Entirely Unofficial Rest is History Catalogue and Interrogator

Mythic & Legendary

32 Episodes 11 Series 111 Figures 12 Events 132 Books 1 Authors

The Mythic & Legendary era treats stories from the mythic past through classical antiquity and medieval legend, examining origins, transmission, and cultural afterlives. Content includes a multi-episode Atlantis series situating the myth in Plato’s dialogues and later geopolitics; a October–November 2025 bonus interview series with Mary Beard on figures like Julius Caesar, Alexander and Spartacus; multi-episode Greek myths and Helen of Troy series exploring Zeus, the Theogony, Homeric traditions, Schliemann’s archaeology and Helen’s portrayals; and a playful World Cup of Gods tournament of defunct deities. Episodes cover Troy, Robin Hood, ancient monsters, Roman conspiracies and Q&A material. Discussed figures and events include Gawain, Rama, Clytemnestra, King David, the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Founding of Carthage (814 BC), Cleisthenes’ reforms, the Resurrection of Jesus, Philistine capture of the Ark, the Massacre of the Innocents, and the Battle of Badon. Recommended texts referenced include Plato’s Critias, T. H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus, Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda and Andersen’s The Nightingale.

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Episodes Series Figures Events Books Authors

Episodes by year

Showing 12 of 32

2026

8 episodes

King Arthur: The Mysteries of Merlin (Part 3)

King Arthur · Part 3

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine Geoffrey of Monmouth’s influential creation of Merlin and the Arthurian story…

King Arthur: Lancelot and the Round Table (Part 2)

King Arthur · Part 2

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore how Chrétien de Troyes made Lancelot and his adulterous devotion to Guinevere…

King Arthur: The Once & Future King (Part 1)

King Arthur · Part 1

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the legend of King Arthur’s final battle, death and possible return, using Si…

King Arthur: The Truth Behind the Legend (Part 4)

King Arthur · Part 4

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine the sparse and disputed evidence for a historical King Arthur. They scrutiniz…

Tom Holland Meets Tom Holland + The Odyssey Review

In this Rest Is History members‑only special, the host (Dominic Sandbrook) interviews actor Tom Holland about Christoph…

The Odyssey: Return of the King (Part 2)

The Odyssey · Part 2

In this episode of The Rest Is History the hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook continue their deep‑dive into Homer'…

The Odyssey: Hero of the Trojan Horse (Part 1)

The Odyssey · Part 1

In this episode Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore Homer's epic The Odyssey, using a dramatic reading by Russell…

Dawn of the Samurai: Japan’s Greatest Warrior (Part 3)

Dawn of the Samurai · Part 3

In this episode of The Rest Is History, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the legendary 12th‑century clash betw…

2025

4 episodes

RIHC: Iconic Episodes, Unforgettable Heroes, and History’s Greatest Apples

This special episode, recorded in Sydney to mark the podcast being named Apple’s 2025 Show of the Year, features hosts …

The Trojan War, with Mary Beard - FULL EPISODE

Bonus Interviews with Mary Beard · Part 1

Tom Holland interviews classicist Mary Beard at Leighton House about the Trojan War and its place between myth and hist…

Greek Myths: Sex, Drugs & Tragedy (Part 3)

Greek Myths · Part 3

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss Euripides' The Bacchae and the strange, violent cult of Dionysus. They open w…

Greek Myths: The Riddle of the Sphinx (Part 2)

Greek Myths · Part 2

This episode of The Rest Is History examines the myth of Oedipus and its cultural afterlife. Holland and Sandbrook rete…

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Series in this era

11 series

Greek Myths

4 episodes Aired: 2025-09-21

King Arthur

4 episodes Aired: 2026-10-11

World Cup of Gods

3 episodes Aired: 2021-11-27

Helen of Troy

2 episodes Aired: 2024-06-02

The Odyssey

2 episodes Aired: 2026-07-12

12 (or 13) Days of Christmas

1 episode Aired: 2021-12-25

Atlantis

1 episode Aired: 2023-03-20

Bonus Interviews with Mary Beard

1 episode Aired: 2025-10-09

Dawn of the Samurai

1 episode Aired: 2026-04-05

Great World Cup Saga

1 episode Aired: 2022-11-24

Historical figures

111 tagged

Athena

11 episodes

Zeus

11 episodes

Homer

9 episodes

Achilles

8 episodes

Odysseus

8 episodes

Agamemnon (King of Mycenae)

7 episodes

Helen of Troy

7 episodes

Apollo

6 episodes

Hera

6 episodes

Poseidon

6 episodes

Historical events

12 tagged

Trojan War

12 episodes

Capture of Thebes by the Sons of the Seven (mythic)

1 episode

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (biblical)

1 episode

Doggerland submergence (c. 8200 years ago, North Sea)

1 episode

Exodus (biblical Israelite departure from Egypt)

1 episode

Fall of Troy (Sack of Troy / Trojan Horse)

1 episode

Founding of Carthage (c.814 BC)

1 episode

Founding of Thebes by Cadmus (mythic)

1 episode

Garden of Eden

1 episode

Ragnarök

1 episode

Books

132 tagged

The Odyssey

Author: Homer

11 episodes

The Iliad

Author: Homer

8 episodes

History of the Kings of Britain

Author: Geoffrey of Monmouth

4 episodes

Le Morte d'Arthur

Author: Thomas Malory

4 episodes

The Aeneid

Author: Virgil

3 episodes

Theogony

Author: Hesiod

3 episodes

Annales Cambriae

Author: Unknown

2 episodes

Historia Brittonum

Author: Nennius (traditionally attributed)

2 episodes

Ilium

Author: Dan Simmons

2 episodes

Oedipus (Oedipus Rex)

Author: Sophocles

2 episodes

Authors

1 tagged

Homer

10 episodes