Expect random acts of violence, petty squabbles and a chariot race with a twist as we journey through Books IX and X of the Iliad. Oh, and we give Odysseus more of a verbal beating that he doesn't deserve...

Sources for this episode:

• Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ilus (online) (Accessed 19/01/2025).

Covering Books VI through VIII of the Iliad today, we learn that it's dangerous to be a charioteer to Hector, as you might end up with a spear in a very tender area... We also see a pause from war as Hector has a quiet moment with his wife and son, and Odysseus gets his ego shattered.

Sources for this episode:

• Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cubit (online) (Accessed 09/12/2024 and 18/01/2025).

As the tenth year of the Trojan War continues, Diomedes starts cutting through the Trojans like a knife through butter. Aside from a possible cameo from a primary source author himself, Diomedes is about to show the world how cool he is- including taking on the God of War himself...

Also, get ready for a cameo from the heiress presumptive who has been recording our jingles!

Sources for this episode:

• Homer (1965), The Iliad. Translated by E. V. Rieu. Harmondsworth; Penguin Books Ltd.

• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Dares Phrygius (online) (Accessed 09/12/2024).

We've finally started one of the famous works of the ancient world! In this instalment, Achilles and Agamemnon have a falling out because of a slave girl, Aphrodite proves herself the worst and the war is nearly settled right there and then after a siege of nine years...

Sources for this episode:

• Homer (2021), The Iliad & The Odyssey. Translated by S. Butler. Oviedo: Entreacacias, S. L.
• Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume I). London: William Heinemann.
• Graves, R. (1981), Greek Myths: Illustrated Edition. London: Cassell Ltd.
• Ovid (1955), Metamorphoses. Translated with an introduction by M. M. Innes. London: Penguin Books.
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Pentalogy (online) (Accessed 18/08/2024).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Tetralogy (online) (Accessed 18/08/2024).

The Autocrat team is on a bit of a break before we get into the Iliad in episode 59 next week. However, we didn't want to leave you starved of content! This week includes a bit of an update on scheduling, plus some fun moments from the podcast's history- including some never seen before...

Let us know if you want to see more bloopers, and we might include some on a Patreon someday!

A quick update welcoming you to 2025- or the 2778th year of Rome- and a primer on what you can expect for the year ahead. For any ancient Romans listening, feel free to ignore this until your New Year in March.

Sources for this episode:

• Blakemore, E., National Geographic (2023), The new year once started in March- here's why (online) (Accessed 31/12/2024).
• The Editors, Encylopedia Britannica (2024), Chinese New Year (online) (Accessed 31/12/2024).
• Author unknown, Uchicago (date unknown), Roman Calendar (online) (Accessed 31/12/2024).

Agamemnon is a family man. It's just a shame that family is also the answer to who needs to be put up on an altar. As the Greeks are loitering at Aulis before setting off for Troy, we watch the goddess Artemis announce that Iphigenia needs to sacrificed in order to placate her anger...

Sources for this episode:

• • Antoninus Liberalis (1992), The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis. Translated by F. Celoria. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Euripides (1910), The Plays of Euripides in English in 2 Volumes (Volume 1). Translated by Shelley Dean Milman, Potter and Woodhull. London and New York: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. and E. P. Dutton & Co.
  • Evelyn-White, H. G. (1943), Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: William Heinemann Ltd.
  • Frazer, J. G. (1921), Apollodorus: The Library (Volume II). London: William Heinemann.
  • Hyginus (1872), Fabulae. Edited by M. Schmidt. Jenae: Hermann Dufft.
  • Lucretius (1921), On the Nature of Things. Translated by W. E. Leonard. London, Toronto and New York: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. and E. P. Dutton & Co.
  • Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Myrmidons (online) (Accessed 07/12/2024).
  • Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Snake Island (Ukraine) (online) (Accessed 07/12/2024).

Christmas and the Anno Domini system of counting years are very intertwined. So, what better way to celebrate than to talk to someone going through every year of the AD calendar one at a time? We sat down with Dan from Augustus History, the creator of Yearly Histories, to talk about the challenges and the joys of such an endeavour.