Mythology Expert Reviews Greek & Roman Mythology in Movies & TV (Part 2) | Vanity Fair

[@franklesser5655]

What is entirely authentic in all movies is that in ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome they all spoke with an English accent.

[@omniscientbeing4224]

well of course they did, how else were they supposed to record their dialogue? no one would be able to understand them otherwise. lol.

[@colinp2238]

Al Murray will tell you why that is.

[@bayupran]

It's not a coincidence because in ancient China, they also spoke English, as shown in Mulan.

[@Xia-hu]

@@bayupran and in all the sci-fi movies, all the aliens speak english too.

[@rooneye]

You mean speak the English LANGAUGE? lol An English accent would mean someone NOT speaking English. 😋

[@TanyaSapienVintage]

Metatron completely destroys this guy's arguments in a debunking video. Worth the watch.

[@SaltyChickenDip]

He's bit on the chariots is so frustrating! Like dude you read the classics. Maybe look into actual history about them

[@Drako9823]

Agreed

[@bureaffari3694]

​@@SaltyChickenDipwhose?

[@SaltyChickenDip]

@@bureaffari3694 big history nerd

[@Larry_Stylinson]

@@bureaffari3694 Metatron (@ metatronyt) in his videos titled "This NYC Professor is a COMPLETE JOKE!" and "NYC Professor Strikes AGAIN! (and so do I)". He's Italian and studied Roman history, so he knows more about the topic than this professor who's supposedly an "expert" in mythology.

[@goodusernamedoesntexi..]

You missed something important . In many of Sophocles' writings , he has repeatedly stressed that Hector did not actually look like Eric Bana

[@cleverusername9369]

You mean to tell me that ancient Trojans DIDN'T look like hunky Australians?? I don't believe a word of it. Next you'll be saying Menalaus wasn't a great lumbering Irishman.

[@goodusernamedoesntexi..]

@@cleverusername9369 what can I tell you my friend ..... i only go by the ancient written word which advises that Do Not Invest Your Trust In The Plot And The Characters When David Benioff Decides To Adapt And Butcher Someone Else's Literature .

[@coe3408]

@@cleverusername9369 Trojans were indo-Europeans living in Asia Minor. They were probably Mediterranean looking like current greeks.

[@AggelosKyriou]

As a Greek, I can assure you that Eric Bana could easily pass for a Greek or a modern Turk (=Greek+Armenian turncoat).

[@denistuohy2535]

He did? I thought he EXPLICITLY wrote “Dude he so looked like Eric Bana”

[@shaderunner8220]

Very interesting how archery was seen as a cowards way to fight in Greek myths, but in Hindu myths, being a skillful archer was considered the highest and most honourable form of martial arts.

[@dhogksrnrdjfhqkRnjTdj]

What? have you not heard of Heracles?

[@shaderunner8220]

@@dhogksrnrdjfhqkRnjTdj oh ya, Heracles and his battle with the hydra, where he used burning arrows. That is one of his greatest feat, though it often seems to get overshadowed by his other feats of strength. Are there any other examples of Greek heroes using bows? I know Odysseus had one.

[@moffjerjerrod1579]

Don’t forget, the bow was the primary weapon of the Samurai too.

[@winklenator]

@@moffjerjerrod1579 ummm katana?

[@Abraxxis]

@@winklenator Samurai fought primarily with the bow, then the spear, then with the sword. Katana was actually a side arm, only used for ritualistic purposes or as a last resort.

[@frankvandorp2059]

Character in Greek mythology: *breathes* This guy: "This is obviously inspired by African people, who also breathed!"

[@Zee-i4e]

You wanna believe lies

[@ZatoshiRyuu]

What is a historic inaccuracy is that they gave this guy a PHD in anything other than being a fool.

[@Frostyeveryday]

They did!! Fool = gender studies

[@danielessex2162]

His education is in mythology with probsblt a minor in history.

[@bleedingundead2924]

@@danielessex2162 Marvel Mythology it seems

[@Jhorzael]

What are they teaching students in New York bro

[@aarengraves9962]

Fun Fact: this clown isn't a actual historian.

[@SI-cd7xs]

There’s a reason why we call NYU NYJew

[@wastingmylifeaway4898]

​@@SI-cd7xsno need for anti-semitism

[@swanm3ta850]

They are teaching the truth and you’re mad… 😢

[@Lafuerza_V]

@@swanm3ta850 if you think this is the truth you are a 🤤

[@akirebara]

I love Professor Meineck. The fact that he says he doesn't care about accuracy because it's Xena, that's lovely.

[@mistermastermind528]

I was about to say the same thing. People at his level are usually perceived as purists but he strikes a balance between explaining the mythologies as they are and interpreting them beyond whether for expression, exploration, or entertainment.

