Religion and War in Ancient Greece and Rome

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  • čas přidán 18. 05. 2017
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    What role did religion play in ancient warfare? Why did seers sacrifice goats at the start of battles? Were the ancients true believers?
    Course featured, "Ancient Greek Civilisation" taught by Prof. Jeremy McInerney, Associate Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
    "The Great Courses Plus is currently available to watch through a web browser to almost anyone in the world and optimized for the US market. The Great Courses Plus is currently working to both optimize the product globally and accept credit card payments globally."
    The spelling of 'optimise' in that statement was optimised for readers in the USA.
    In some ways, ancient religion, with its reading of entrails, pantheons of gods, and constant demands of sacrifice, is alien to the modern civilised world, but in other ways, it's all pretty much the same. The gods moved in mysterious ways too. Here I run through vows, two kinds of sacrifice (hiera for divination, and sphagia for supplication), oracles, dedications, festivals, omens, and I end up talking about whether the people back then actually believed in it all literally.
    Support me on Patreon: / lindybeige
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    Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.
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Komentáře • 2,5K

  • @martinmoan2063
    @martinmoan2063 Před 7 lety +1076

    "Food that walks itself"
    Gold

    • @tohopes
      @tohopes Před 7 lety +32

      Just 2 minutes ago I saw on the news that Uber now delivers McDonald's to your door. There is nothing new under the sun.

    • @telemnarnumenorean8557
      @telemnarnumenorean8557 Před 7 lety +19

      Isn't that general description of any animal?

    • @sirBrouwer
      @sirBrouwer Před 7 lety +15

      tohopes wait are you going to eat the delivery person?

    • @ME-hm7zm
      @ME-hm7zm Před 7 lety +4

      Fish, I suppose.

    • @stephenandersen4625
      @stephenandersen4625 Před 7 lety +6

      it's called livestock

  • @brianholmes1812
    @brianholmes1812 Před 7 lety +2299

    The world's greatest bleeding goat impression

    • @pomfret_and_pommes_frites_6493
      @pomfret_and_pommes_frites_6493 Před 7 lety +51

      As if he speaks from experience. kills his own food on top of everything else? while dancing lindy hop of course

    • @GCurl
      @GCurl Před 7 lety +33

      Maybe he actually sacrifices goats in his backyard? XD

    • @mattias2576
      @mattias2576 Před 7 lety +4

      GermanCurl eks dee. hehe so funny such a many fonni meme. eks dee *autistic screeching

    • @charleswood4635
      @charleswood4635 Před 7 lety +1

      GermanCurl; Only if they are his girlfriends

    • @NeilDoyle92
      @NeilDoyle92 Před 7 lety +10

      I laughed so hard at that, had to watch it again.

  • @chrishansen9379
    @chrishansen9379 Před 4 lety +575

    What amazes me - As far as I can tell, he does the whole thing in one take. I don’t see the scene cut or the camera shift or anything.

    • @Scratchy314
      @Scratchy314 Před 3 lety +73

      Yeah every one of his videos is like that as far as i can tell... he's amazing.

    • @SpittinSquirell
      @SpittinSquirell Před 3 lety +48

      Yep. Dude knows what he's talking about. But imagine the planning that goes into each video.

    • @willgillespie4840
      @willgillespie4840 Před 3 lety +30

      Indeed. I truly look up to Mr. Nickolas Lloyd for his ability as an educator and orator.

    • @dj_koen1265
      @dj_koen1265 Před 3 lety +13

      I hope you also realize that the reason the quality of education is so low is because of capitalistic incentives not marxist ones
      Well u are right on the point that a lot of things are poor
      And could be different

    • @Kylek1133
      @Kylek1133 Před 3 lety +3

      Patrick Ancona tl;dr today’s education isn’t all that great

  • @terryyaki3936
    @terryyaki3936 Před 3 lety +196

    8:06
    In case anyone missed this GENIUS bit of mime- the Sphagia claps his hands and the blood from them splashes over him. Amazing commitment in Lloyd's acting.

    • @I_V_X
      @I_V_X Před 2 lety +7

      Studied classics in school, whole class dropped out at year 13 and the option was scrapped; on my own to teach myself now.
      Or so I thought, a proper eccentric history teacher pitted me and helped me along during lunchtimes
      Same enthusiasm as lindy, not as eccentric though, owe him for my A!

    • @tomaspabon2484
      @tomaspabon2484 Před 2 lety

      @@I_V_X i had pretty much the same experience. I attended theatre evwry year from 6 to 12 and then our teacher got sacked. Not enough kids to lead a class. Luxkily our Chemistry teacher was a medici level patron of the arts and let three of the senior kids teach while she supervised. Bless that woman she took on more work just to let a bunch of obnoxious theatre tryhards do their thing.

    • @VOTE_REFORM_UK
      @VOTE_REFORM_UK Před 8 měsíci +1

      Little details like this is why I love lindybeige

  • @Pyriphlegeton
    @Pyriphlegeton Před 7 lety +457

    One needs sleep.
    But one also needs to see Lloyd wrestling imaginary goats to death and impersonating unimpressed Chicken.

    • @SakuyaKira24
      @SakuyaKira24 Před 6 lety +13

      James Esteron I am sooo in that exsact position now.

  • @uristthedwarf7833
    @uristthedwarf7833 Před 7 lety +988

    Ancient lesbians and goat sacrifice. I expect nothing less from a lindybeige video.

    • @johnchestnut5340
      @johnchestnut5340 Před 4 lety +15

      The 'l' is uppercase 'L' in this case. Otherwise it's the wrong word.

