34 Circe Salon -- The Parallax: Recent Episodes
34 Circe Salon, 34 Circe Media
Parallax -- noun. (ˈpɛrəˌlæks) The apparent displacement of an object as seen from two different points that are not on a line with the object.
A podcast that is an exploration from the ancient world to the cosmic future. Different points of view than what are normally heard. New visions.
The Trojan Horse. One of the most iconic figures, images and stories in the history of the world.
It is neither in The Iliad nor The Odyssey that we learn its story. We learn it in Book II of The Aeneid.
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they take us on a journey through one of the greatest tales the world has ever known.
Is there a secret number system hidden in The Iliad and The Odyssey? Did Homer convey secret ancient mystery teachings in his great epics?
Join this encore presentation as Dr. Gary Stickel regales us with his theory of "Code 12" the secret number system hidden in Homer's works. This concept is key to a lot of our discussions of classical works.
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
And so we begin the greatest epic of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Virgil's Aeneid, the epic tale of the founding of the Roman Empire.
The Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who escaped the fall of Troy and traveled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. The poem consists of twelve books and covers Aeneas's adventures from his departure from Troy to his final quest to found the Roman people.
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel lead the journey.
Still haunting millennia later, Sophocles' "Ajax" is one of the extraordinary works of world Drama. Join us as we discuss the tragic story of a the Trojan War hero Ajax and the psychological rupture that the bloodshed caused him.
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel discuss.
One of the great works of world drama, Euripides "The Bacchae" has mesmerized audiences for over 2000 years. In the play, the god Dionysus returns to Thebes, his mortal mother’s city, to introduce his cult and punish his relatives who have denied his divinity as the son of Zeus.
What is the play really about and why is it still relevant today?
Join Dr. Gary Stickel and Sean Marlon Newcombe as they discuss this masterpiece.
The end... or an anti-climax? Some scholars think this may have been a later add-on after Homer was long gone. Listen in as Dr. Gary Stickel and Sean Marlon Newcombe discuss.
On one momentous day in rock history, three groundbreaking albums were released: Nevermind by Nirvana, The Low End Theory by Tribe Called Quest and Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Each album represented both a paradigm shift musically as well as clarion call for the sensibilities of Generation X.
Join us as we discuss this incredible day in music.
We continue our encore presentation, with our second part of our inquiry into whether there is a secret number system hidden in The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Dr. Gary Stickel continues the discussion of his theory of the secret number system hidden in Homer's works.
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
In an encore presentation, we revisit one of the seminal topics of this podcast: Is there a secret number system hidden in The Iliad and The Odyssey? Did Homer convey secret ancient mystery teachings in his great epics?
Join us as Dr. Gary Stickel shares with us his theory of "Code 12," the secret number system hidden in Homer's works!
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
Chapter 13, whereupon Odysseus finally reaches the shores of his beloved home, Ithaca, but not without his Phaeacian helpers incurring the wrath of Poseidon.
One of the most colorful passages in the entire work, in chapter 12, Odysseus recounts his encounters with the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis and the cattle of Helios!
Odysseus journeys to Hades, the underworld, where he learns his fate and the fate of those he loves.
It's a podcast crossover! Join in as we share an episode from our sister podcast, "Make Matriarchy Great Again." (If you haven't subscribed, please do. You'll love it.)
Madeline Miller's beautiful and lyrical novel, "Circe," Is one part mythology, one part biography and one part half-remembered dream. It is a work that explores Greek myth from the perspective of a female character-- and does so with insight and poetry. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they discuss this marvelous book.
Odysseus. Circe. She's our Matron (34 Circe, right?). Whose side do you think we're on? ;-)
Let the games begin! Join us as we discuss chapter 8 of the Odyssey wherein King Alcinous present athletic games in honor of their royal guest, Odysseus. Dr. Gary Stickel believes this could represent the origin of the Olympics. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe as he discusses this fun and potentially groundbreaking chapter with Dr. Stickel.
Looks like we skipped a chapter in our odyssey with The Odyssey! Join us as we discuss chapter 5 of The Odyssey wherein the Gods gather in council to discuss the fate of Odysseus. Don't miss this one!
By day, Odysseus enters the Palace of King Alcinous under the protective mist of Athena. By nightfall, he is offered that hand of the princess in marriage.