[@MrDshack]

Given his age, he probably would have been a teenage boy watching it first time round. Lucy Lawless' powers were strong on teenage boys! lol

[@akirebara]

@@MrDshack I'm a woman and I absolutely LOVED Xena. I was about 9 or 10 when I would yell Xena's battle cry all over the playground. I love Lucy Lawless so much.

[@cetterus]

He was being polite. It takes a lot of nerves but it can get you far. Like... making another episode on...games? If he spoke his mind without euphemisms- that would probably be adult content.

[@willdavis3802]

He also doesn't care about accuracy if it's a fact (if its something that is "important" - his words) should give you pause.

[@MrAdmitos]

''facts can be debated but stories don't..'', as an archaeologist i haven't found such a clueless professor, till now.

[@darkavenger666]

and it is clear that you did not understand what he ment by that...

[@SparkleLuna77]

Those Jason and the Argonauts skeletons scared the crap out of me as a child! I used to avoid cracks in the ground for years afterwards! 🤣

[@bobbobbington3615]

Proof that professors don't need to actually know anything.

[@George_5050]

All they need to know is The Message.

[@aidanjanemcintosh6919]

Please remember that Rubeus Hagrid was, too, a professor. But unlike this guy, Hagrid actually mastered his subject, except for some boundary problems.

[@danielessex2162]

Oh another one of those "College is for idiots people." Gonna tell us the reason you can't get a job is not your lack of education but DEI?

[@djbzwaxx421]

​@@aidanjanemcintosh6919 You shouldnt have said that. You should NOT have said that.

[@swanm3ta850]

@@bobbobbington3615 as if you’re more qualified…. 🤣🤣

[@mPrigipas13]

I'm a bit disappointed that out of the entire movie of Troy, the problem was the chariots. The whole movie has about 20% mythological accuracy. Fun movie though :)

[@xtxpxhx]

i think there was more in the first part...i mean, they probably didn't want to trash it, almost all of these movies share the same accuracy lol

[@youngtoonfish6891]

The thing is that the director/producer of the movie wanted to get it a bit more realistic and cut out the whole heros, halfgods and actual gods battling. And yeah, that’s about 80% of the whole Iliad 😅 But yeah, it is a great movie nonetheless. If I want accuracy to the myths, I just read the Iliad 🤷🏼‍♀️😄

[@Mastur_Bateman]

@@youngtoonfish6891 The film is made better by omitting most of the mythological aspects IMO... Reading the Iliad was one of the worst reading experiences I've ever had... nearly the entire book discusses military numbers and the relationships/allegiances/brief histories of the gods which made it a real slog (might as well look at a chart and read a Wikipedia article). On the other hand, the Odyssey was engaging and incorporated a good balance of narrative and mythology.

[@youngtoonfish6891]

@@Mastur_Bateman it is a hard read for sure, I enjoyed the Iliad, but that’s just me. The film did a really great job!

[@AEB1066]

@@Mastur_Bateman You forgot the page describing each warrior's weapons and armour in microscopic detail.

[@ungurmikael]

I'm amazed that of all the things to talk about in the Troy film he chose to talk about chariots

[@SaltyChickenDip]

Also he was wrong about it. "Uber for aristocrats" was a common use for chariots

[@1964QuietStorm]

In The Illiad Achilles was already dead when the Greeks sacked Troy. He was never in the Trojan Horse.

[@yanyanzhang5813]

The Trojan horse isn’t in the Iliad…

[@dylantennant6594]

Little off topic, but I find it very interesting how their is kind of a dichotomy between Greek and Hindu heroism. In Hindu mythology, the bow is kind of the greatest weapon. The main characters of the two major Hindu epics, Rama (The Raymana) and Arjuna (The Mahabharata), both use bows as their main weapons. The Raymana even goes into great detail describing the very real strength it takes to string a bow. It makes me wonder how Alexander’s men and the people of the Hindu-kush reacted to each others cultures just by their heroes.

[@h.mansari8802]

Makes sense then tha of all the Greek imports, the Indians took most to Heracles, who is a master of the bow. I N T E R E S T I N G

[@cv4809]

@@h.mansari8802 since bow is one of the most generic and widespread weapons, it really isn't that jnteresting

[@h.mansari8802]

@@cv4809 The bow is about as ubiquitous as a sword or axe, and yet stories and myths about both are still very interesting.

[@bartonbella3131]

I can't remember which channel it was on but there was a great comparison between Indian Theology and Christian Theology. I mean really compelling. Personally I've always felt time was cyclical maybe more of a loop roller coaster, UP and Down, Round and Round lol

[@AlekseyMaksimovichPeshkov]

Sorry, a little off-topic but did Ashoka, the ancient Indian king supposedly have immortal soldiers who could also conjure giant flying "cities" or saucers?