    • @apalsnerg
      @apalsnerg Před 3 lety +13

      @@johnchestnut5340 Comment's three fuckin years old mate

    • @stefanjasovic2311
      @stefanjasovic2311 Před 3 lety +13

      @@apalsnerg its never too late for corrections

    • @dELTA13579111315
      @dELTA13579111315 Před 3 lety +22

      @@stefanjasovic2311 it's*

    • @helenaap2042
      @helenaap2042 Před 3 lety +2

      @@johnchestnut5340 people like you all are the kind that corrects other’s faults, when they are obviously typos, in informal text message. Who even corrects when someone types l instead of L??? Bruh moment

  • @socialist-strong
    @socialist-strong Před 7 lety +1164

    We need a supercut of all the lindybeige miming scenes.

  • @lol101lol101lol10199
    @lol101lol101lol10199 Před 7 lety +529

    Ah, the lack of a spear. The eternal problem of the Lesbian.

    • @Catastropheshe
      @Catastropheshe Před 5 lety +30

      Until they buy one..

    • @Catastropheshe
      @Catastropheshe Před 5 lety +9

      @Lord Voldemort Good for you Selena.. 14 carrots..

    • @EloquentTroll
      @EloquentTroll Před 4 lety +16

      As a bisexual woman, no this is not a problem.

    • @Nathan-yk5km
      @Nathan-yk5km Před 4 lety +41

      EloquentTroll of course not, that’s the point of being bisexual and not a lesbian.

    • @brendanhere.6400
      @brendanhere.6400 Před 4 lety +3

      Sharp and to the point, you magnificently mental eccentric icon..

  • @therealkillerb7643
    @therealkillerb7643 Před 7 lety +403

    Beware the reductionist fallacy. Just because people may have multiple, even contradictory motivations, does not necessarily mean that "this" is the "real" motivation. Doing so may say more about your motivations, than the people you are studying. In the same way, just because some eras are less religious than other eras, does not necessarily mean that all eras are irreligious.

    • @TowerSavant
      @TowerSavant Před 7 lety +30

      Thank you.

    • @xSoupCan
      @xSoupCan Před 7 lety +24

      Slavik
      I think it's the british culture he lives in, as far as I can tell the UK has been getting more and more areligious and liberal in the past few years. I mean, teenage sex has gone so rampant in the UK it's become/becoming the norm (tangent point but clearly not a very christian value).
      As compared to the US where I can and have met many genuinely religious people.
      Lloyd's also talking about cultures well before medieval europe. Y'know BC.

    • @GoErikTheRed
      @GoErikTheRed Před 7 lety +16

      SoupCan What are you talking about? Especially for girls, teenage sex is considered normal. Premarital sex at any age on the other hand...

    • @stardude692001
      @stardude692001 Před 7 lety +13

      There is also the point the historians tend to be a less religious bunch.
      Same tends to be the fact today, there are plenty of religious people but they don't often get the chance to tell everyone's story.

    • @MoonfaceMartin88
      @MoonfaceMartin88 Před 7 lety +12

      You make an excellent point, Killer. We often tend to take pragmatic approaches to religious practices as evidence to dismiss their beliefs as scams. Yet, even though I am sure, areligious people pretending to be religious must have existed in the ancient world as well, we might just take a pragmatic approach to religion as evidence of the deep religiosity of the people: What I am meaning to say is; if your god is a real, powerful but a bit unhinged being to you, you might just try to bribe, negotiate or renegotiate. And you might falsify that god's approval, cross your fingers he/she doesn't strike you down for it right away and apologize later.

  • @MrKean100
    @MrKean100 Před 7 lety +264

    Roll 1d20?
    "Alright lads, time for war!"
    *rolls 1d20*
    CRITICAL FAILURE!
    *Entire army slips and fall on their own spears*

  • @DrRazernij
    @DrRazernij Před 6 lety +443

    *Lindybeige:* When the Lesbians
    *Me:* :D
    *Lindybeige:* DON'T
    *Me:* :(

  • @charjl96
    @charjl96 Před 4 lety +125

    6:28 Was it an African swallow or European swallow?

  • @numbers9to0
    @numbers9to0 Před 7 lety +312

    My oracle, Jotuba Notificata, told me that Lindybeige uploaded.

    • @Kila-Innova
      @Kila-Innova Před 7 lety +37

      ö. . , How many goats did it take to get this favourable omen?

    • @headrockbeats
      @headrockbeats Před 7 lety +16

      I had to perform the ritual of Postea Visum first, but fortunately the winds soon changed and the new omens were more favorable.

    • @dhirkemka8305
      @dhirkemka8305 Před 7 lety

      Your joke is not fucking funny.

    • @dhirkemka8305
      @dhirkemka8305 Před 7 lety +1

      *whomever stupid, dim witted Mancunian

    • @baz4020
      @baz4020 Před 7 lety +2

      Dhir Kemka *whomstdvever

  • @FilmGuy7000
    @FilmGuy7000 Před 7 lety +437

    "And yet, when the lesbians... Don't! You know exactly what I meant." LOL This is why I love your channel, very informative with just the right amount of humor.

    • @RickReasonnz
      @RickReasonnz Před 5 lety +9

      I grinned as soon as he said it, so his pointing finger felt like it really was poking at me

    • @vapormissile
      @vapormissile Před 4 lety

      humours

    • @christianfreedom-seeker934
      @christianfreedom-seeker934 Před 4 lety +6

      Facinating, in Classical times, everyone knew (literate) that "lesbians" were the inhabitants of the Isle of Lesbos. I think the connection between the inhabitants of Lesbos and homosexuality might have come from the Island's culture and that became well-known in the ancient world.

