Religion and War in Ancient Greece and Rome

Sign up for your FREE one-month trial to The Great Courses Plus here: ow.ly/iH9U308Mjjf
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
Pre-order my book on Hannibal and the Second Punic War: www.InSearchofHannibal.com
Buy the music - the music played at the end of my videos is now available here: lindybeige.bandcamp.com/track...
More weapons and armour videos here: • Weapons and armour
Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.
▼ Follow me...
Twitter: / lindybeige I may have some drivel to contribute to the Twittersphere, plus you get notice of uploads.
Facebook: / lindybeige (it's a 'page' and now seems to be working).
Google+: "google.com/+lindybeige"
website: www.LloydianAspects.co.uk
/ user "Lindybeige"

[@brianholmes1812]

The world's greatest bleeding goat impression

[@pomfret_and_pommes_frites_6493]

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

[@GCurl]

Maybe he actually sacrifices goats in his backyard? XD

[@mattias2576]

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

[@charleswood4635]

GermanCurl; Only if they are his girlfriends

[@NeilDoyle92]

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

[@martinmoan2063]

"Food that walks itself" Gold

[@tohopes]

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]

Isn't that general description of any animal?

[@sirBrouwer]

tohopes wait are you going to eat the delivery person?

[@ME-hm7zm]

Fish, I suppose.

[@stephenandersen4625]

it's called livestock

[@chrishansen9379]

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]

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

[@SpittinSquirell]

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

[@willgillespie4840]

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

[@dj_koen1265]

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]

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

[@terryyaki3936]

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]

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]

@@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.

[@TAKE_BACK_BRITAIN]

Little details like this is why I love lindybeige

[@Pyriphlegeton]

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

[@SakuyaKira24]

James Esteron I am sooo in that exsact position now.

[@uristthedwarf7833]

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

[@johnchestnut5340]

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

[@apalsnerg]

@@johnchestnut5340 Comment's three fuckin years old mate

[@stefanjasovic2311]

@@apalsnerg its never too late for corrections

[@dELTA13579111315]

@@stefanjasovic2311 it's*

[@helenaap2042]

@@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]

We need a supercut of all the lindybeige miming scenes.

[@lukaspopelinsky7665]

I would give that person all of my money. :)

[@Tombombadillo999]

A V lmao yes!

[@bernardoheusi6146]

Best Actor goes to... that english twat!

[@htf5555]

with no context

[@Chiaros]

@@thisguy5611 21:33 And this 'un, please!

[@charjl96]

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

[@emeralddragongaming2930]

I dont know. AAAAAAAAA!

[@miguelafonso4466]

Both, they were carrying a coconut

[@ethangoldsmith9332]

Was it unladen

[@Kickflips22]

@@miguelafonso4466 african swallows are non migratory

[@shitmultiverse1404]

@@miguelafonso4466 carrying it with what?!

[@numbers9to0]

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

[@Kila-Innova]

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

[@headrockbeats]

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

[@dhirkemka8305]

Your joke is not fucking funny.

[@dhirkemka8305]

*whomever stupid, dim witted Mancunian

[@baz4020]

Dhir Kemka *whomstdvever

[@MrKean100]

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

[@yarus5889]

this is great

[@CalPhotoGuy]

Should have rolled for divination first.

[@ShadowDragon8685]

And _that_ is why a natural 1 results in a failed attack, no more, no less.

[@lordclangtheintolorable2094]

*YOUR FOOD STORES HAVE BECOME ROTTEN*

[@Itsprincesweets]

Whoops

[@DrRazernij]

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

[@Saiyan_Goku]

Dr. Hallow 😂

[@thorfinn518]

😂

[@Likexner]

*sad pornhub noises*

[@fratguide9835]

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

[@wendel5868]

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

[@fratguide9835]

@@wendel5868 the record companies would just draft donkeys instead

[@FilmGuy7000]

"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]

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

[@vapormissile]

humours

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

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]

Especially from the female poet Sappho of Lesbos.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Lesbians, proper noun...

[@RandyKalff]

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]

Randy Kalff LOL

[@moralhazard8652]

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

[@forestelfranger]

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]

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

[@ME-hm7zm]

Ancient World Star!

[@Raz.C]

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

[@sirbillius]

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

[@Likexner]

@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]

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]

^ Late remoaner spam is late XD.

