Why Myths Matter - With Stephen Fry

The famed actor and comedian, Stephen Fry, discusses the ancient languages, etymology, and the joy of discovering the Classics through ancient Greek. We question whether Odysseus... or any of the other great names were really heroes and how these stories give us insight on AI and social media, among other things.
Have a listen and let me know why YOU think myths are important...
If you want to enjoy Stephen’s regular witticisms, you can check out his newsletter here: stephenfry.sub...
You can also buy his Mythos book here: www.amazon.com...
If you are interested in learning more about mythology specifically and the Classics in general, check out Classical Wisdom and sign up for our free newsletter here: classicalwisdo...

[@shakesrear7850]

Whoever arranged this, thank you. There. Is. Not. enough Stephen Fry in the world.

[@ClassicalWisdom]

So glad you enjoyed it! I was grateful to Mr. Fry that he agreed to speak with me!

[@Northcountry1926]

TRUE !

[@JohnKocan]

Thank you for this. Such a rare occasion (not just nowadays but, I suspect, throughout all of human history) to hear an intelligent discourse. A monologue, really. I marvel at Mr. Fry’s ability to speak at great length on any given topic with grace, insight and perspective. He is a treasure.

[@MrRosebeing]

I think intelligent discourses occurred through much of history, not so much nowadays, though.

[@EannaButler]

The grace of Stephen, and of the wonderful host - who knows how to stay perfectly silent, yet deeply engaged thru natural body language cues - all so wonderfully bound. Stephen's orange buttoned t-shirt pales in the face of the gorgeous green gown though! ❤

[@BlueBaron3339]

I have his Greek mythology books too...in audio form, of course, because his narration is so splendid. And you'll note that he refers to closing the lid on Pandora's Jar. He explains that Erasmus's translation of Hesiod's Pandora confused pithos (storage jar) with pyxis (box). He's a polymath. Unlike many polymaths, kind and loveable. Mostly, he's in love with humanity and the Greeks not only fully mapped the human psyche first, they did in timeless way that's never been equalled since. Hence the importance of knowing their stories.

[@SacredCafe]

There are people like this? The classics are fantastic & Anya speaks very well. Another happy Subscriber...

[@KosmiekAltertainment]

Stephen, i am someone who is trying to write something sensible about the world of today with somewhat of a long term perspective, and you have just opened a door i hardly dared to push against. You are an extraordinary man of extreme value, once again. Life on earth would be very different without you.

[@szeevster5767]

What a wonderful way to spend an hour! Thanks for this.

[@ClassicalWisdom]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@thedailylines]

Simply lovely discourse! I do sometimes marvel that Stephen Fry is mortal and sharing this globe with us. At the moment it's one of the most reassuring thoughts of all.

[@ClassicalWisdom]

Well said!

[@Subfightr]

Oh... My... Goodness. How did you manage to contain yourself?! You had THE Stephen Fry on your show, you spoke with the man, his words were directed towards your beautiful face and ears. Wow.

[@dianemartin6077]

😅

[@Subfightr]

@@dianemartin6077 indeed

[@Dumballa]

This was so wonderful. Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@DavidTizzard]

This is wonderful. Congratulations and thank you for sharing Steven with us

[@georgekokkos5347]

Watching now! So inspiring to hear Fry talk!

[@jeromesullivan4015]

Huge fan of Mr Fry, talent and brains..what more is needed?

[@MrSvenovitch]

A reality check

[@geneh460]

Finding out that a relaxed at home Stephen has not only a fondness for Hamilton and Bulfinch, but that we share many of the same "fidgets" is somehow comforting.

[@ricardocnassif]

Masterful. Also, Fry is the easiest person to interview I know. You actually don't have to ask anything, just setting his free is enough. And then you (me) listen and learn.

[@ClassicalWisdom]

I mostly tried to not get in his way ;-)

[@Dignity_first]

@@ClassicalWisdomthank you do much for this wonderful interview!) It's a pure pleasure…

[@jackjames3190]

It’s so wonderfully refreshing and a relief to see someone being interviewed and that person being allowed to answer those questions without interruption or being steered. The skill this lady has just goes to show why I can’t stand watching anyone be interviewed elsewhere - the presenter is all to often more interested in steering the conversation back to talking about themselves instead of listening to the answer of their own questions (!) Bravo on a fantastic piece of work 🎉

[@arthillside5837]

Well done. Thank You

[@juniusluriuscatalus6606]

This was fascinating, very welcome suggestion in my YT feed and perfect spice to tasteless monday afternoon. Thanks. I might have to check out what else your channel has to offer!