    • @swahamchakraborty7990
      @swahamchakraborty7990 Před 4 lety +4

      Especially from the female poet Sappho of Lesbos.

    • @Cheepchipsable
      @Cheepchipsable Před 3 lety

      Lesbians, proper noun...

  • @fratguide9835
    @fratguide9835 Před 4 lety +132

    “You can’t cancel Easter!”- Ha 2020 proves another point wrong

    • @wendel5868
      @wendel5868 Před 3 lety +1

      Also sacrificing goats today would put a big dent on the music industry.

    • @fratguide9835
      @fratguide9835 Před 3 lety +1

      @@wendel5868 the record companies would just draft donkeys instead

  • @MaskofAgamemnon
    @MaskofAgamemnon Před 4 lety +38

    You have to admit a polytheist never says "how can the same God who does x also does y?"

  • @RobertMilesAI
    @RobertMilesAI Před 7 lety +292

    If the sacrifice is asking "is now a good time to fight" rather than "will I win", it makes sense.
    The gods can say "Honestly their army is just better than yours, you're pretty much sure to lose, but if you *were* going to attack, now would give you the best chance".

    • @electro_fisher
      @electro_fisher Před 6 lety +13

      So this comes down to a local optimization problem then?

    • @darkmasterchief227
      @darkmasterchief227 Před 5 lety +18

      Robert Miles i feel like the Gods really did favor one side in battle, but in order for that side to have victory, there must actually be a battle so the Gods encourage the other side into battle by feigning support.

    • @itiscujo
      @itiscujo Před 5 lety +3

      darkmasterchief227 I feel like the Gods didn't favor a side on account of them....not existing...

    • @darkmasterchief227
      @darkmasterchief227 Před 5 lety +6

      @@itiscujo i know this, i was speaking notionally

    • @philippenachtergal6077
      @philippenachtergal6077 Před 5 lety +1

      @@darkmasterchief227 That implies that the gods are willing to stoop to trickery which make me wonder if the gods are in any way related to the world's best known military legendary trick of the Trojan horse. Come to think of it, they should have consulted the gods about such a venture shouldn't they ? Or would that be too minute details to ask the gods about ?

  • @benmasta5814
    @benmasta5814 Před 7 lety +69

    Dude, seriously...
    How is it done in one take?! Conversations with you must be legendary.

    • @lindybeige
      @lindybeige  Před 7 lety +79

      One take and first take. The trick is to leave all the mistakes in.

  • @Raz.C
    @Raz.C Před 6 lety +35

    Beautifully Monty Python-ed!!!
    "...But the fourth one stayed up!"

  • @sirbillius
    @sirbillius Před 6 lety +108

    That was the single greatest EU referendum explanation I've ever heard. :)

    • @Likexner
      @Likexner Před 3 lety +1

      @Pan M good on you. We czechs are also free of immigrants from these particular waves. "Wir schaffen das", says merkel. But they cant.

    • @Zathaghil
      @Zathaghil Před 3 lety +4

      Ahh... Brexiteers, gotta love.... No, actually, no we don't.
      Funny how most covidiots are also Brexiteers...
      I guess stupid stays stupid..
      Who woulda thunk it?

    • @jimtaylor294
      @jimtaylor294 Před 3 lety +6

      ^ Late remoaner spam is late XD.

    • @ericbarkmann1743
      @ericbarkmann1743 Před 3 lety +3

      @@Zathaghil I'm a communist brexiteer and i think corvid is deadly

    • @andrewclayton4181
      @andrewclayton4181 Před 3 lety +2

      Except for the Brexit referendum so close, and only 27% voted for it. Wish they'd done the goat thing instead.

  • @RandyKalff
    @RandyKalff Před 7 lety +405

    Leader 1: *Makes a sacrifice*
    God 1: "Don't worry, I got your back!"
    Leader 1: *Sends troops into battle*
    Leader 2: *Makes a sacrifice*
    God 2: "No problem, I'll take care of that!"
    Leader 2: *Sends troops into battle*
    God 1: "What did you just say!?"
    God 2: "Oh, you heard me!"
    God 1: "Wanna go!?"
    God 2: "Come at me!"
    Bystander god: "Bitch fight!"
    And that's where thunder comes from.

    • @slendy9600
      @slendy9600 Před 7 lety +3

      Randy Kalff LOL

    • @moralhazard8652
      @moralhazard8652 Před 7 lety +19

      The duel of Athena and Ares in the Ilias in a nutshell.

    • @forestelfranger
      @forestelfranger Před 7 lety +9

      Them be fighting words good sir. You have insulted my honor, i would challenge you to a duel but i can't seem to find my glove. Damn gloves all ways going missing when you need to challenge someone to a duel.

    • @RandyKalff
      @RandyKalff Před 7 lety +4

      +Forest elfranger Good, gives me time to find my own.
      I know I have them around here somewhere.

    • @ME-hm7zm
      @ME-hm7zm Před 7 lety +1

      Ancient World Star!

  • @Boborbot
    @Boborbot Před 7 lety +364

    according to the goat I just slaughtered, this is the first of a long, long unbroken chain of weekly Lindybeige uploads!

    • @ruairimasun1073
      @ruairimasun1073 Před 7 lety +37

      blessings brother. a bountiful harvest awaits us indeed.

    • @AxDhan
      @AxDhan Před 7 lety +25

      its liver seems a little bit goaty, dont you think?

    • @misterdinner3648
      @misterdinner3648 Před 7 lety +4

      Boborbot Well you will be disappointed when he up and leaves for another 3 weeks.

  • @Tubluer
    @Tubluer Před 4 lety +16

    Ten minutes later and I'm still smiling at the Lindybeige demonstration of the sound oracles make.

