Meta Description: Join Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe in Ad Navseam Episode 153 as they explore the Hellenistic Ephebeia, Chinese musical philosophy, and resources to master the Latin language.
Introduction: Evening Climes and Paradise Lost
Welcome back, classical gourmands, to Episode 153 of the Ad Navseam Podcast! Broadcasting directly from the subterranean depths of the bunker, your hosts, Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle, return to the microphones.
Recording in the evening climes, the hosts note their preference for this rhythm over their brief, failed attempts at hosting a “wacky morning zoo” radio show, complete with squeezable horns and an array of ridiculous sound effects. Jeff admits he is surviving the humid, swampy summer weather through the strategic deployment of air conditioning and endless cold washcloths, preferring to relax on his front porch with his wife rather than bake in the afternoon sun. Dave relates to this heat aversion, recalling how the brutal, baking temperatures on the streets of Rome near Trajan’s Column nearly killed him during a summer visit.
This talk of summer prompts Dave to share a story from a 25th-anniversary trip he and Mrs. Noe took to Las Vegas in 2021. Attempting to play niche casino games like Crapless Craps, High Point, Hazard, Bank of Francesca, and Sic Bo, Dave found himself losing heavily and feeling entirely disconnected from the gaming table. Desperate for guidance, he called the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline, only for the late country singer Kenny Rogers to answer the phone in a Houston drawl. Kenny Rogers informed Dave that the reason he was losing was that he hadn’t actually seen the white cubes with black dots in weeks. Delivering an elaborate, convoluted punchline, Dave realizes it was simply a “paradise lost” (pair of dice lost). Jeff groans, acknowledging that the sheer length of the setup made the literary pun—employing John Milton’s classic—even more absurd.
Music, Ethos, and Chinese Philosophy
The primary academic focus of Episode 153 resumes the podcast’s journey through Henri-Irénée Marrou’s A History of Education in Antiquity. The hosts dive into Chapter II of the second part, exploring the firm establishment of Hellenistic educational institutions.
Before tackling the Greeks, Jeff introduces an article by Yuhen Wang from the Spring 2004 Journal of Aesthetic Education, titled “The Ethical Power of Music: Ancient Greek and Chinese Thoughts”. Jeff notes the historical parallel between 5th-century BC Athens and ancient China, marveling that foundational figures like Socrates, Confucius, and the Buddha all existed within a remarkably tight chronological bracket of a few centuries.
Wang’s article highlights that both Greek and Chinese cultures spanning from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD recognized music’s power over a person’s ethos (human disposition). Both ancient societies viewed music not merely as acoustic entertainment, but as a crucial tool for cultivating the youth and controlling the citizens of a nation-state.
The Ephebeia: Franchising Athenian Education
Returning to Marrou’s text, the hosts focus on the institution of the Ephebeia. Originally serving as an Athenian military training program for young men aged 14 to 21, the Ephebeia transformed drastically during the Hellenistic era. Following the conquests of Alexander the Great, Athens lost its political and military supremacy. However, it maintained a firm grip on its status as the intellectual and cultural capital of the world.
Consequently, the Athenian educational system was exported across the vast new territories of the Mediterranean. From Cyrene and Crete to Chios and Apollonia, local cities eagerly adopted the Ephebeia. Jeff compares this cultural exportation to modern corporate franchising. While each local institution possessed its own distinct regional flavor, the overarching structure remained identical. Much like television programs such as Sesame Street or Barney provided a shared cultural touchstone for modern American children, the Ephebeia gave Greek-speaking youth a universal, unifying experience, allowing them to study Homer and athletics regardless of their geographic location.
Athletics, Social Cachet, and Abner Doubleday
As the Ephebeia spread throughout the Hellenistic world, its curriculum fundamentally shifted. Because Hellenistic armies increasingly relied on lower-class mercenaries to fight their wars, aristocratic young men no longer trained explicitly for combat. Instead, the intense physical regimens of the past devolved into playing at military maneuvers and participating in recreational sports. The military character of the training retreated, replaced by an aristocratic cultivation of the sporting life.
In places like Roman Egypt, this sporting life became the defining mark of civilization. Participating in the gymnasium separated the cultured, aristocratic Greeks from the native Copts, whom the elites dismissed as barbarians. Winning athletic contests provided immense social cachet, allowing certain privileged men to append the title “old gymnasium boys” to their names on official documents.
This discussion regarding the cultural elevation of sports prompts a brief tangent regarding the origins of modern games. Discussing Erik Larson’s book The Demon of Unrest, the hosts note that Abner Doubleday—a minor military hero at Fort Sumter during the American Civil War—famously did not invent baseball, despite the persistent American myth that placed the sport’s genesis and the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Much like baseball evolved organically from English games without a single founder, the aristocratic sports of the Hellenistic Ephebeia evolved away from their martial roots into enduring symbols of social elitism.
The Gymnasiarch: Administration is King
To oversee these sprawling educational institutions, the Hellenistic state appointed specific Ephebic magistrates. The Gymnasiarch (and the Cosmetes) ruled from on high. Marrou points out that these officials did not actually teach the students; rather, they acted strictly as administrators. Their primary responsibility was organizing public processions and ensuring the young men behaved in a dignified manner that brought credit to the city.
The hosts note this ancient dynamic mirrors modern universities. In both the ancient Ephebeia and contemporary higher education, “the dean rules everything”. The administration acts as king, far removed from the actual pedagogical instruction occurring in the classroom, yet commanding the institutional authority and the budget. The episode concludes the Marrou segment with a promise to cover Carl Richard’s The Golden Age of Classics in America in a future installment.
Sponsors: Fueling the Classical Renaissance
Before sharing the parting shot, the hosts extend their gratitude to the sponsors keeping the bunker operational.
- Ratio Coffee: Dave recently spent a week performing pour-overs the old-fashioned way after loaning his Ratio 6 machine to Jeff, an experience that made him appreciate his flagship Ratio 8 even more. The hosts are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of the Ratio 4, the first affordable, beautiful, half-batch pour-over machine. Founder Mark Helweg encourages users to buy fresh beans from their local roaster and let the sleek Ratio 4 brew the perfect cup. Visit ratiocoffee.com and check out these magnificent machines.
- Hackett Publishing: With offices in Indianapolis and Cambridge, Hackett Publishing has been in business for 53 years. They remain dedicated to keeping the literary flame alive, offering a diverse catalog that spans from Asian and South American studies to standard Greco-Roman texts. Dave notes that instead of complaining about the state of modern education and cursing the darkness, listeners should whistle a tune and buy a book. Build a personal library at hackettpublishing.com and use the code AN2024 to receive a 20% discount and free shipping on your entire order.
- LatinPerDiem & MossMethod: For listeners inspired to master the Latin language and ancient Greek, Dave offers tailored educational solutions. Visit mossmethod.com to go from neophyte to erudite in Greek. The program is currently running a special where you can purchase modules one and two together at a discounted rate. Alternatively, explore latinperdiem.com/llpsi to tackle Hans Ørberg’s Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata, a brilliant textbook that teaches Latin in Latin.
The Gustatory Parting Shot
To officially close out Episode 153, Jeff delivers a Gustatory Parting Shot to bookend their earlier discussion of Chinese philosophy.
Courtesy of the ancient philosopher Confucius, Jeff offers this highly specific piece of dietary advice:
“Stop eating when seven-tenths full.”
The hosts immediately question the strict math of the ancient proverb. Jeff wonders what happens if he stops at 69%, while Dave warns that hitting 71% is a severe violation, joking, “Back off, fella, you’re out of the school!” Jeff admits he can generally sense when he is half-full or entirely stuffed, but precisely nailing the 70% mark remains an elusive, philosophical mystery.A special thanks goes out to Mishka the sound engineer, as well as musicians Ken Tamplin and Scott Van Zen for their continued generosity. Check out the “Lurch with Merch” section on the website to pick up a QVAE NOCENT DOCENT t-shirt, beware of losing your dice in Vegas, and keep taking in the classics. Valete!