[@eros4434]

I’d love to hear his take on the story of Achilles and Patroclus!

[@danniantagonist]

Just two bros, living their lives.....

[@agentone8511]

woudlve rather hear about that or achilles' death than chariots

[@eros4434]

@@danniantagonist they were roommates

[@danniantagonist]

@@eros4434 🤣🤣🤣

[@SnidgetAsphodel]

If you haven't read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, do it. Such a great book.

[@Shrapnel82]

Take a shot every time Meineck says "Africa".

[@ChiquitaSpeaks]

He said it essentially 0 times in this video so we don’t really know what you’re even talking about

[@abrahamjackson6019]

I know hard to swallow. 😂

[@rnopcrer]

@@ChiquitaSpeaks he said it twice in passing and both times also mentioned another part of the world, what are these guys so mad about lol

[@ChiquitaSpeaks]

@@rnopcrer They are just completely engrossed in the practice of reacting to their most shallow fears (must be empowering to.. always be able to have that taken seriously)

[@ece2178]

this is why we keep mythology "experts" and historians separate, one spouts pseudo history made up in their heads and the rest dont.

[@ece2178]

@@jays-move8803 yes but he is talking about the "history" they reference, that is the point of the whole video, did you actually watch it or even read the title?

[@Baccanaso]

​@ece2178 he got the "history" wrong Atlantis wasn't an allegory for Phoenicians, it was towards the Minoans

[@swanm3ta850]

Herodotus and Plato said the same thing. I guess they were “pseudo” too…

[@debrickashaw9387]

8:57 the ruins of Troy is actually on the west coast of Turkey. Not in Greece

[@anonymussicarius8899]

I can´t take the professorship of someone serious who is oblivious to both the homeric "Battle Taxi" AND the mycenean style of chariot warfare. Of all the things that are to criticize about the epiction of warfare in TROY, he picks the one thing that is 100% in accordance to the story the film is based on. This is again an absolute disaster.

[@Dieter-Doeddel]

A professor of gender studies reviewing mythology in movies. What next? A vegan reviewing steakhouses?

[@danielessex2162]

Where tf do you get this Information?

[@Jauphrey]

@@danielessex2162 I think he's trying to make a joke...maybe? Or I guess discredit Dr. Meineck? Dr. Meineck indeed has a PHD in Classics and a BA in Ancient World Studies. I don't agree with everything he says, but it doesn't exactly present a compelling counter-argument by trying to claim he's a gender studies professor rather than countering any of his statements, but y'know, that's just me.

[@markenetube]

@@danielessex2162 He has a PhD in the Classics, does that count as a historian

[@hamsummer964]

So guys are so negative and arrogant … pure signs of ignorance.

[@hamsummer964]

You guys are so negative and arrogant …. Pure signs of ignorance!

[@beestings22]

I’d love to see his reaction to the actual Percy Jackson books if he ever read them, I think they do an even better adaptation of the concepts and themes of the myths than the movies ever did

[@AuthorZaraHoffman]

Agreed

[@canaisyoung3601]

The streaming series is supposed to be better and more faithful to the books, I've heard.

[@DaimonAnimations]

Spoiler alert, they don't.

[@valerashan6050]

I'm glad Peter could come back for part 2. I hope part 3 isn't too far away.

[@Mobik_]

Hopefully never in his entire life

[@TommyMclean-fv5cy]

I cant wait to here about how everyone in the ancient world was actually homosexual and how black people actually secretly invented everything lmao

[@CHarris1066]

Come back? Did he go to wakanda?

[@FrostbiteDigital]

By all means, enjoy your white guilt ridden professor

[@OLBarbok]

This guy loves having misinformation presented to him ^

[@giotto_4503]

This guy really loves Africa

[@silviazoppi7986]

He is a cuck.

[@docock3493]

This guy is a cuck who loves to see his wife banged (in Africa)

[@swanm3ta850]

Nah, he just lives the truth. You mad?

[@Gashshiningstar]

It's the cradle of civilization. Why get mad at the torch bearer?

[@abrahamjackson6019]

These people actually think ancient Greece was a European civilization. Amazing....

[@splint1872012]

Wow, this guy really just said that facts can be debated but myths can’t be debated

[@SapphirePrimrose]

That really took me back, he just completely swapped the definitions of those two words.

[@Drako9823]

*hackjob noises*

[@phoqueme]

Another thing about bows in Ancient Greece, it wasn't just considered dirty fighting but pretty much unmanly. It's one of the reasons why Paris was considered a coward and not manly enough, mainly cuz of his actions with Helen and his choice of the bow as a weapon, even though he was skilled with the bow.