  • @jajones-ford2226
    @jajones-ford2226 Před 4 lety +21

    Lindybeige, I really enjoy your videos. They are both informative and entertaining.They are rather like Monty Python doing a actual historical report . Do keep up the good work.

  • @justrobin8155
    @justrobin8155 Před 7 lety +124

    Lloyd is the uncle I've always wanted.

    • @johnnyjet3.1412
      @johnnyjet3.1412 Před 3 lety +2

      I've dedicated myself to being an evil uncle - my niece's 1st x-mas I gave her a plush tarantula.

  • @bar0nger
    @bar0nger Před 7 lety +249

    Makes sense
    Why did the King decide not to go to war after all.
    He had a gut feeling.

  • @anderskorsback4104
    @anderskorsback4104 Před 6 lety +61

    Well, there's the fact that ancient Greek states spent significant amounts of economical resources on religion. Temples and sacrifices and clergies aren't cheap. Something that would have been considered a total waste of resources if the great majority of people didn't really believe, or were generally "meh" about it. That, in democracies where the government wasting those resources would have been accountable to a citizenry whose taxes pay for it all. A few atheist politicians may have supported religion simply because of its usefulness for maintaining social order, but for that to work would anyway require a critical mass of actual true believers.
    So yeah, while textual primary sources make it clear that the idea of atheism was known and had significant adherence among the intellectual classes, that doesn't exclude the (imo, likely) possibility that true belief was the norm among the wider populace.
    That anecdote about the general who re-did the augurs five times to get the result he wanted suggests that the general may have been an atheist, but that his troops might not have been so, since he had to play along and get the result he wanted. It also suggests the augurs were true believers, otherwise they would have just conspired with the general to produce the result he wanted to begin with.

    • @arte0021
      @arte0021 Před 4 lety +2

      I guess the average plebs were god believers but some smart people were atheists

    • @Halera-
      @Halera- Před 4 lety +10

      I think your economical approach is convincing. Talking about opinions is easy. But spending lots of money when wars are being waged all around is totally a different thing. What is more, wasn't Socrates punished with death for disbelief in Greek gods?

    • @lorenzorosi3257
      @lorenzorosi3257 Před 4 lety +2

      Religion that is imposed doesn't mean the majority believes in it even though they go through the motions required by that religion. True, there are people who genuinely believe but usually a human will side with the majority and play along for safety.

    • @anderskorsback4104
      @anderskorsback4104 Před 4 lety +7

      @@lorenzorosi3257 well, imposing religion also requires a critical mass of true believers, or a critical mass of people who cooperate with the imposing for whatever reason. Well, except that it wasn't really imposed per se. As the examples cited by Lindy show, the notion that the gods might not exist had occurred to Ancient Greek society, and could be openly discussed. Also, democratic city-states. Religion featured prominently in the public life of them too, something that would hardly have happened if the citizens wouldn't have really cared about religion.
      Also, religion as a means of social control is worthless if people don't actually believe. Sure, they can be forced to go through the motions, but with the amount of coercive power needed to do that, you could just force them to obey you and do whatever you want them to in the first place. Without pissing away loads of resources on temples, clergies and sacrifices as a useless middleman.

    • @mortemmalum7228
      @mortemmalum7228 Před 3 lety +1

      @@anderskorsback4104 I think most of religion is the holidays, gathering, and celebrations. Many do it just for that. Even if everybody knows its false or even might think it is, it still can bring a community together. I do agree with you there are true believers in the world, though I think that they are less than the ones that simply act for social reasons or fear.

  • @TranscendentLion
    @TranscendentLion Před 7 lety +46

    It's perhaps a side point, but I wonder if 'religion' even meant the same thing then as it does now. The word derives, I think, from a Latin word meaning 'binding', referring to the practice of binding oneself to a particular deity. This works very well in a monotheistic world where different faiths compete for 'being the right one', but was perhaps less convenient in a polytheistic world where people would pray to different gods for different things (if you were travelling to Athens by boat, you might ask Zeus to give you good weather on the way to the harbour, then to Poseidon to make the sea relatively calm, and then finally to Athena to make sure you didn't get in trouble in her city), so I wonder if, actually, relatively few people (at least compared to today) were 'religious' in the sense of selecting a particular god over other particular gods (I suppose there were cults who prioritised one deity over all others, but their beliefs and practices probably didn't reflect those of 'ordinary' people). Devotees of Zeus could meet with devotees of Dionysus and they wouldn't have to disagree on points of theology (because both their gods existed), whereas a Christian and a Muslim today can't both be right.
    If you've made it this far, dear reader, then thank you for excusing my textwall as well as my copious use of brackets.

    • @CraftQueenJr
      @CraftQueenJr Před 5 lety +1

      TranscendentLion I agree with this. I am currently studying some of this in school and it is quite intriguing.

    • @Kurtlane
      @Kurtlane Před 4 lety +4

      I think the very word 'religion' changes its meaning, depending on which one it is applied to. In Christianity 'religion' means one thing, in Judaism it's another, in Islam it's yet another, etc. Especially when one gets to Ancient Greece and Rome, it becomes very different.
      It's not just monotheism vs. polytheism. Greco-Roman polytheism is very different from Hindu one.

    • @Kurtlane
      @Kurtlane Před 4 lety +3

      Ron Maimon, Huh?
      Thanks, but I'd rather admit that there are many truths in many faiths than slaughter people in the name of "My religion is superior to yours."
      Religion means many things, and the best and the deepest of it transcends logic. It goes beyond one and many, immanent and transcendent, existent and nonexistent (yes, nonexistent, as in atheism), possible and impossible, etc.
      On the other hand, the shallowest and the stupidest of it arms itself with ideology and weapons and goes into verbal and physical battle to prove its unique righteousness, or when it fails to prove it, exterminate anything different.
      You make your choice.