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss the journey of Odysseus.
It's Hollywood Time again! Join us as we review the 1997 TV miniseries, "The Odyssey." Produced by Hallmark Entertainment and Francis Ford Coppola, the series was highly anticipated. Was it worth the wait? Tune in and find out...
Odysseus has washed up on shore after a violent storm caused by Poseidon. He lays safe in a wooded field. After a long night of deep, much-needed sleep, he awakens to find beautiful maidens playing in the clearing in front of him. His clothes in tatters, he emerges naked to ask their help. All but one flees in fear. Only Princess Nausicaa stays. She offers the stranger help and guides him to her palace so that he may bathe and dine.
Finally, a friendly hand is extended Odysseus' way.
Telemachus learns information that gives him hope that his father Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile, back at the palace, his mother's suitors plan his demise.
With the hoards of suitors overrunning the ancestral palace, Telemachus sets off in search of his father Odysseys as the goddess Athena, in disguise, guides his way. At the city-state of Pylos, they join the sacrifice to Poseidon and seek the next step in the journey to finding Odysseus.
And so begins the journey-- Chapter One of The Odyssey. Odysseus has been gone for the ten long years of the Trojan War and now must lead his comrades home to Ithaca. Meanwhile his beloved wife Penelope is besieged by unruly suitors who have overrun her palace as they boorishly seek her hand in marriage. It is there where our story begins...
We return to the world of cinema to review the 1954 film "Ulysses." Starring Golden Age icons Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn, "Ulysses" is a product of 1950s Italian cinema. Does the film do the epic justice? Does it hold up to today's film standards? Tune in and find out.
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel discuss.
Join us for the story that gave birth to the adventure tale! It is a story of a man of many twists and turns who braved mountain and sea, gods and monsters all to find his way to home and those he loved. It is "The Odyssey"! A tale whose very name has come to describe a journey of wonder, struggle and adventure. Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel set sail alongside Homer to share this epic masterpiece!
The return and rebirth of an exciting series on the 34 Circe Salon Parallax Channel-- Parallax Sports! In this series we'll drill down deep in the world of sports to examine the trends and changes that are affecting the athletic landscape. In our current episode we ask the question: Are Sports Irrelevant Now? Has the advent of video games, social media and even Covid caused sports to take a backseat in cultural importance? Join us our sports analysts as we debate whether sports have lost their way in the modern world.
Join us as Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel review the masterwork that we've explored for the last few weeks: The lliad. The Foundational work of Western European literature, The Iliad has influenced writers and artists for three millennia and its reach can be found in everything from Virgil's Aeneid to Hollywood blockbusters.
A legendary queen renown for a brilliance, charisma and seductiveness that affected the course of three ancient empires . A legendary movie renown for an opulence, financial excess and smoldering romance that altered Hollywood. An irresistible combination? A majestic masterpiece?
Not so much.
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss the cinematic conflagration "Cleopatra" (1963).
We may gaze across 3000 years of glory and glamour, across endless waves of fallen warriors crashing, endless tangles of lovers' bodies twisting, visions of cities lost, empires of dust-- yet still through the vast and sundry visions of the millennia, our eyes cannot help but be drawn to the tragedy of Troy's end.
So here we are, gentle listener. It has come to this: the fall of Troy. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they take the last steps to the gates of Troy to bear witness.
It all ends.
With Hector slain, Achilles now mourns the death of Patroclus with a series of athletic competitions-- the funeral games. Shortly, the attack on Troy will take place in earnest. Till then, eat, drink and be merry...
The final confrontation. Achilles. Hector. Fate decreed the outcome. The will of the Gods be done. With Hector's death would die the hopes of all Troy. The end is near...
The goddesses and gods choose sides and come to blows! It's chapter 21 and the end is near! Achilles is unleashed and takes on the Trojans while above in Olympus, the divine beings seek to influence the action with a conflict of their own. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss the Iliad's furious sprint to its conclusion.
Chapter 20-- when all will start to come to its fruition as decreed by Goddesses and Gods. In this chapter, the Olympians choose sides and Achilles and Hector finally square off. It's the beginning of the end...
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss the 2014 film "Hercules" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. One of the most famous Ancient heroes of all time, Hercules has captivated the world for generations. Does the 2014 film capture the essence of the excitement, mystery and adventure of the myth? Listen in and find out!
Achilles is armed and ready. The Greeks huddle up and plan. The blood is about to flow.
Arrayed in battle armor, Achilles returns to the stage as Agamemnon and Odysseus plan strategy and prepare for the final clash with the Trojans!
One of the most lyrical chapters in the Iliad, in chapter 18, Achilles grieves over the death of Patroclus and steels himself to return to battle. His loving mother, the goddess Thetis, commissions the god Hephaestus to fashion him new, resplendent armor for the battle he is about to wage and Homer paints a picture of the preparations in some of the most amazingly vivid passages ever written.
The Roman Empire. Shakespeare. Marlon Brando. James Mason. With that kind of a lineup, a classic is unavoidable. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss the 1953 Classic, "Julius Caesar." One of the most important events in world history dramatized by one of the greatest writers in world history, the story of Julius Caesar's assassination is timeless and this film did not disappoint!
We've been on a bit of a break, but listen in to what we have in store for you in 2022!
Patroclus' death leads to a battle to retrieve his corpse... and the eventual return of Achilles to the fray.
Achilles refuses. Patroclus enters the fray. Confusion and fear amongst the Trojans. Patroclus dies.
The beginning of the end, folks. The Iliad, chapter 16.
The Battle of Thermopylae is an epic tale of the few standing against the many. Known popularly as the "Story of the 300," two major Hollywood movies have tackled this tale-- with VERY different approaches. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe as he chats with Classical scholar Dr. Gary Stickel about the two films "The 300 Spartans" and "300."
The beginning of the end. Zeus awakens from his seduction by Hera and signals that he will start the process that will seal the Trojan fate.
Enter the Great Goddess. Chapter 14 of The Iliad wherein Hera unleashes her sexual power to alter the course of the war.
Hera seduces Zeus in order to give Poseidon reign to help the Greeks and lead them to Victory. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss this heated chapter.
Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: a comedy tonight! And so begins the wonderful comedy "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"! Join us as we discuss this 1966 classic send-up of Roman comedy. Directed by Richard Lester, director of "A Hard Days Night" and "The Three Musketeers," with amazing songs by Stephen Sondheim, this film and play has delighted for decades.
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel don their togas and head to the Forum.
In this chapter, the blood runs hot as both sides cut into their adversaries with brutal intent. Also, when Zeus is away, Poseidon will play. Poseidon enters the fray to help bolster the sagging fortunes of the Greeks.
The Trojans are on the move! Chapter 12 of the Iliad finds the Trojan counter-offensive in full force as the sons of Illium tear into the Achaean lines. Will the Greeks hold or will the Trojans prevail? Listen in and find out!
The 1950s were the Golden Age of Sword and Sandal epics, and no film typified that more than Ben Hur. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss this Hollywood classic in the context of both history and filmed entertainment.
The chariot races, the might of Rome, the defiance of Judea and the rise of young carpenter from Nazareth called "Jesus" who would change the world forever. This epic covered it all and also made Charlton Heston a movie legend. Listen in and take the adventure with us!
The Trojans are on the move. The Greeks are on the run. Where is Achilles? So goes chapter 11 of The Iliad. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they journey to the shores of Troy to discuss the most famous war of the Ancient World.
Welcome back to the Classical World at the Movies! This week, it's the apotheosis of the Classics in Hollywood: Spartacus (1960)!
Starring and spearheaded by Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas, written by the legendary writer and Black List defier Dalton Trumbo, and directed by cinema titan and genius Stanley Kubrick, Spartacus remains the standard by which all films about the Classical World are judged.
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they discuss this cinematic gem!
It's espionage in the Ancient World! It's chapter 10 of The Iliad wherein we see the Greeks and the Trojans use subterfuge to gain a military edge. How did ancient armies use spies? What happened when they were captured? Did they drink Martinis like James Bond?
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe as he talks about this aspect of ancient warrior life with Homeric scholar Dr. Gary Stickel.
The Greeks entreat Achilles to return to the fray and fight the Trojans, but like a diva athlete, he's not interested in joining unless they make it worth his while.
Achilles is the "star" of the Greek "team" and he knows it... and so do the rest of the Greeks. Without him in the battle, the Greeks don't stand a chance against the Trojans. Pouting in his tent, Achilles refuses to fight. The Greeks must find a way to woo him back onto the field.