[@kamion53]

bows were also pretty much a Persian thing, in their invasion of Greece they had Scythian cavalery in their troops It also remarkeble that at the Temple of Aphia Paris was depicted as a Scythian archer.

[@GeeBarone]

How do we take the association of heracles with a bow, or Odysseus and his test of strength with his bow?

[@AlekseyMaksimovichPeshkov]

@@GeeBarone yeah but they were used in practical settings: when they couldn't just walk over to something and beat it with a club or whatever like the Stymphalian birds or Helios

[@bacul165]

I'll forever be grateful to Xena and Hercules... In my final exam for my classics degree we got a Seneca play nobody had prepared for. Task included the question of later adaptations... And these series were enough to get me through! Apparently this prof isn't the only one who's got a soft spot for them.

[@B-A-L]

Jason and the Argonauts is still the best Ancient Greek Myth movie ever made and the pinnacle of stop go motion thanks to the genius of Ray Harryhausen and it is still way better than the terrible remake of Clash of the Titans that proves CGI will never be better than proper special effects! Talos still sends shivers down my spine every time I watch the movie and those living skeletons are a masterpiece in stop go animation!

[@derhak727]

Lets not forget the original clash of the titans with stop motion. I think i watched that everyday of my childhood

[@B-A-L]

@@derhak727 Oh I didn't forget it but I don't think it was quite as good as Jason was. If I remember correctly it was also the last movie Ray Harryhausen ever worked on.

[@leapintothewild]

I grew up watching the Sinbad movies in the 70s, wore out a VHS set of his movies, just freaking love Harryhausen!! Can't stand horror and gore, but give me a creepy rowing minotaur or a skeleton soldier any day.

[@JR47846]

Best part about this idiotic "professor" is that we get a Metatron video

[@brightphoebesays]

Xena's a great show with many mythological stories/references. Often campy, but also frequently deep and moving. Usually not as cheap looking as this clip. Great for pagans.

[@Gabryal77]

to bad Sorbo is sometimes in it. He's one of the worst actors in the history of film

[@brightphoebesays]

@@Gabryal77 Oh. I don't know why you you say that. I enjoy his appearances. I have the episodes of Hercules where Xena's character was introduced. I find Iolas a bit irritating, but now and then you get some of the grist of his character as well. I guess Sorbo just grates on you for personal reasons. We all have those!

[@everythingisawesome23]

When i saw the percy jackson movie sea of monsters, i tot he was gonna rip this movie to shreds( due to how inaccurate and horrible it was). However he kinda gave a new perspective on the stories. Really enjoy this episode.good job

[@tadious9415]

Yeah I'm glad he mentioned the books since they did a far better job of showing love for the original myths while not being loyal to them still pulling a lot of those elements.

[@nathanielwilcox4947]

He said they are not accurate to the myths, which is kind of untrue they mention the myths all the time Herakles fough this, and killed it this way, Odysseus ran into this and had to do this to get out of it. I think it could be argued they are quite accurate.

[@tadious9415]

@@nathanielwilcox4947 Yeah that's true it is telling its own stories that are similar to the myths but different while being accurate to the original myths as things that happened in world history.

[@itslilyquinn]

We don't really talk about the Peter Johnson movies. They didn't follow the plot of the book well, or get the personalities of the characters right either. The Percy Jackson books are meant to retell myths a bit to fit a more modern standpoint.

[@AlekseyMaksimovichPeshkov]

@@itslilyquinn AAnd pg as well, making the gods a little more decent than how they are portrayed in the myths and also giving demigod children to Athenea and Hades which is not at all accurate to these characters and in fact ruins there personalities: Hades , despite being the god of the Underworld was faithful to his wife Persephone and Athena is suppose to be a virgin; yeah, I know: the books give a crappy explanation to how it works Parrell with the Athena birth story (which doesnt make sense actually because Athena wasnt a virgin birth: her mother was Metis whom Zeus eatan to avoid a prophecy) but still

[@jaymontealegre143]

Mythology Expert: A Hydra (Heedra) is a many headed creature that is associated with water. I, who’s been pronouncing it as “Hi-dra”: my whole life was a lie?

[@estherowl8075]

yeah it's kinda heuuudra if you look at the Greek

[@rubyb7252]

this entire time just listening to him properly pronounce the names and I'm like lol so that's how you say it😝😂

[@PeloquinDavid]

English vowels have been a bit weird for a good number of centuries now (even compared to other Germanic languages). "EE-dra" is pretty much the classic Latinate pronunciation (i.e. how Romance languages pronounce it, more or less) and even modern Greek doesn't use the aspirated "h" - and hasn't for the better part of two millennia. Most people just pronounce the word in the conventional way of the language they speak today. Anything else just sounds a bit... well, pretentious?