    • @Kurtlane
      @Kurtlane Před 4 lety +2

      @Ron Maimon , morality? What in the world is morality? There is no morality. There are mores -- customs and traditions of a particular culture -- but they leave plenty of open situations they do not define, and moreover, they differ from culture to culture without anything higher to judge which is better. Should people marry their first cousins? How about second cousins? What is better: monogamy, polygyny or polyandry? Should a new family live with the groom's parents, the bride's parents, or strike out on their own? Are people to be given complete freedom in these issues, pressured towards the customary solution, or forced into it no matter what?
      You probably have solutions to these questions that seem obvious and natural to you. But are they really? Once you study anthropology, you realize that nothing is absolute here, and every variant has advantages and disadvantages.
      It soon gets to things that are just purely customary. The French eat frogs and snails, others find them unpalatable. What does God say about that?
      And that's just on the general cultural level. There are plenty if situations within any culture, where solutions have to be found by individuals involved by balancing needs, desires, possibilities, conveniences, etc. Reason, emotion, intuition, ... entire human potential needs to get involved. There is no prescribed morality here. It has to be created on the spot.
      People routinely argue and try to convince each other. Particularly when religion is involved, arguments last for thousands of years without any movement at all. When something of a solution does appear, it does not come from one side or the other, but is like the question "Which side do you break your eggs?" (see "Gulliver's Travels.") The problem people broke so many spears about is shown to be nonsense.
      What does all this arguing have to do with true God? Nothing.
      God limited to united morality for all humanity is a very small god. So small it does not exist.

    • @Kurtlane
      @Kurtlane Před 4 lety +2

      @Ron Maimon Also, if something spreads, it does not mean it's better.
      30-year war started in little Bohemia, then spread to Germany, Austria, then to Holland, then Spain got involved, then France, Sweden, Denmark, England, you name it. 8 million people were killed in what started as a small conflict.
      Right now there are all sorts of stupidities spreading through Western Europe and way beyond, such as that rape of local girls is an acceptable sacrifice for the sake of "diversity" (whatever that means).
      If anything, I see the opposite. Whatever spreads is worse than what it replaces.

  • @XavlaminYT
    @XavlaminYT Před 7 lety +83

    What did we learn? Lindybeige is the most convincing seer ever.

    • @krpajda
      @krpajda Před 6 lety +6

      XavlaminYT also the most convincing chicken

  • @paununs8719
    @paununs8719 Před 7 lety +145

    It's only natural that some oracles made good predictions...
    Delphi must've been like a big intelligence agency. Lots of people from the known world traveled there, and the local priests probably asked them about some news of their part of the world, maybe through subterfuge. The result is a heterogeneous load of information, unavailable to most poleis or kings.

    • @sergioschloros
      @sergioschloros Před 7 lety +39

      Spot on about Delphi, I was just about to comment saying much the same. The better the reputation, the more people came there; the more people came there, the more information; the mor information, the more precise the proclamations; the more presise the proclamations, the better the reputation.

    • @AxDhan
      @AxDhan Před 7 lety +4

      I lost you on goats

    • @asthmen
      @asthmen Před 7 lety +9

      Especially with the part of the ritual going on behind curtains, where the priest has time to look up the information.

    • @fds7476
      @fds7476 Před 7 lety +7

      So... in other words, the Oracle of Delphi was the Johnny the Shoeshine Guy of her time and region.

    • @anantbijolia8415
      @anantbijolia8415 Před 7 lety +5

      In other words, oracle of Delphi was Lord Varys of Greece, the master of whispers.

  • @hiimkaiki7508
    @hiimkaiki7508 Před 6 lety +13

    "...the gods favored *swirl* ME."

  • @jefferyboyes
    @jefferyboyes Před 4 lety +6

    I know it’s been years since you’ve posted this video. You’re creating quality history on the internet and your brain is amazing! You’re the most interesting/entertaining person I’ve watched lately. Thank you for your integrity and longing for purity in history and humanity.

  • @oriondevil79
    @oriondevil79 Před 7 lety +51

    13:26 I still cant stop laughing... "EEK THE SPARTANS!" Easily best thing in a long time Lloyd!

  • @rogerpaesani5074
    @rogerpaesani5074 Před 7 lety +16

    I dont know, but watching him murder the imaginary goat made feel rather unconfortable, like it was actually alive. You sir are a great actor!

  • @Bronsons
    @Bronsons Před 5 lety +40

    I've been watching a bunch of your videos recently, you're a really funny, knowledgeable and entertaining guy. Thank you for the uploads.

  • @HemlockRidge
    @HemlockRidge Před 5 lety +32

    The man is both knowledgeable AND hilarious.

  • @jormugand0713
    @jormugand0713 Před 7 lety +67

    I am Greek, and yes, i died a little bit inside when i heard you say those words :)

    • @senecatheartist1919
      @senecatheartist1919 Před 7 lety +9

      Jormugand0 Και άλλος Έλληνας ; Χαχα, έλα δεν ήταν τόσο χάλια. Θα πρέπει να κάνουμε ένα σύλλογο όλοι εμείς οι φαν του Lloyd. Με διαφορά ο καλύτερος CZcamsr του είδους του.

    • @scvtvm7914
      @scvtvm7914 Před 7 lety +3

      Jormugand0 Δες επισης "Metatron", "Shadiversity" και "Scholagladiatoria". Πολύ ποιοτικό παρόμοιο περιεχόμενο!

