancientartpodcast.org/58. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 57 of the Ancient Art Podcast builds on what we learned in episode 53 about the mythology and artistry of the creepy creature of chaos, the Gorgon Medusa. This episode delves deeper into her primal lair. We confront her petrifying gaze while closely examining a few famous works of ancient art exploring Medusa’s roots, influences, and evolutions. Included are the Bronze Age Minoan "Snake Goddesses," the Polyphemus Amphora, the Nessos Amphora, the Temple of Artemis at Corfu, kylix eye-cups, and the Egyptian god Bes. Most images are of works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. http://ancientartpodcast.org/56. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

This episode of the Ancient Art Podcast is a journey in music, imagery, and text. There is no vocal component. Please visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/56 or subscribe to the video podcast to watch episode 56. In the epic journey of homebrewing, episode 56 of the Ancient Art Podcast takes you behind the scenes in "Build a Beer: Krampuslauf, Ein Holiday Ale mit Horns." From high in the snow-capped Alpine peaks comes a powerfully spiced beer brewed in the tradition of German & Austrian Glühwein. Watch the beer take shape before your very eyes as the curtain is pulled on the home brewing process. Krampuslauf rewards good little boys and girls with treats of citrus, anise, cinnamon, and clove, while naughty children get flogged with a switch of birch and stuffed into Krampus's scratchy sack. The rich crimson hue and herby, earthy notes will surely bring you back for another toast to Krampus the Christmas Devil! http://ancientartpodcast.org/56. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com

Jump in for a VIP visit to the Art Institute of Chicago's new Jaharis Galleries of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art. Quadruple in size from the museum's earlier ancient art galleries, the new vista boasts a massive display of 550 ancient treasures from the Art Institute and collections around the world, including the British Museum, Getty Villa, Oriental Institute, Field Museum, and more. In this episode, we explore the aesthetics and merits of the new gallery design, point out some pitfalls, see old friends in a new light, and get close and personal with a few new kids on the block. We also explore the Art Institute's new interactive multimedia iPad app, LaunchPad. Also mentioned: Lycurgus Cup, Projecta Casket, Cycladic Female Figurines, Proto-Elamite/Mesopotamian Statuette of a Striding Figure, Roman mosaics, conservation, Kulapat Yantrasast, wHY Architecture, Etruscans, Sardinia, Getty Villa, British Museum, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Joan Miro, Apple iPad. Explore the image gallery, cre

He's knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows when you've been bad or good, So be good, for YOUR LIFE'S AT STAKE! Who's that hiding behind Santa's jolly mask? Episode 54 of the Ancient Art Podcast takes a holiday to the Austrian Alps to discover the true meaning of Christmas and meet Santa's various spooky, sooty sidekicks! We lift the lid on the mysterious, fur-clad, horned, Yuletide devil, Krampus, exploring his origin in pagan myths, history throughout the ages, and modern permutations. We'll cross the globe to root out the tongue-lashing demon, and risk his whip's wrath in the Krampuslauf. Also meet jolly ole Saint Nick's other companions, including the Nordic Yule Goat, Belgium and the Netherlands' Black Peter (Zwarte Piet), the German Knecht Ruprecht, and Belsnickel/Pelznikel. And we thought keeping Santa's reindeer straight was hard enough! So, dive in and enjoy this spectacular nightmare before Christmas! Discover more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/krampus. Connect at http:

In this spooktacular Halloween episode of the Ancient Art Podcast with monstrous fiends and tortured souls lurking about in dark shadows, we explore a mythic monster from the Classical world, the original femme-fatale, the slithering seductress, the Gorgon Medusa. From ancient poets Hesiod and Ovid, we discover the lineage, background, and tragic curse that damned this poor maiden, and reveal her "children," winged Pegasus and Chrysaor. We reveal the changing face of the obscured demoness in the history of ancient art, and discuss into the possible origins and influences that conjured such a fiend in the minds of the ancient Greeks. Do you dare meet Medusa's petrifying gaze in episode 53 of the Ancient Art Podcast!? Also included: Clash of the Titans, Perseus, Poseidon, Athena, Geryon, Wadjet, Eye of Horus, Pindar, Theogony. Explore the image gallery, credits, transcript, and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/episode53. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast

When equipping yourself for the afterlife, be sure to bring enough wine! Episode 52 of the Ancient Art Podcast is all about Wine in Ancient Egypt. There really was a King Scorpion and what did he drink? Ancient Egyptian Spring Break drunken orgies. Embarrassing yourself for all eternity well before the Facebook generation. What's it really mean when your god gets drunk? King Tut's "wishing cup," Nebamun's hoity-toity parties, Herodotus goes to Bubastis, Hatshepsut's porch of drunkenness, and Sekhmet gets drunk again. All that and more! See the footnotes at http://ancientartpodcast.org/blog/52. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Episode 51 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the art, culture, history, and mythology surrounding beer in Ancient Egypt. We'll look at the archaeological record to sort fact from fiction on the brewing process and dig up some modern attempts at recreating the ancient recipes for Egyptian beer. Chemical analysis of ancient beer residue paints a telling picture as funerary art and literary sources flesh out culture of some of the world's earliest brewers. Included in episode 51 are discussions of modern versus ancient brewing ingredients and techniques, Patrick McGovern's "Uncorking the Past," Dogfish Head's Ta Henket beer, the research of Delwen Samuel, the ancient "zeer pot" refrigerator (or nested pot-in-pot fridge), and the myth of the lioness goddess Sekhmet. See the footnotes at http://ancientartpodcast.org/blog/51. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/

In some Buddhist traditions, people are encouraged to devote 100,000 miniature stupas, pagodas, or idols of Buddha as an act of extreme piety. Well, I'm not that pious. We celebrate 50 episodes of the Ancient Art Podcast with 50 images of Buddha. Enjoy this feast for the eyes of magnificent Buddhist treasures from the southern tip of India to the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, from the lush Southeast Asian tropics, stately caves of China, and serene bamboo groves of Japan. Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.

Episode 49 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores the ancient legends and origins of dragons, separating fact from fiction and good from evil. Dragons permeate our cultural heritage in many forms and fashions: as ferocious fire-breathing, flesh-eating monsters, noble emblems of honor, and peace-loving creatures of earth, air, and water. From the salty depths of the Mediterranean, across the sun-scorched deserts of Central Asia, to the misty mountains of China and Japan, where do dragons first take root? What are the ancient sources for our modern legends? Pack your bags, buy your spell components, and polish your long sword, because we're going dragon hunting! Explore more episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast.