The Rest Is History

The Trojan War, with Mary Beard

October 9, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The four-part bonus series featuring Mary Beard and Tom Holland will cover the Trojan War, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Gladiators & Spartacus. 
  • The Trojan War is considered foundational to Greek and Roman self-identity, influencing debates on war morality, heroism, and occupying the fuzzy boundary between myth and history. 
  • The immediate cause of the Trojan War, as narrated in this segment, stems from the goddess Eris (Discord) initiating a beauty contest among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, which Paris of Troy judged in favor of Aphrodite in exchange for Helen. 

Segments

Introduction to Bonus Series
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(00:00:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Tom Holland and Mary Beard are collaborating on four episodes covering iconic ancient history themes.
  • Summary: Tom Holland introduces a collaboration with Mary Beard to present four episodes on iconic themes in ancient history. The first topic covered is the Trojan War. Future episodes are scheduled for Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Gladiators & Spartacus.
Setting and Guest Introduction
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(00:00:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The recording took place at Leighton House in Kensington, London, a venue chosen for its grand, classical, and Arabic aesthetic.
  • Summary: The recording location is Leighton House in Kensington, described as a grand house with classical and Arabic touches. Tom Holland expresses deep gratitude to Mary Beard, noting she was the first person to read his manuscript for the book Rubicon.
Mary Beard’s Works and Series Plan
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(00:01:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary Beard has authored popular books on subjects including the Parthenon, Pompeii, and the Caesars.
  • Summary: Mary Beard is recognized for her popular books on classical history, including works on the Parthenon, Pompeii, and the Caesars, alongside her academic studies. The plan for the four-part series is to cover two Greek and two Roman topics.
Selection of Iconic Subjects
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(00:02:30)
  • Key Takeaway: The four chosen subjects—Trojan War, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Gladiators/Spartacus—are characterized by conflict and occupy the boundary between myth and history.
  • Summary: The four selected subjects are the Trojan War, Alexander the Great (with some reservation from Beard), Julius Caesar, and Gladiators/Spartacus. These topics are noted for being masculine, involving conflict, and blurring the lines between verifiable history and myth.
Myth vs. History Exploration
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(00:03:42)
  • Key Takeaway: A central theme of the series is exploring how much we know about ancient events and whether strict historical truth matters when mythical aspects shape civilization.
  • Summary: The fascination in ancient history often lies in the uncertainty of what actually happened, as the mythical aspects can be more important than strict factual accuracy. Mary Beard’s trademark skepticism is anticipated to challenge the narrative, though Tom Holland expects her to enhance the storytelling.
Cultural Significance of Trojan War
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(00:04:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Greek and Roman civilization’s self-perception is deeply rooted in the Trojan War narrative, which indirectly links to the foundation of Rome via the Trojan hero Aeneas.
  • Summary: The Trojan War is crucial because the Greeks and Romans used it to debate the morality and cost of warfare and the nature of heroism. Aeneas, a Trojan warrior, fled the conflict to found the Roman race in Italy, establishing a direct link between the myth and Roman origins.
Origin Story of the War
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(00:05:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The conflict began with the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, where the goddess Eris introduced a golden apple inscribed ’to the most fair’ (Calliste), sparking a divine dispute.
  • Summary: The narrative begins with the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, parents of Achilles. Eris, the goddess of Discord, was intentionally uninvited and retaliated by tossing a golden apple inscribed ’to the most fair’ into the party. This led to Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite squabbling over ownership.
The Judgment of Paris
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(00:07:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, was chosen to judge the goddesses, ultimately selecting Aphrodite after she bribed him with the promise of the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen.
  • Summary: Paris was tasked with adjudicating the dispute among the three goddesses. Hera offered power, and Athena offered wisdom, but Paris chose Aphrodite because her bribe—Helen—was the most desirable. This act set the stage for the war.
The Catalyst for War
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(00:08:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The Greeks had a prior agreement that if Helen, wife of Menelaus, was taken by another, all Greek kings would unite to retrieve her.
  • Summary: Paris took Helen back to Troy as his trophy bride, and the Trojans refused to return her. This triggered the pre-existing pact among the Greek leaders to support Menelaus and launch a unified campaign to recover Helen, initiating the ten-year war.