    • @MrPanos2000
      @MrPanos2000 Před 7 lety

      cyborg ναι αλλα αυτη η ερασμιος προφορα ειναι αισχος. Το "οι" το προφερουν "ο+ι" και οχι σαν "ι" για παραδειγμα. Στα σχολεια εχεις δικιο ομως, δεν γινεται καλη δουλεια. Εγω στην θετικη ειμουν αλλα μου αρεσαν τα αρχαια, ειδικα στην πρωτη λυκειου οταν καναμε τα κειμενα του Πελο/κου πολεμου και η εκμαθηση ηταν τραγικη

    • @MrPanos2000
      @MrPanos2000 Před 7 lety

      cyborg παρολαυτα διαβαζοντας κειμενα και μιλοντας με μορφωμενους ανθρωπους μαθαινεις σε ενα βαθμο την αρχαια προφορα

  • @rhoesacesrheomithres2119
    @rhoesacesrheomithres2119 Před 7 lety +25

    ... My excitement *INTENSIFIES* ❕

  • @Marmocet
    @Marmocet Před 6 lety +8

    The ancient -Greens- Greeks and Romans certainly seem to have put a lot of time, energy and resources into their religions. While there were undoubtedly those among them who were cynical about religion or who were atheists, it's hard to believe they would have invested so much for so long in an institution and set of beliefs they didn't genuinely believe in.

  • @NunSuperior
    @NunSuperior Před 6 lety +31

    "Panic, Darkness, and Cliffs" is the name of my Amon Amarth cover band.

  • @NakaliTama
    @NakaliTama Před 7 lety +26

    i love how well lloyd edited in the special effects :0 you could see the blood spraying EVERYWHERE

  • @shaneybot3031
    @shaneybot3031 Před 7 lety +114

    I'm maori, love your channel
    could you maybe make a video about the maori, our war tactics were pretty cool

  • @_Aaron_G_
    @_Aaron_G_ Před 5 lety +3

    Your videos are incredible and quite brilliant. Thanks for imparting such knowledge and opening up wonderful discussions with us. Cheers mate! :)

  • @will2003michael2003
    @will2003michael2003 Před 4 lety +1

    ending was really good, well worth the 25 min watch time. great video!

  • @poi2lkj3mnb
    @poi2lkj3mnb Před 7 lety +26

    I think you are confusing following the religious practises with actually believing in religion. I believe that eating right and exercise will make me feel good and live longer. I still eat pizza and take the elevator every chance I get.

  • @eightywight
    @eightywight Před 7 lety +12

    22:50 Or perhaps the Oracle of Delphi was a favorite of the king doing the experiment so they passed around this story to give the Delphi a public relations boost.

  • @OdisraFlyrunner
    @OdisraFlyrunner Před 3 lety +1

    Bless you man. You're amazing at teaching stuff in a funny and engaging way.

  • @zali13
    @zali13 Před 5 lety +3

    Thank you for bringing history to life! The set-up to the Monty Python and the Holy Grail joke and its execution- marvelous!

  • @TechnicalHydra
    @TechnicalHydra Před 7 lety +56

    Sounds like the Spartans were the equivalent of the lawyers who only take certain cases to keep up their prosecution percentage.

    • @PreistofGHAZpork
      @PreistofGHAZpork Před 4 lety +3

      Yep. A culture of cowards.

    • @imperialguardsman3923
      @imperialguardsman3923 Před 4 lety +5

      @@PreistofGHAZpork wut

    • @EloquentTroll
      @EloquentTroll Před 4 lety +4

      They were probably still the best soldiers in Greece, but their home city's positioning was very defensible, so they can afford to be choosy. Part of their dominance was because they spent more time practicing than anyone else thanks to the Helot slaves. As more city states developed professional armies as opposed to farmers that fought sometimes, Sparta only had their defensive position to fall back on, which is part of why Thebes could defeat them in battle, that Sacred Band was pretty good.

    • @V4zz33
      @V4zz33 Před 4 lety +1

      Bloody stat padders;))))

    • @PreistofGHAZpork
      @PreistofGHAZpork Před 4 lety +1

      @@imperialguardsman3923 cowards. One and all. Afraid of a hard Day's work, of pulling their own weight.
      Nothing but braggarts and bullies.
      Fuck Sparta (of antiquity I have no issue with modern Sparta)

  • @sherm4316
    @sherm4316 Před 7 lety +8

    You're the reason I study history, thank you. You're a true inspiration

  • @tobygladwin3260
    @tobygladwin3260 Před 5 lety

    whenever i watch any youtube videos over 30 minutes i always get bored but this channel is the only one that doesn't bore me. love the videos here

  • @feidtublec
    @feidtublec Před 4 lety +1

    Really loved the wonderful rendition of the sacrifices. The pathos, the details... i almost cried.

  • @volodymyrboitchouk
    @volodymyrboitchouk Před 7 lety +16

    funnily enough, the war was actually going exceedingly well for the Athenians prior to the invasion of Syracuse. According to Herodotus the Athenians had managed to force a settlement upon the Spartans after successfully building and holding a fortification on Lacadeimonian teritory and defeated every attempt to dislodge them. The Athenians even managed to force the surrender of several hundred Spartan wariors during the extended battle.
    Had Alcibiades not been recalled by his aristocratic oponents before he could even begin to lead the expedition then the Athenians may well have won. As is often the case the squabbling of political elites rather than the supposed stupidity of the masses caused disaster.

    • @charleswood4635
      @charleswood4635 Před 7 lety +1

      Entire thing revolved around Dems being able to force a appointment of a special prosecutor, after which entire government, and military, ground to a halt--

    • @axeltenveils6816
      @axeltenveils6816 Před 7 lety

      volodymyrboitchouk The problem with the story is that the reason the Athenians lost was Alcibiades first betraying them and going to the Spartans and then betraying them also to the Persians. At which point the winner of the conflict was the the GREAT KING.

