Natalie Haynes Stands up for the Classics

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Comedy: Standup

Natalie Haynes creates stand-up routines about figures from ancient Greece and Rome.

Natalie Haynes takes a fresh look at the ancient world, creating stand-up routines about figures from ancient Greece and Rome.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics: Series 7: Clytemnestra

Clytemnestra

Series 7

BBC Radio 4 - Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, Series 7, Clytemnestra

The worst wife in Greek myth. Or was she? With Professor Edith Hall.

"Rock star classicist" and reformed stand-up Natalie Haynes is obsessed with the ancient world. In these series she explores  (historical and mythological) lives from ancient Rome and Greece that still have resonance today. They are hilarious and tragic, mystifying, revelatory. And they always tell us more about ourselves now than seems possible of stories from a couple of thousand years ago.

Today Natalie stands up for Clytemnestra, who has been characterised as the worst wife in Greek mythology.  This is open to debate: she's certainly a good mother, if a little bit murderous of her husband.  But it turns out that Agamemnon probably deserves it.  After all he sacrifices one of their daughters to Artemis without a second thought and then turns up at home years later with Cassandra, the future-seeing woman he has 'won' as a prize (also read: trafficked and enslaved) at the Battle of Troy.  These actions demonstrate a certain lack of respect for his wife, as well as cruelty of the highest order.   Cassandra reads the room, obviously, but nobody listens to her.  Clytemnestra has a good legal brain and states her case convincingly. But it's unlikely to end well.

With Professor Edith Hall.
Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics: Series 7

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Natalie Haynes explores lives from ancient Rome and Greece that still have resonance today

Natalie Haynes explores (historical and mythological) lives from ancient Rome and Greece that still have resonance today.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Series 7

Clytemnestra

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4