Will they?
Tune in and find out!
A special episode about a special film!
The Real-life Indiana Jones, Dr. Gary Stickel, and Hollywood legend, Michael R. Miller, join Sean Marlon Newcombe to discuss the Coen Brothers 2001 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Based on Homer's Odyssey, O Brother, Where Art Thou? tells the story of three convicts who escape from a chain gang (one of whom is named "Ulysses," the Latin/Roman form of "Odysseus") and their (mis)adventures as they seek their freedom. The film was an instant classic and has been discussed and dissected in the decades since. We'll look a little differently-- from both a cinematic and scholarly standpoint.
But always with an eye on fun! ;-)
Dr. Gary Stickel is a Homeric expert well versed in The Odyssey, while Michael Miller is a legendary film editor who worked with the Coen Brothers on such films as Miller's Crossing (which bears his name) and Raising Arizona. What a great combination!
So join us, please, as we take a look at the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?-- See you in Hollywoodland!
“Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium--
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.--"
So wrote Christopher Marlowe of one of the most famous names in history: Helen of Troy. But who was Helen and what was life like for women of that era?"
Join us as we talk to again with Max Dashu, noted scholar of women in history, about Helen of Troy and women in that portion of the Bronze Age. Were there still strands of matriarchy in these highly phallo-centric cultures? How did women express their power in the time of the Trojan War? What about Cassandra and Antigone and the other women immortalized in the Epic Cycle of the Trojan War?
Of course, at the center of it all is the question: Who was this Helen, the woman whose faced launched a thousand ships?
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.
This episode we talk about chapter 8 of The Iliad in which the anger of Zeus allows the Trojans to slaughter many Greeks in their battle to save their city of Troy. Dr. Gary Stickel lectures. Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
We're back at the movies and this time it's Clash of the Titans! Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel as they review the 1981 and 2010 versions of Clash of the Titans. How faithful were they to the myths? How well did they portray the Classical World? Did that portrayal change in the thirty years between when each film was made?
Most importantly, were they any good?!
It's lights, cameras, Classics this week on the 34 Circe Salon -- Parallax!
Let's go to the movies! First in a series reviewing Hollywood films about Classical history. This week Troy (2004) starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Diane Kruger and Saffron Burrows.
In this episode, Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel review the 2004 movie, Troy. Not only the filmmaking will be examined, but the historicity will be reviewed. This is a fun look at how the world of the past is viewed through the lens of popular culture.
The Gods had taken sides and their disagreements come to the surface as they champion their respective combatants. Hector and Ajax face off in a titanic battle.
More extraordinary imagery of war and fate from Homer as the combat crescendos. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe as he talks with archaeologist and Homeric scholar, Dr. Gary Stickel.
The horrors of war and how they affect the personal lives of individuals is the theme for Chapter 6 of The Iliad.
Troy is under siege and Trojan couples and families wrestle with the possible consequences of a dire outcome. Homer also describes the horror of warfare in great detail.
Join us for a discussion of this intense chapter!
We move on to chapter 5 of the Iliad and learn about about an overlooked epic hero: Diomedes. One of the greatest warriors of the Ancient World, he's almost unheard of in today's culture. Who was this man and what made him such a great fighter? Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dr. Gary Stickel to find out!
We continue our exploration of Classical Studies and The Iliad with a look at chapters 3 & 4 of this epic. We go further into the catalogue of ships and allies and get a taste of the battles amongst the gods as the great Greek deities take sides in the conflict!
We've moved our podcast to a new platform. Please reach out at info@34Circe.com if you have any problems accessing our shows!
We continue on with chapter two of The Iliad and learn more about the cast of characters arrayed on both sides of this epic conflict.
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
Dr. Gary Stickel lectures.
Join us on our continuing lecture series on the Iliad. Dr. Gary Stickel, Homeric scholar and archaeologist guides on our journey through chapter two of this amazing work of world literature.
One of the three goddesses in the "Judgement of Paris" that initiates the Trojan War cycle, perhaps no goddess embodies the Ancient Greek attitude towards women more than Hera, Queen of the Gods. Portrayed as the perpetually spiteful wife, her power was shown as limited and lesser. But who was the true Hera and where did she come from?
Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they discuss the history of this goddess with noted archaeologist and Homeric scholar, Dr. Gary Stickel.