    • @volodymyrboitchouk
      @volodymyrboitchouk Před 7 lety +1

      Axel Tenveils Alcibiades only did this after the Athenians aristocracy recalled him to Athens from his command. It was obvious that they intended to be rid of him and considering his eventual return to Athens it seems he was always loyal to Athens (though less so than to himself).
      And even after his defection the Athenians would have won if they still had an agrees I've and charismatic leader like Alcibiades on location. The two generals left after him were a deferential young man with some good ideas and a cowardly old fool who refused to make use of Athenians advantages until it was too late. And it was also the aristocrats of Athens who surrendered to the Spartans at this point leading the Athenians navy, which Alcibiades later joined, to rebel. If the people made a mistake then it was made infinitely worse by the politicking of aristocratic elites, as is usually the case.

  • @nippleviking2993
    @nippleviking2993 Před 7 lety +32

    When you want to go to sleep but Lindy has just uploaded a half hour video...

  • @nuggetoftruth-ericking7489

    This was fascinating. Thank you.

  • @walterscogginsakathesilver6246

    Bravo! One of the best I have seen. Thanks

  • @gcewing
    @gcewing Před 7 lety +19

    Maori hackers?
    Don't know about Greek pronunciation, but as a New Zealander and programmer, that one gave me a grin.

    • @brendanhere.6400
      @brendanhere.6400 Před 4 lety +1

      Yes, Greg, I noticed the same. Incidentally, please allow me to thank your fine country for it's much appreciated assistance during our recent severe bushfires.

  • @xB33
    @xB33 Před 7 lety +115

    Its 1 am,the hell are you thinking Lindybeige?

    • @lavenderthreat4435
      @lavenderthreat4435 Před 7 lety +11

      xB33DV time zones, he was thinking about the perfect time during the day to troll you Americans.

    • @emiliomoreno3256
      @emiliomoreno3256 Před 7 lety +7

      xB33DV Its 5 pm PST here so America is fine.

    • @zacharytuttle5618
      @zacharytuttle5618 Před 7 lety +7

      Fishy Films its 4 in america, its 1am in europe silly

    • @anttitheinternetguy3213
      @anttitheinternetguy3213 Před 7 lety +12

      xB33DV as a finnish security guard im very glad for lindy making my night shift a bit more enjoyable

    • @lavenderthreat4435
      @lavenderthreat4435 Před 7 lety

      Zachary Tuttle I was just asleep when it was uploaded so I don't really know what I'm talking about.

  • @armwrestlingsecrets
    @armwrestlingsecrets Před 4 lety +2

    LOVED IT LINDY!! The content is fantastic.

  • @justinwilliam2865
    @justinwilliam2865 Před 4 lety +1

    It's always enjoyable to watch your videos!Keep it up!

  • @Dan-mw1le
    @Dan-mw1le Před 7 lety +69

    These thumbnails are getting bit too awesome, you might need to slow down with them Lloyd.

  • @agelistrator
    @agelistrator Před 7 lety +15

    I'm a Greek and didn't die that much! keep up the amazing work!

  • @Tombombadillo999
    @Tombombadillo999 Před 5 lety

    DAMN i love ur channel! So needed in this dark times! Much respect !

  • @Phenom98
    @Phenom98 Před 5 lety +3

    I could listen to this man talk for hours!

  • @deusvult6900
    @deusvult6900 Před 7 lety +34

    Yes, grow that Zeus/Jupiter beard.

  • @chaosvolt
    @chaosvolt Před 7 lety +5

    Thumbs up because you kept the mid-video sponsor spiel far more concise than the usual third of the video it normally eats up.

  • @DynamicUnreality
    @DynamicUnreality Před 6 lety +1

    The Swamp Castle reference got a good chuckle out of me, thanks

  • @andrewstrongman305
    @andrewstrongman305 Před 5 lety +6

    Lol, I love the Monty Python reference! "But the fourth one... stayed up!" :)

  • @HodlinC
    @HodlinC Před 5 lety +12

    9:56 This seems like the kind of joke I'd play if I were a god. Let them win after an enormously outrageous promise to me if I let them win.

    • @gavin5410
      @gavin5410 Před 5 lety

      It sounded to me like a situation in mafia movies, lol

  • @CybershamanX
    @CybershamanX Před 7 lety +7

    I love the theatrical sacrifice reenactments! :D You missed your calling, Lloyd. ;)

  • @ThunderKat
    @ThunderKat Před 7 lety

    I'm glad to see Lindy channel finally grow in numbers :)

  • @gilhushpond608
    @gilhushpond608 Před 7 lety +4

    Love that Swamp Castle reference. :D

  • @jormugand0713
    @jormugand0713 Před 7 lety +7

    posthumous fame was one one of the most important virtues in ancient Greek society, you can equate its worth for the Greek soldier to what the code of chivalry was for the knights are the Bushido for the samurai, and the burial was a pretty much the way the the posthumous fame was delivered to the dead, with their most prized possession, gold, rituals and all that jazz. I am not surprised to hear that they would execute commander for that just to calm the masses.

    • @SuperKratosgamer
      @SuperKratosgamer Před 7 lety +3

      Code of chivalry of knights was not really true, and there was not a official code that they follow. Its something more for tales.

  • @raservesthedinner7620
    @raservesthedinner7620 Před 7 lety +195

    ... when the lesbians... DON'T. DON'T! OK?

    • @goodsous
      @goodsous Před 7 lety +39

      They just really wanted their spear back...

    • @moosemaimer
      @moosemaimer Před 7 lety +4

      Lesbosians?

  • @gtbkts
    @gtbkts Před 4 lety

    Honestly, the best of your videos I've seen. And, deffinetly my favorite. I was one of those non subscribers, just happy to watch your vids whenever thy showed up in my feed. But, this video is the reason im subscribing to you. I hope you see this comment. Thanks for the great content.

  • @darthhodges
    @darthhodges Před 8 měsíci +2

    Regarding the Spartans my understanding is that "the 300" was the title of a special unit of Spartans, the elite of their soldiers. The size of the unit depended on how many Spartans demonstrated sufficient skill to be member of it, it often numbered a lot more than 300. Also, at the Battle of Thermopylae while there were a lot more than 300 Spartans as well as an even larger force of Athenians and others they were dramatically outnumbered by the Persians. Some sources claim as much as a million men, but even the lowest claims are still over 100,000.

  • @Dave-qy4zm
    @Dave-qy4zm Před 7 lety +18

    *grabs popcorn*

    • @Dave-qy4zm
      @Dave-qy4zm Před 7 lety +1

      Why stupidity? This is a hot topic, am i not right?

  • @timcarpenter2441
    @timcarpenter2441 Před 4 lety +10

    "All this will be yours!"
    "What, the Carthaginians?"

  • @Quodge
    @Quodge Před 7 lety

    I didn't need audible until now but when I did I used your free trial because you're awesome. Generally too skint to give anything back but now I had the chance.. enjoy!

  • @bradeki2997
    @bradeki2997 Před 3 lety +1

    Lloyd struggling with an invisible goat four years ago has been the highlight of my day today.

  • @DimNussens
    @DimNussens Před 6 lety +4

    You look like Graham Chapman come back to us, and your commentary is very amusing to me. Good stuff.

  • @gunnertlc7728
    @gunnertlc7728 Před 7 lety +14

    >Saw it was 35 minutes
    >Instantly clicked like button

    • @themaster408
      @themaster408 Před 4 lety

      GUNNERTLC7 I feel personally attacked

  • @modvind
    @modvind Před 7 lety

    another great video, thank you Lloyd

  • @xMotivationFix
    @xMotivationFix Před 6 lety

    Mr. Beige, today i have a state exam, and i am watching your rambling lovely videos to calm my nerves! Lovely work you are doing there, for lots of ppl, cheers!

  • @PlayTheMind
    @PlayTheMind Před 7 lety +43

    *Souvlaki* _VS_ *Spaghetti*

    • @jasondoe2596
      @jasondoe2596 Před 7 lety +5

      I like both, but... Spaghetti FTW!

    • @jasperzanovich2504
      @jasperzanovich2504 Před 7 lety +3

      Put Souvlaki VS Pizza and you get one crushing defeat.

    • @jmalmsten
      @jmalmsten Před 7 lety +8

      PlayTheMind
      well, I am a Pastafarian, so I am not exactly unbiased. But the teachings of my faith do instruct me to say that while I prefer Pasta, you can eat whatever and just try to be a friendly person.
      RAmen to ye folk of both seafarers and other kinds, ARRR!

    • @doctorolo
      @doctorolo Před 6 lety

      as a Greek there is only one answer and that is souvlaki

  • @JigglyJig
    @JigglyJig Před 7 lety +6

    Thanks Lindy, I appreciate a good Monty Python reference.

  • @davidbesant
    @davidbesant Před 4 lety

    Don't know how I missed this one. Totally brilliant.

  • @andrewmountford3608
    @andrewmountford3608 Před 2 lety +1

    I love the eccentricity, the knowledge & enthusiasm

  • @boomtrousers
    @boomtrousers Před 7 lety +26

    Loved the Monty Python reference!

  • @dissentview8249
    @dissentview8249 Před 7 lety +38

    Lindy, the original Brexiter.
    Seriously though, props my man; props.

  • @bobthesir1467
    @bobthesir1467 Před 5 lety +1

    One of the best videos if LindyBeige! Really great!

  • @franklulatowskijr.6974
    @franklulatowskijr.6974 Před 3 lety +1

    This man makes history lessons great.

  • @DarkAvatar1313
    @DarkAvatar1313 Před 7 lety +25

    6:30 An African or European swallow?

    • @amarchants
      @amarchants Před 7 lety +2

      Darkavatar are you saying sheeps migrate?

    • @lindybeige
      @lindybeige  Před 7 lety +32

      European. You could tell by the number of coconuts it could transport.

    • @Tempusverum
      @Tempusverum Před 5 lety

      Darkavatar
      What?
      AHHhHhHhHhHhHhhhhhhhhh!!!

  • @psammiad
    @psammiad Před 7 lety +44

    Never take away a Lesbian's spear, they get very upset.

  • @rockface112233
    @rockface112233 Před 5 lety

    i love your videos lloyd, lindy, thank you

  • @sherrifft770
    @sherrifft770 Před 6 lety

    Amazingly done video. Agree with it all

  • @itiscujo
    @itiscujo Před 5 lety +10

    34:37 "Oh! That's a good sacrifice!"
    Lmao sometimes the way he expresses the speculated thoughts of ancient people is just delightfully hilarious.

  • @raservesthedinner7620
    @raservesthedinner7620 Před 7 lety +13

    But the fourth one stayed up 👌🏻

  • @lukehamilton3518
    @lukehamilton3518 Před 3 lety

    Friggin awesome. Thank you.

  • @andrewescocia2707
    @andrewescocia2707 Před 4 lety

    going into my 3rd month off work due to the virus and re watching all lindys longer videos . make a freeking podcast man !!!!