[@ericbarkmann1743]

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

[@andrewclayton4181]

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

[@benmasta5814]

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

[@lindybeige]

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

[@Boborbot]

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

[@ruairimasun1073]

blessings brother. a bountiful harvest awaits us indeed.

[@AxDhan]

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

[@misterdinner3648]

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

[@lol101lol101lol10199]

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

[@Catastropheshe]

Until they buy one..

[@Catastropheshe]

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

[@EloquentTroll]

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

[@Nathan-yk5km]

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

[@brendanhere.6400]

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

[@Tubluer]

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

[@RobertMilesAI]

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]

So this comes down to a local optimization problem then?

[@darkmasterchief227]

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]

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

[@darkmasterchief227]

@@itiscujo i know this, i was speaking notionally

[@philippenachtergal6077]

@@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 ?

[@justrobin8155]

Lloyd is the uncle I've always wanted.

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

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

[@MaskofAgamemnon]

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

[@TranscendentLion]

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]

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

[@Kurtlane]

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]

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]

@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]

@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.

[@bar0nger]

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

[@Electro35man]

Badum-tsss

[@phreakazoith2237]

don't listen to your heart, listen to the goat's heart.

[@bernardoheusi6146]

Executioner!

[@XavlaminYT]

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

[@krpajda]

XavlaminYT also the most convincing chicken

[@jajones-ford2226]

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.

[@Bronsons]

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

[@seankeogh4185]

He's great, always make good content

[@oriondevil79]

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

[@paununs8719]

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]

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]

I lost you on goats

[@asthmen]

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

[@fds7476]

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

[@anantbijolia8415]

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

[@anderskorsback4104]

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]

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

[@Halera-]

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]

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]

@@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]

@@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.

[@jefferyboyes]

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.

[@therealkillerb7643]

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]

Thank you.

[@xSoupCan]

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]

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

[@stardude692001]

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]

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.

[@jormugand0713]

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

[@senecatheartist1919]

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 KZbinr του είδους του.

[@scvtvm7914]

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

[@MrPanos2000]

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]

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

[@_Aaron_G_]

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

[@justinwilliam2865]

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

[@NakaliTama]

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

[@rogerpaesani5074]

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!

[@NunSuperior]

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

[@hiimkaiki7508]

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

[@shaneybot3031]

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

[@pyramear5414]

ShaneyBot wow he actually did it.

[@joshuanorris5860]

@@pyramear5414 haha nice

[@slinkytreekreeper]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWe0mYpriJ16oZY

[@mihaidinul]

Holy crap was that the most amazing video request ever. Kia Ora!

[@rhoesacesrheomithres2119]

... My excitement *INTENSIFIES* ❕

[@feidtublec]

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

[@armwrestlingsecrets]

LOVED IT LINDY!! The content is fantastic.

[@eightywight]

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.

[@sherm4316]

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

[@zali13]

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

[@will2003michael2003]

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

[@TechnicalHydra]

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

[@PreistofGHAZpork]

Yep. A culture of cowards.

[@imperialguardsman3923]

@@PreistofGHAZpork wut

[@EloquentTroll]

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]

Bloody stat padders;))))

[@PreistofGHAZpork]

@@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)

[@Dan-mw1le]

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

[@HemlockRidge]

The man is both knowledgeable AND hilarious.

[@OdisraFlyrunner]

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

[@xB33]

Its 1 am,the hell are you thinking Lindybeige?

[@lavenderthreat4435]

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

[@emiliomoreno3256]

xB33DV Its 5 pm PST here so America is fine.

[@zacharytuttle5618]

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

[@anttitheinternetguy3213]

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

[@lavenderthreat4435]

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

[@nippleviking2993]

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

[@Robzter117]

just watch it at 2x speed

[@tobygladwin3260]

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

[@Tombombadillo999]

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

[@gcewing]

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

[@brendanhere.6400]

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.

[@volodymyrboitchouk]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[@Phenom98]

I could listen to this man talk for hours!

[@nuggetoftruth-ericking7489]

This was fascinating. Thank you.