[@ClassicalWisdom]

So glad you enjoyed it! We cover quite a full range of topics from the ancient world, so I hope there is plenty you can enjoy.

[@rosemarymcbride3419]

Just happened to pick up Troy from the library on a whim and I thoroughly enjoyed it, looking forward to reading the others!

[@Tharg_the_mighty]

It's all good! If you want to try audiobooks, try his readings of the PG Wodehouse stories and Sherlock Holmes too. All excellent 😊

[@mumbleweed2729]

Thank you for a fantastic talk... have Stephen Fry's latest book on order... would highly recommend his earlier works. 😁

[@starnejme6902]

Stephen Fry. Just finished Heroes.

[@cliffjamesmusic]

Thank you very much for this wonderful upload. Myths are not only fascinating but important because of what they expose through the use of archetypes when considering our own situation. Allied to this, beliefs are more important than any absolute reality which may exist because beliefs determine our opinions, attitudes and behaviour and so are more important than facts in determining how we relate to each other. All belief systems should be open to being challenged or ridiculed, whether political, economic, scientific, religious or whatever, especially where they impact on the lives of people and the environment. With regard to, for example, the Abrahamic-rooted theistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam - they claim moral and sometimes earthly rights based on conflicting stories and mythologies that somebody wrote, supposedly recording what somebody supposedly said about what somebody supposedly claimed as divine inspiration from a divinity, the existence for which there is no evidence. Unfortunately, they still contain what can be used by fundamentalists to cause significant harm and the dogmatism prevents learning; something which I encourage in this little song: Fundamentalism or Humanism / war or peace kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6vRZZhnr5h4jJY

[@apoetreadstowrite]

Thanks for this wonderful interview. I have been following you for a while, & always enjoy your Classical engagements. And I just adore Fry. I have my own BookTube channel, & I've recently done videos on the Emily Wilson verse translations of Homer (with comparisons back to the wonderful Robert Fagels work). Emily Wilson is an absolute wonder!

[@ClassicalWisdom]

We actually have an upcoming tour 'in search of Homer' with Emily Wilson herself... details to come ;-)

[@apoetreadstowrite]

@@ClassicalWisdom: Oh, wow!

[@Northcountry1926]

We’re in Love … Let’s Share ❗️

[@benedictpotter8258]

“O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful wonderful! And yet again wonderful, and after that, out of all whooping.”

[@baronjohna]

Watching this just after knowing the results of the 2024 US election. What a wonderful conversation. This is the kind of thing I now wish to focus on, the furies not with-standing.

[@ClassicalWisdom]

The classics are always a wonderful antidote to current events. They really help bring perspective to anything that is going on.

[@eirintowne]

The world is divided into two types of thinkers: - Those able to extrapolate from incomplete data sets, and -

[@alexandery8508]

What are the philosophers that have studied in ancient Egypt. What do they think of it and how can that be seen or experienced today by traveling to the modern day Egypt. I remember this channel made a series of different ancient places in greece and in Asia minor to travel and to experience but is there such in Egypt:north Africa? Thank you for this interesting discussion Stephen and Anya!

[@alexandery8508]

... as we unfortunately could not cover the places first mentioned but could cover Egypt for me to perhaps experience somewhat interesting too

[@alexandery8508]

If we consider this too be considered we can perhaps do a 30 to 45 minute interesting video about what are the famous philosophers and historians that were studying in ancient Egypt and to what subject, myths did they attach themselves

[@ClassicalWisdom]

@@alexandery8508 Yes! The history of Egypt is very storied and complex and has had a HUGE influence on the ancient Greeks and Romans. You can see this even with the literal Obelisks stolen from Egypt and located throughout Rome. it would take several videos (indeed lifetimes!) to discuss... though we have touched quite a few times on Roman Egypt (Hypatia, Cleopatra, the wonders of the ancient world). There are also a lot of stories of the pre-socratic philosophers studying in Egypt and Asia Minor...