[@dimissgiaz5619]

in greek its pronounced eedra

[@liamwashington6841]

In classical Greek it's closer to Hoo-dra

[@Mobik_]

Remember kids, this is an ACTIVIST dresses as "professor"

[@aarengraves9962]

He isn't even a historian... this must be a joke.

[@brunogalvez9644]

@@aarengraves9962 well, george washington was inspired by the dances of african people for his presidenship

[@cmasad1]

And you’re an incel acting like you know what you’re talking about. I can tell you’re not a professor just by the way you spell in one sentence.

[@danielessex2162]

I don't think you know what you are saying

[@AjenjoAnejo]

Grifter is what he is

[@tomtruyens9804]

"Mythology Expert." "Duels in the Iliad? How silly!"

[@viriane]

Would be really keen to see Peter explain some Greek based video games. Assassins Creed Odyssey would be so cool since Kassandra’s story is a nice interpretation of demi gods. She’s a descendent of Leonidas and the powers you can unlock for her are very godlike. One quest even has a battle royal theme to it which is super intriguing. There’s also great expansions based on Persia and Atlantis. Also includes lots about Sparta and Athens in the main story line. And really interesting quests fighting Medusa, the Minotaur etc… I loved playing it!! Greek video games would be great for Peter to dig deeper into. I am so here for all the Greek mythology videos btw 🙌🏽

[@griffionwyvrus9063]

This is why I love the Fate Franchise, though warning they mostly genderbent some famous characters. But some facts are actually fascinating, like the connection between the Greek Mythology and the Arthurian Legend because of the Trojan War and the Roman Empire, and the Leonidas being the descendant of the Great Hero Heracles who himself is a descendant of Perseusm

[@B-A-L]

I'd like Peter to explain why there is even a female Spartan warrior in AC Odyssey in the first place!

[@bytefu]

"Hades" is great too.

[@FrostbiteDigital]

I hope you realize this professor is completely wrong on almost every topic he covers. Metatron destroyed this dude

[@Drako9823]

I would really love to see Peter take an actual mythology and reading class first.

[@firtazile8035]

Yeah, no.

[@seriliaykilel]

He cracked me up with Xena- 100% inaccurate but also fantastic

[@CMAlongi]

"I have no idea what that was, but it was fantastic." Me with all of mythology.

[@PatriciaHoferMsPattiMarc]

Jason and the Argonauts will forever be one of my favourite movies! It scared the living daylights out of me when I was younger but I love it!

[@patrickhochleitner7754]

That was one dissapointing Troy analysis

[@frankjennings4489]

Of course the chariots were a callback to ancient warfare in Anatolia. That's not a maybe. Troy was in Anatolia and the Iliad was set in the bronze age when chariot warfare was the defining feature of battles in the Near East. I'm sure this guy knows that, probably just slipped his mind.

[@ahriman935]

He clearly said that they should either have used only infantry or made it an all chariot fight, which is exactly on point. I think what he meant was to explain why the movie writers at all bothered with throwing a chariot here and there.

[@frankjennings4489]

@@ahriman935 That would all be true. I just thought it was funny the way he said "Maybe this is calling back to x". It would be like watching Ford v Ferrari, and saying, "You know, I think this scene right here might be calling back to the feud between Ford and Ferrari in the sixties", as if it's that's not already obvious, especially for someone like him. I don't blame him though. Nobody's going to do an off-the-cuff commentary like this and execute it perfectly.

[@SaltyChickenDip]

​@@ahriman935the guy was wrong about chariots. They were used like "Uber for aristocrats" in history. Like he was complaining about. He's a drama professor not a historian. And not military related.

[@lordabdul]

Professor Meineck's review of Xena Warrior Princess is absolutely perfect.

[@jessieGreyJedi]

right

[@Tareltonlives]

Like Disney's Hercules or Jason and the Argonauts it's not remotely accurate and very silly but it's so much fun.

[@bigp6065]

absolutely not!

[@DaimonAnimations]

"Mythology Expert" More like Fantasy Expert. Doesn't know mythology but claims to know it. and American education continues to rot.

[@abhinavbhattarai4714]

This man found something actually positive about the PJO movies, ya love to see it.

[@ItsEricaBeyetch]

Why wouldn't they show a relevant scene of Xena? Like when Hades or Aphrodite or minotaur was depicted?

[@sarat.1744]

Agreed. Or Ares or Athena. But hey, at least he said Xena was fantastic anyway. ✌

[@G0DLIKE92]

I don’t care how much crap Troy gets it’s still one of my favorites! I still watch it 2-3 times a year. Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, everyone is perfectly casted imo. I wish that Sean Bean could’ve had a sequel for the Odyssey directed by Wolfgang again. I can dream lol

[@stephencooper7459]

That's a good shout that. He's maybe bit old now but a younger bean would have perfect. 👍

[@xtxpxhx]

even Orlando Bloom as Paris.. he's perfect for it

[@JamesRDavenport]

When I first heard about Troy way back when, I thought "this sounds like a fan dream or Producer's Chair game movie pitch." Yet, it actually happened. And it was everything we thought it would be. The last of the Sword'n'Sandal Hollywood epics.

[@stephencooper7459]

@@JamesRDavenport they did find evidence for it that's true. . interesting doc I watched years ago on ☺️

[@BarryHart-xo1oy]

I know what you mean-“Troy” is a lovely and moving film.

[@wyvern723]

Well, at least Xena/Heracles didn't depicted Hades as a devil. That's more accurate than a lot of Greek myth media.

[@meganhanrath376]

I need "that was very strange and I have lots of feeling about it" on a t-shirt. Stat.

[@chaitanyaraj8700]

I am so glad there is a part 2 now. Incredibly informative.

[@everythingisawesome23]

the guy actually praise the percy jackson movie, that is something i could nvr do

[@isaurak6693]

I remember I used to be really into Greek and Roman mythology, so interesting

[@vamsterr]

I want a 2 hour per session series with this amazing man! All Day I could listen to him talk about mythology! Amazing speaker! I love the view of modern takes on ancient myths and that it's about the story and not about being supposedly accurate to some original version. Thanks for getting such an amazing person on the show!

[@TheAbstruseOne]

"Myths are the most relevant things because facts can be debated, interpreted, and argued over. But if you tell a story...you're trying to communicate something important to that person." I'm just going to assume that Professor Meineck has never been on the internet a day in his life if he thinks people don't argue over the meaning behind stories.

[@rootkite]

He's also missing the point that he himself is telling the common story that "Atlantis [or something like it] wasn't real" -- despite probably not giving ancient sources credence or searching every cubic km of the Atlantic Ocean to prove said story. The professor's knowledge and analysis are top notch, but he also clearly feels quite alright about claiming something about prehistory that cannot at present be disproven. Not surprising, but it's still a slightly depressing attitude. In my mind, a good scientist is always agnostic about the seemingly impossible or improbable.

[@TheAbstruseOne]

@@rootkite The "ancient source" was a second-hand account of a story Socrates claims he heard at a dinner party as written by Plato which was an allegory for the ethics of a society and culture that wasn't meant to be taken literally in the first place. While we have not searched every single cubic kilometer of the Atlantic Ocean, we have mapped enough of the ocean to know there was not a sunken city-state the size of Texas hiding down there. There is not and never was an Atlantis. Also, aliens did not build anything on Earth, orichalcum was either misidentified bronze or platinum, and the Bermuda Triangle only has a bunch of plane crashes and shipwrecks because it's a high traffic area so of course it has more accidents than other places.

[@rootkite]

@@TheAbstruseOne Thanks for the reply. I recognize that you have also already made up your mind, and I respect that :) I guess I personally feel that I don't know enough about prehistoric civilizations or modern investigative methods to relinquish my doubt, so I feel obliged to give all takes a chance, including but not limited to the official one. This thought process of mine isn't limited to seemingly paranormal or invented topics. If I believe in anything related to this reasoning as such, it's that we have very likely forgotten a great deal about our past as a species.

[@TheAbstruseOne]

@@rootkite So you say *I* have already made up my mind while at the same time admitting that you "don't know enough" yet refute the conclusion of every single non-tinfoil-hat-wearing expert in the field?

[@rootkite]

@@TheAbstruseOne Sure :) I haven't refuted anything or even tried to, and I'm not here to argue, and I'm not trying to sell you anything. All I'm saying is I find open-mindedness important (but that the brain shouldn't fall out either, as Sagan put it). Maybe I didn't like the professor's turn of phrase in this video, that's all; it isn't hard to tack on an "as far as we know" to the end of a sentence. But I immediately regret replying at all :D All the best.

[@Plasticplas1]

4:52 We studided this film as part of a classics on screen classics course. It was probably my favourite one.

[@ashalenarua8452]

Side note: in Percy Jackson her name is Thalia, not Talia. The subtitles got that wrong.

[@brennerc180]

Isn’t that pronounced Talia, rather like Anthony is pronounced Antony? Or is the “th” sound in her name actually pronounced?

[@gurlllwut3555]

well they pronounced it wrong so it's not the fault of whoever did the subtitling

[@JohnnyJoe]

"Professor of Classics in modern world". Let me translate. It basically tells us that he is not classics professor, he is professor of modernity looking at classics. His job is to apply modern standards on people who died thousands of years ago and have no say in court of modern morality.

[@SinLord101]

Xena the Warrior Princess was indeed fantastic

[@Ronariverah]

Xena is based on discovered scrolls written by some man called Gabrielle.