[@chaosvolt]

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

[@CybershamanX]

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

[@walterscogginsakathesilver6246]

Bravo! One of the best I have seen. Thanks

[@ThunderKat]

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

[@andrewstrongman305]

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

[@gilhushpond608]

Love that Swamp Castle reference. :D

[@gtbkts]

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.

[@franklulatowskijr.6974]

This man makes history lessons great.

[@PlayTheMind]

*Souvlaki* _VS_ *Spaghetti*

[@jasondoe2596]

I like both, but... Spaghetti FTW!

[@jasperzanovich2504]

Put Souvlaki VS Pizza and you get one crushing defeat.

[@jmalmsten]

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]

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

[@Marmocet]

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.

[@DynamicUnreality]

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

[@xMotivationFix]

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!

[@HodlinC]

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]

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

[@Digmen1]

Hi Lindy could you explain the photos on the wall behind you. They look very un-historical or wargamy

[@modvind]

another great video, thank you Lloyd

[@andrewmountford3608]

I love the eccentricity, the knowledge & enthusiasm

[@Obyvvatel]

9:40 needs to be a gif.

[@diaz5292]

Obyvvatel LOL... :)

[@JizzzDaPit]

Here you go: freegifmaker.me/images/2cCH8/

[@jormugand0713]

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]

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

[@Quodge]

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!

[@lukehamilton3518]

Friggin awesome. Thank you.

[@DimNussens]

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

[@Apollo_1641]

Lindy, i have a video request.. Remember the Mg42 vs Bren videos? *Make a Piat vs Panzerfaust video!*

[@lindybeige]

Nice one!

[@garyhewitt489]

There's no point. The PIAT was the finest spring powered AT weapon ever invented

[@davidbesant]

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

[@sethroseblood9456]

Damn Loyd I gotta love your thumbnails

[@konst80hum]

A Classic paean (greek παιανας) is a repeating L. the first syllabe of the word ελευμαι meaning "I am coming". Chanting it progressively faster as the phalanx moved faster towards the enemy.

[@bw8779]

Thanks Lindy, I appreciate a good Monty Python reference.

[@bobthesir1467]

One of the best videos if LindyBeige! Really great!

[@rockface112233]

i love your videos lloyd, lindy, thank you

[@DarkAvatar1313]

6:30 An African or European swallow?

[@amarchants]

Darkavatar are you saying sheeps migrate?

[@lindybeige]

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

[@Tempusverum]

Darkavatar What? AHHhHhHhHhHhHhhhhhhhhh!!!

[@deusvult6900]

Yes, grow that Zeus/Jupiter beard.

[@andrewescocia2707]

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

[@sherrifft770]

Amazingly done video. Agree with it all

[@raservesthedinner7620]

But the fourth one stayed up 👌🏻

[@gallendugall8913]

Best chicken impression ever! Now I need that on a ten hour loop to play in the background.

[@XXXXHHHHHTTTTTHHHHHH]

I always come here to experience history. I feel like they would be super super serious about all the decisions.

[@whirsil]

Splendid presentation!

[@ididthisonpulpous6526]

Hey Lloyd, always enjoy your stuff. I wanted to make a general comment about piety in my experience. I am from the southern United States I was raised in family of Southern Baptists and went to church at least twice a week until I got out of school. I used to have pretty strong feelings about faith, most of that wore off during a deployment to Iraq, but I do have many family members and friends who are very religious. I only mean to say that in my opinion genuine belief exists and by extension did exist in history. Does everyone in a religious society believe equally, if at all? Likely no. Do leaders exploit the beliefs of the people? Obviously yes. I just don't think it's fair to paint all people of today or yesterday in your own biased pallette that's all.

[@joshme3659]

Idk if thats true. Most Christians havent read the bible and cherrypick the bits of scripture that just go along with what they were going to do anyway. Not the actions of true belivers

[@binbows2258]

@@joshme3659 Being good at appearing as a believer, and being a believer, arent the same thing.

[@thyBeren]

i did die a bit indeed. Its closer if you pronounce is at sfag-i-a.

[@kekero540]

Nick Iakovidis modern Greek is probably more related to the Byzantine Greek rather than ancient though.

[@CulusMagnus]

Nick Iakovidis Ancient Greeks would have pronounced the φ as an actual ph sound with a p quickly followed by a breath.

[@ianbirge8269]

Wonderfully vague. Lovely.

[@bradeki2997]

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