[@yasminehaenflein9005]

❤

[@George1966ism]

The muses are worth some discussion. I think that Hesiod is hiding behind those fairies for not being accused of being a heretic. It is not my knowledge but Raoul Schrott who put them in context with Hepat Musuni, a female goddess of water, youth, girls and so on. In this sense, yes, the muses are the metaphors carrying the divine word and meaning to humans.

[@robertgerrity878]

The Bull From The Sea by Mary Renault -- Stephen, she was a lesbian. Bought Bull ss 1st America edition at 13.

[@MacMacPherson]

CG Jung and Joseph Campbell brought me here

[@robertgerrity878]

Individuating Soul Journey, which Fry embodies for us.

[@MrRosebeing]

Because myths are wonderful stories that are allegorical and do not tell you what to do or how to behave, in general.

[@tonybarnes8019]

What a very lovely looking lady she is, i was listening to Stephen , but looking at her.

[@arcadiuslucas]

Oh... My... Gooooodness... A guy didn't forget what he was thought when he was 12.... a national treasure 😂

[@ClassicalWisdom]

I wish I had that memory!

[@Howler54Z]

This was 3 hours too short!

[@george474747]

What's the opening piece of music?

[@ClassicalWisdom]

Hayden Sonata

[@justinwalker4475]

What wonderful souls x

[@MagicJesus]

Heracles uses his club as a metaphor for the power he got from father Zeus. Zeus rules only by his power, which, is beyond all other gods. And, he can turn the gods' powers against them. As gods, they are extensions of their parents anyway, just like humans. Gods are to humans as the human royals are to peasants. In both cases, the humans grovel to the gods.

[@mauleypeach]

@Anya Leonard @Stephen Fry, I'm a science guy ususally much like Aristotelianism so how did these things meet irl?

[@ClassicalWisdom]

Start with Aristotle's Poetics!

[@CONNELL19511216]

Moths matter too 😜

[@bluegtturbo]

He has more brains than God😂

[@RonJohnstone-yq5fw]

I knew Stephen at C'bridge the questioner's an absolute babe lol!

[@tombombadil9123]

she looks like she's wrapped up in a blanket so online 😂

[@eric.aaron.castro]

'literature derives from myth'. Myths and stories are the foundation of a society, not ideas or philosophies

[@starcapture3040]

Mythology which wasn't a mythology to its own tellers do present Ideas connected to philosophies of those ideas. Greek mythology is less of myth but they are more closer to legends. since they were transformed into literature transformed and re transformed from older civilizations like Ovid or apollodorus of athens we know names of the authors whom have inserted a bis and concepts of newer literature to them and so modern inputs are even worse best example is Edith Hamilton she inserted delusional euro centric concepts. True mythology is like the Mesopotamian mythology where its oral tradition is kept alive in its telling on clay tablets thousands and thousands years old created by its original authors whom we don't know their names, the amount of depth and symbolism is more greater than its literately telling not aiming for entertainment. Greek myths are legends rather than myths.

[@josephturner7569]

That "trolley" problem was solved by Captain Kirk.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

How obvious it is that subtitles are provided by so-called Artificial Intelligence. Surely a human could do them much better and at a fraction of the cost. 🤔 geoff nelson hill, "Green Fire" UK

[@iandanforth]

"Coming out in October?" Amazon says it won't be out until May 2025 in the US!

[@ClassicalWisdom]

I think there are different US/UK release dates

[@richardp2309]

EGO

[@kadiummusic]

Myths are not important, truth is. The world is obsessed with myths and legends but very few are interested in seeking out the truth.

[@markwrede8878]

Myth is how ignorance survives without learning.

[@MrSvenovitch]

Because people have something to sell. Against better judgement they want to eat and stay alive. It would be better to go to sleep and not wake up though.

[@stephendaisley8645]

whiffs of elitism or erudition?

[@ubergeraldine]

What a prat. He has no idea in the origin of myth but no doubt has engineered a few to suit his agenda.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

Oh dear... A dissenter in our midst... You appear to be jealous of people who know more than you! Watch out, young Icarus... You are flying to close to the...oh too late.

[@liefsillion2825]

@@brigidsingleton1596 That damned lid is rattling again!