[@jessieGreyJedi]

i am a xenite

[@crunchykevlar]

Professor? Don't make us laugh

[@snbks4ever]

Well nothing wrong with learning that I've pronounced Hydra wrong my whole life. Great video, more of this please

[@ASMRDevourer]

@@abby5533 minor tower

[@sarammauricio]

@@abby5533 I have good news to you: you haven't been pronouncing it wrong - both ways are correct!

[@sarammauricio]

@Sean Brooks I mean, 'High-dra' is the correct English pronunciation, according to the OED. I believe Professor Meineck is just pronouncing it closer to the way the Greeks (and Romans, for that matter) would have said it.

[@VitriolicThunder]

@@sarammauricio In Koine Greek, yes, but in the Classical and Homeric Greek it would be closer to Heu-dra. Polymathy has a great video about it.

[@MellonVegan]

@@VitriolicThunder Actually, it should be pronounced like the letter Ü in some languages bc the word hydra literally begins with the Greek equivalent of that letter. Definitely not a diphthong

[@hekatenone3234]

really weird at the end where he kept talking about a 'percy jackson movie'? and the space where they were supposedly showing the scene was just empty? (also, yes, totally agree that PJ's take on the myths not being entirely accurate is often kind of point. they go through the motions and history repeats itself, but at the same time the setting has changed so much that it can't be identical)

[@nathanielwilcox4947]

What movies? While the setting is diffrent osvioysly they reference the myths a lot. Annabeth give Percy (and us the audience), contexts to the myths: oh hey Herakles fought the Stymphalion birds and defeated them witth brass bells that sort of thing. While the setting changes thry still give atleast a decent t understanding of Greek Mythology.

[@kippesnikkel5217]

I think you cut Troy out way to short. Only making a thing out of chariots. What about Hector? Achilles? Even the trojans fighting with tower shields and Aeneas at the end depicting the roman myth that the trojans are their ancestors? Even Xena got more attention.

[@mooncat7009]

thanks to people like this we now get called racists if we don’t agree that every historical movie about EUROPE is incomplete without a bunch of black people being in it… great… thanks dude…

[@ashleylee2388]

I’m glad he brought up Atlantis I was blown away when I found out Plato was the only one who talks about it

[@EatingThoseBeans]

I can excuse most inaccuracies in Troy, but I draw the line at Achilles being straight

[@Σωφροσύνη-ξ8σ]

Achilles not being in a romantic relationship with Patroklos is not inaccurate in the slightest, there were no signs of any such relationship in the actual Iliad or Odyssey.

[@zerionis]

@@Σωφροσύνη-ξ8σ keep telling yourself that bro

[@Σωφροσύνη-ξ8σ]

@@zerionis I don't have to tell myself, the Iliad and Odyssey tell it for me. If you really disagree, would you be so kind as to give a citation to the opposite?

[@zerionis]

@@Σωφροσύνη-ξ8σ he loved him more than his own life. Also that their bones are interred together. Shows a pretty deep bond, and judging by the commonality of homosexual relationships in the ancient world, it’s pretty likely. Will we ever really know? No, but to say there’s no signs whatsoever is just disingenuous.

[@Σωφροσύνη-ξ8σ]

Sorry for the wall of text 😅

[@AdarshKumar-nj7rp]

I think blood sacrifices were meant as a symbol of selflessness, giving up something you deeply desire for the greater good. When I say that my parents "sacrificed" for me, I meant them devoting their time and money on me over their own needs. This doesn't mean getting killed in a ceremony to impress a deity.

[@AlekseyMaksimovichPeshkov]

Yeah wasn’t human sacrifice and cannibalism like, the two only actual taboos in Greek Mythology? That and human incest as well?

[@chaneygolden3278]

absolutely love hearing this guy’s knowledge on the subject, keep bringing him back

[@hydrolito]

Hydra might be inspired by octopus, and they confused it's tentacles with heads like snakes, if tentacle broke off it will grows another one. If defeat actual head you defeat octopus.

[@AlekseyMaksimovichPeshkov]

Are other many headed monsters in greek mythology also inspired by the same thing? Like the Hundred-Handed giants or Scylla?

[@livestreamgaming420]

About time they cover Xena or Hercules the Legendary Journeys

[@heldane778]

Wow, there's a part 2 of this horror show? Ugh

[@ravenmills7777]

What got me in the movie Troy, where the appaloosas used in some scenes 😂

[@bYAQUER]

I love Xena too. Also, please make a Part 3 and 4 and maybe 5,6,7,8,9,10? 🥺

[@Jeskrist5]

Xena was the bomb in the 90s. Y'all need to watch

[@VirtousStoic]

PETER WELCOME BACK YAY WE LOVE YOU💜. THANKS VANITY FOR BRINGING HIM BACK

[@VirtousStoic]

It's funny superman Henry C is so small muscle in this movie

[@rubenrodriguez3013]

🤣LOL! Xena. "Yeah I have no idea what that was but it was fantastic." 👍

[@25taylor91]

11:38 this guy really say Myth are more objective than facts? Lol

[@davidhanson5391]

7:14 "Yeah, I have no idea what that was, but it was fantastic" lmao

[@alimon89]

Totally mind blown on the Spartan commentary. I had never realized they were an unsustainable culture.