“O, learn to love, the lesson is but plain, And once made perfect, never lost again.”
― William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis
Aphrodite, Venus-- The Goddess of Love. She is perhaps the most well known of any in the Greco-Roman Pantheon. She also plays a major part in setting off the events that will lead to the Trojan War. But what do we really know of her story and her origin? Join us as Dr. Gary Stickel tells her tale as we praise the Goddess!
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.
Originally recorded for our sister 34 Circe podcast channel focused on the stories, history and mythology of women, we're adding this series here because it's relevant to our study of The Iliad. The series is called "In Praise of the Goddess" and this episode concerns Athena.
Join us as our guest, archaeologist and Homeric scholar Dr. Gary Stickel, tells us the story of one of the most famous goddesses in any pantheon, Athena! Goddess of wisdom and defensive war, and matron of the great city of Athens, Greece.
Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.
We continue with out Classical Studies course and our introduction to The Iliad. In this episode, we look at the main goddesses and gods in the poem and discuss the opening chapter. Dr. Gary Stickel tells us about the epic.
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
Welcome to Classical Studies 101! Join us as we take a journey through the Iliad with Dr. Gary Stickel, Homeric scholar and noted archaeologist. In this episode, we introduce the great work by giving a background of Homer, the historical conflict and the literary history. We also introduce the listener to the main characters in the epic.
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
One of the greatest authors in Western literature, Homer has been a stable of literary study since the days of Socrates and Plato. Now, though, an insidious attack on the value and relevance of his work has been launched. Listen in as Dr. Gary Stickel mounts a spirited defense of Homer's work.
Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
We continue with our second part of our inquiry into whether there is a secret number system hidden in The Iliad and The Odyssey. Dr. Gary Stickel continues the discussion of his theory of the secret number system hidden in Homer's works. Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
Is there a secret number system hidden in The Iliad and The Odyssey? Did Homer convey secret ancient mystery teachings in his great epics? Join us as Dr. Gary Stickel regales us with his theory of "Code 12" the secret number system hidden in Homer's works! Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
We continue our journey with Dr. Gary Stickel and his quest to find the lost Palace of Odysseus. In part 2, Dr. Stickel shares the techniques archaeologists use to plan their excavations and how those apply to this particular journey. Sean Marlon Newcombe hosts.
Come join Sean Marlon Newcombe as he talks with Dr. Gary Stickel about the legend of the Palace of Odysseus from Homer's Odyssey and Dr. Stickel's quest to uncover it after almost 3000 years!
Sports are back... but should they be? Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and a panel of sportsmen as they discuss the state of American sports and how they reflect our approach to handling the Covid pandemic. Special guests Richard Stone and Howard Brodwin give their insights. 34 Circe Sports is back!
It's 13000 years old, but developers want to destroy it-- Welcome to the story of the oldest oak tree in California and one man's bid to save it. Listen in as Sean Marlon Newcombe interviews Dr. Gary Stickel about his quest to save the ancient and majestic member of our earth family.
Las Alturas de Machu Picchu -- The fabled "Lost City of the Incas" has captured the imagination of people from around the world for the last century. What is it like to visit there and what is the history of the place and the amazing civilization of the Incas? Sean Marlon Newcombe talks with archaeologist Dr. Gary Stickel and traveler George Catoera about the experience of being in this transcendent locale.
Sean Marlon Newcombe sits down with sports fans Richard Stone and Howard Brodwin to discuss the impact of Covid on sports for the everyday fan. Richard is a husband and father of two young athletes and Howard is a consultant in sports marketing for physically challenged sporting events and athletes. Howard's site is www.sportsandsocialchange.org
How are everyday Americans responding to the Covid pandemic and quarantine? How do they feel about the response of our elected officials and fellow citizens? Sean Marlon Newcombe talks with Bernadette Fruto and George Catoera about the crisis.
Archaeologist Dr. Gary Stickel tells Sean Marlon Newcombe how he got his nickname, "The Real Indiana Jones."
In our mini-episode, archaeologist Dr. Gary Stickel discusses the legendary story of explorer Heinrich Schliemann and his quest to find the city of Troy.
The gods existed before all things. Where are they from? Sean Marlon Newcombe discusses the origin of the Greek pantheon with archaeologist and Homeric scholar Dr. Gary Stickel.