[@HistorysRaven]

The biggest reason they became a militaristic society was due to the number of slaves in Sparta.

[@juttamaier2111]

Unsustainable for 400 years...

[@SifSehwan]

On today's episode of Ancient Aliens... This guy should start his own show, he is just as incompetent.

[@todayisforever]

one thing that always was strange for my with the Movie "Troy" was that Achilles was depited as straight...... yeah sure thats how Homer told it *eyeroll*

[@tiyow]

MATE!! I LOVE THIS GUY, THANKS FOR HAVING HIM AGAIN

[@FrostbiteDigital]

This guy is a complete moron

[@thomasbones7973]

I’m Greek. Leave us alone, every sentence you utter is an insult to us. How about showing some respect and stop talking about things that you don’t belong to and know nothing about?

[@danielessex2162]

Ok, dude, then don't speak of him because you aren't him, nor do you "belong" (whatever tf that means)..... oh can't practice what you preach?

[@haydencarn8737]

@@danielessex2162 You are just as much of an idiot as the guy in the video, since you seem to have missed the whole point.

[@IonicSarge]

@@danielessex2162he’s Greek if anyone has a say on his culture it’s him. He does belong, and can absolutely critique this embarrassment of a professor

[@あきら-j2m]

​@@danielessex2162 that "professor" ain't gonna f with you. Stop defending him, you ride his d too much

[@HoldinContempt]

@@danielessex2162 Hes Greek. The exact racial ethnicity that this racist professor has targeted and denigrated.

[@semikolondev]

This is supposed to an Expert? Is this your fokin Education in NA?...this is insane. Pure revisionism and cherry picking information.

[@kaiberuss]

everyone talking about finding atlantis, meanwhile the netherlands is a country that is like 75% under sea level and are pretty high on the list of alot of stuff, so i always make the joke that the netherlands is just atlantis

[@ulvegutten2056]

Vanity professor for sure.

[@Ninztime]

About his love for Xena: same man!

[@fairdose]

Oh man! I would love to see Peter do a video discussion on just Ray Harryhausen films!

[@Kr1sset]

The bird in Xena was likely a Roc. Something a mythology expert should know...

[@VirtousStoic]

Peter you are a true scholar. You talk with such confidence and ease. You are a role model historian/scholar/professor. Thank you for inviting him back. Vanity fair I like your content more than GQ who has a similar series. Much respect to you. I have never learned so much in your videos or GQs like this one. Really ty Peter for coming

[@datboiderrty]

Watches xena: I have no idea what that was but that was fantastic

[@PatriciaHoferMsPattiMarc]

I love that he loves Xena: Warrior Princess!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@donnguyen1107]

well obviously there's gotta be a chariot in that scene with Achilles vs Hector for the part when Achilles actually drags hector's body with it.

[@mischalecterTV]

Please never bring this "professor" back.

[@SeekingFreedom369]

Yes because we hate anything that may question our beliefs 😂

[@Arthur-pc1eh]

@@SeekingFreedom369 No, more like he makes up new beliefs and gets wrong historical facts like chariots...

[@bravosierra2447]

Lord Menelaus: “Take me to the battlefield” Charioteer: “Please rate my service”

[@pibbles9]

Ooof. He said “we have the myth of the American dream” 😅😭 He’s not lying!

[@MARYWTHER]

"I had no idea what that was but it was fantastic" YES, THAT'S XENA FOR YA

[@Stirlingsays]

This guy should be sacked along with whoever employed him.

[@DrasticSkuba]

I cannot believe they doubled-down on this dude 😂😂 He is a lying hypocrite and the fact he is a professor at any educational institute is a tragedy

[@mushfiquefahim141]

I don't know why people need to pretend that Troy isn't a fantastic, thoroughly enjoyable film.

[@Mastur_Bateman]

Mythology snobs who enjoy heavily fantasized depictions I would presume? ... I believe that "Troy" turns a relatively boring book into an engaging film.

[@pagedavis8940]

“ that was very strange actually and I have many feelings about it” might be the best phrase ever!

[@XtremelySkepticalBirb]

Remember this dude is not a historian, he is a theater dude, take what he says with a grain of salt as most of what he has said in both videos are false or stated through political bias